Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Integration C M Association of Y CM MY Colleges and Universities CY CMY K Table of Con T e n T s Introduction 1 Defining Sustainability for a Catholic Audience 4 PRAY 5 LEARN 8 ASSESS 14 ACT 19 ADVOCATE 26 Conclusion and Resources for Catholic Colleges and Universities 29 Appendix: Catholic Mission and Sustainability Assessment Toolkit 31 There is much to celebrate on Catholic college and university campuses as environmental sustainability is increasingly seen as a core value in Catholic higher education. All across the country, Catholic colleges and universities are actively working to reduce their carbon emissions and energy consumption, integrate sustainability into their curricula, and foster ecological awareness across their campus communities. Yet while many Catholic schools have successfully taken steps to integrate sustainability into their institutions, we believe more can to be done to ensure that these efforts are thoroughly grounded in Catholic mission and identity. Toward that end, we are pleased to share with you “Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Integration.” Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Integration has been made possible by a grant to the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities from the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change. Cover ImAges • Student with wheelbarrow image (above) courtesy of the Catholic Student Center at Washington University in Saint Louis (CSC) • Boardroom image courtesy of the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) • Mural image courtesy of the CSC, © Leah Nixon, www.leahnixon.com. Used with permission.• Young girl in Darfur image © Paul Jeffrey, KairosPhotos http://kairosphotos.photoshelter.com. Used with permission. • Priest and student image courtesy of the CSC I n TR o DUCTI o n Image courtesy of CHA Catholic Mission and Identity the Church into all they do. Pro-life groups, mission At the 2011 Association of Catholic Colleges and immersions, prayer and retreat opportunities, ethical Universities’ annual gathering, Bishop Gerald Kicanas, and moral education in all fields of study are more then-Vice President of the United States Conference of common than not in your schools. They are part of Catholic Bishops, reflected on the legacy of John Henry campus life and the culture of your institutions. Your Cardinal Newman to encourage Catholic institutions institutions have taken seriously the Holy Father’s of higher education to foster and strengthen their admonition not just to teach the faith but to provide Catholic mission and identity. Said the bishop: opportunities for students to live the faith. ‘As a natural expression of the Catholic Identity of the University, “Above all he [Newman] would expect that you place the university community should give a practical Catholic identity first among your concerns. Catholic demonstration of its faith in its daily activities.’ (Ex is not just an adjective accidental to who you are. Corde, N. 39)” Catholic is core to your identity, the center of what you are about.” Yet while he pointed out these positive steps towards enhancing and integrating Catholic mission and Bishop Kicanas went on to note that this is increasingly identity, the bishop also maintained that “there are happening at many Catholic colleges and universities: areas to which we need to continue to pay attention.” “Our Catholic institutions are incorporating moral We believe one of these areas is linking Catholic and religious principles and the social teachings of mission, identity and environmental sustainability. 1 Sustainability and Catholic HIgher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Integration In order to help Catholic colleges and universities strengthen and integrate their commitment to mission by responding to the Church’s call for environmental stewardship and solidarity with the poor and vulnerable — with particular focus on climate change — the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the Lasallian Association of College and University Presidents, the Image courtesy of CSC Catholic Campus ministry Association, Catholic Relief Services College and the National Catholic Student Coalition, with support from the Association for the Caring for God’s Creation Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, In his 1990 World Day of Peace Message Peace with are pleased to offer this resource, Sustainability God the Creator, Peace with all of Creation, Pope John and Catholic Higher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Paul II confirmed that “Christians, in particular, realize Integration. that their responsibility within creation and their duty This Toolkit is organized around the five components towards nature and the Creator are an essential part of the Catholic Climate Covenant: The St. Francis Pledge of their faith” (No. 15). In doing so, the Holy Father to Care for Creation and the Poor, and offers practical reminds Catholic institutions that in order to “[k]eep suggestions by which institutions of Catholic higher up [their] efforts to make Catholic identity central to education can holistically: [their]efforts,” as Bishop Kicanas encouraged ACCU members to do, integrated sustainability initiatives 4 PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable. must go beyond just doing sustainability to clearly, consistently and explicitly grounding sustainability 4 LEARN about and educate others on the work in the institution’s Catholic mission and identity. causes and moral dimensions of environmental degradation and climate change. A Catholic school cannot just implement a recycling program, but must also explain that it is doing so 4 ASSESS how we — as individuals and in our because of its Catholic commitment to steward and families, parishes and other affiliations — contribute to environmental degradation care for God’s good gift of Creation; a Catholic school and climate change by our own energy use, cannot just reduce its energy consumption, but must consumption, waste, etc. also communicate that it is doing so because of its 4 ACT to change our choices and behaviors to Catholic commitment to protect and defend human reduce the ways we contribute to environmental life and dignity, especially of the poor and vulnerable degradation and climate change. who are most impacted by environmental degradation 4 ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities and climate change. in environmental and climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those By virtue of its 2,000-year-old tradition, and especially who are poor and vulnerable. in light of Catholic social teaching, “The Catholic Church Each section of this toolkit examines a different brings a distinct perspective to the debate about climate dimension of the Catholic Climate Covenant: The St. change [and environmental sustainability] by lifting up Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor by: the moral dimensions of this issue and the needs of the 4 Identifying who on campus can most effectively most vulnerable among us.” 1 Yet if sustainability work address each dimension. is not grounded in this Catholic mission and identity, 4 Offering suggestions for how each element the unique contributions which the Church can make to might be implemented on campus. the conversation are quickly lost, and the sustainability 4 Suggesting ways in which the institution might efforts of Catholic institutions may end up looking no go “beyond the campus” and into the community. different than those of non-faith-based institutions. 1 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Global Climate Change and Our Catholic Response, 27 May 2011 <nccbuscc.org/sdwp/globalpoverty/ccgp_issues_climatechange.shtml>. 2 Of particular use to integrating mission-based For more information about your institution becoming sustainability at Catholic colleges and universities is a Catholic Climate Covenant Partner, see page 40 and our adaptation of Principles of Good Practice for Student contact the C atholic Coalition on Climate Change at Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities – Second [email protected] or (301) 920-1442. Edition with Diagnostic Queries. The introduction in Principles outlines that the project was first designed “to provide a framework for reflection and conversation, planning, staff development and assessment for student affairs professionals who work at Catholic colleges and universities,” and all accounts indicate At this important moment for our Church and nation, that the initiative has effectively met and exceeded for our planet and our people, let us together tread this objective. We have therefore worked closely with more lightly and act more boldly to address the moral michael J. James, Ph.D., Fellow of the Barbara and dimensions of climate change and environmental Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education at Boston degradation by developing inspiring ideas, resources College and Principles project co-chair, to revise and morally sound leaders all contributing to a more Principles in order that the project might help facilitate just and peaceful world. Thank you for helping our mission-based sustainability at Catholic colleges and institutions of Catholic higher education strengthen universities. We are grateful for the