How Colleges Use Sustainability Technologies to Grow a Green Culture on Campus

Randall Townsend, Director of Information Technology for the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation says the Kronos software inspired the foundation to look into analytics processing software for employees.

He says this software will help HR track labor against sales, labor against inventory, wellness-related data, lifestyles and health of employees, and strategies to help employees do a better job of managing their careers.

“One of the ways to get students invested and really involved with sustainability is to expose them to as many conferences and events as possible. They get pumped up when they see other people who have either dedicated their life to this or see other students who have led on sustainability initiatives, and they bring that energy back to their classes. It helps them go out and then come back with that courage and excitement to campus.”

-Bridget Meigs, Farm Manager at Stonehill College

He also says the foundation plans to use the software to tie this information in its databases and track other on-campus services, such as dining, housing, and the bookstore.

“The goal is to build as much intelligence into that process as we can to allow management to make informed decisions, improvements and efficiencies work,” Townsend says. “They can add services where something might be lacking…The story goes well beyond Kronos; it’s a holistic way of trying to keep costs down for the organization so we can provide better and more efficient services for the students.”

Sue Mooney says one of the most effective ways to implement green technologies on campus is by planting the seed in students.

She says supportive faculty and staff should encourage students to address sustainability concerns on campus and to find the technologies to solve those concerns.

“The faculty can create structures that empower the students,” says Mooney, Environmental Studies Program Director at Stonehill College. “And certainly having the staff on campus willing to meet with students and hear their ideas and answer tough questions. Our facilities staff and operations staff are willing to work with student teams and groups. It helps to keep us moving. If the faculty of an institution can find ways to encourage and empower the students and the rest of the campus can support that, I think that’s the best place for ideas.”