About Office of Sustainability

The Office of Sustainability takes a campus ecology approach, which is based on the investigation of St. Lawrence University as a coupled natural and human ecosystem. Instead of addressing each component independently, this holistic approach views the campus as an ecosystem in which components are interconnected and interdependent. This approach allows for a complex, dynamical system model based on scoping, inventorying, and assessing the system’s critical variables and relationships, as represented by the flux and cyclic processes of energy, materials, costs, and information. How energy and materials are processed, the impacts of densification / de-densification, economic performance, and the rate at which change occurs can all be informed by a model of the system that links size to scale and form through information, material, and social networks that constitute the essential functioning of communities.

This campus ecology approach lends itself well to the pedagogical approach of viewing the campus as a living lab for sustainability.

For most higher education institutions, the decision- and policymaking process relative to sustainability is somewhat fragmented and ad hoc. There is a need for a more formalized system and process that accesses relevant, reliable, and accurate information relative to the current and projected impacts of any proposed campus policy.

A system model conceptualizes St. Lawrence University within a socio-ecological framework, so as to allow a more formalized level of inquiry. From this conceptualization, scenarios may be assessed relative to their alignment with the university’s overall vision. This is intended to enhance informed decision- and policymaking, prioritized within the university budget and allocation of public expenditures.

For a decision-making process to be more than a checklist of points and strategies, a systems-based integrative approach is needed to seek interrelationships, patterns and synergies. Towards this end, a decision-making model may be used to identify ‘synergies’ and ‘conflicts’ between interrelated strategies. ‘Synergies’ are the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects ‘Conflicts’ include any strategies that adversely effect the performance or outcome of another strategy.

And finally, a model provides the ‘logic’ to assign rank order (prioritization) relative to the potential effectiveness of issue / strategies, so as to provide a basis for informed decision- and policymaking. Towards this end, the intent of a model is to understand and improve the campus  ecosystem of St. Lawrence University according to; 1) the level of difficulty relative to implementing the strategy in terms of expertise and technology (i.e., readily achievable, not readily achievable, not achievable); 2) the applicable time scale relative to implementation (immediate, near-term, and long-term); and 3) the initial and life-cycle cost of implementing the strategy relative to the university's budget, external funding, and return on investment.

How we define, quantify and measure sustainability is of utmost importance to establish the progress being made to measurable policy goals. The following are the metrics and indicators used by the Office of Sustainability, with a brief explanation of their purpose and application.

The underlying rationale for any metric and indicator is any application is to be made within the context of what is considered uniquely appropriate for St. Lawrence University, and terms of limited resources (staff, budget, time). It is very important not to place value on chasing points or credits merely to gain recognition in a third-party rating system that is irrelevant to achieving authentic and meaningful progress in sustainability.

While the below metrics and indicators are used by St. Lawrence University, and considered as best in class and allow comparison with other HEIs, they are essentially generalized 'one-size-fits-all', 'off-the-rack'  protocols and rating systems. For this reason, the Office of Sustainability strives to develop and employ tailored methodologies that fit the unique characteristics of SLU academics and operations, and therefore more appropriate for self-assessment.

Greenhouse Gas Inventory Protocol: SIMAP (Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform)  is a carbon and nitrogen-accounting platform that offers campuses a simple, comprehensive, and affordable online tool to track, analyze, and improve campus-wide sustainability. SLU's current inventory was completed with v2.2. prior to the release of v3.0 in June, 2024. SLU intends to update their Greenhouse Gas Inventory to v3.0, and include Scope 3 emissions, accordingly.

When used in comparison with other HEIs, it's important to be aware whether optional Source 3 emissions are being included.  While SIMAP is the best GHG Inventory available, SLU intends to customize their Inventory by incorporating specific local data regarding emission factor and electric grid fuel mix.

Campus Sustainability: AASHE STARS (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System). AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff, and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. SLU is a member of AASHE. STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for HEIs to measure their sustainability performance. SLU used STARS v2.2 to complete their STARS report.

Sustainable Site and Building Design: USGBC LEED (U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Johnson Hall of Science (Gold, 2007) is a LEED campus building. Michael Iversen, Assistant Director of Sustainability & Energy Management is an architect and LEED Accredited Professional (AP).

There are other so-called sustainability ratings that are one-size-fits-all and public relations driven, and not based on a rigorous, science-based approach. Unfortunately, these ratings have gained traction with some universities and prospective students in college selection. These ratings are not acceptable, and not used by the Office of Sustainability.

Michael Iversen, Architect, Planner, Urban Ecologist, LEED AP

For the past 30 years, Michael Iversen has been actively engaged in academics (teaching, research) and practice (architecture, planning), with applied urban and campus sustainability being the common thread. The distinguishing benefit of this inter- and transdisciplinary career trajectory is that it combines the pedagogical and science-based approach of a teaching and research academic, with that of the real-world, problem solving-based approach of a practicing architect and urban planner.

• St. Lawrence University Campus Committee on Sustainability and Campus Neutrality (CCSCN)
• Village of Canton Sustainability Committee
• St. Lawrence County Environmental Management Council
• New York 6+ Sustainability Officers
• Campus Climate Action Corps: St. Lawrence University Host Site Supervisor (2023/24)

SPECIALTY

Campus and urban ecological planning and pedagogy, campus as a living lab, coupled natural and human environments, greenhouse gas emissions inventory, climate action planning, USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), green infrastructure, data & geospatial analysis.

EDUCATION

PhD (ABD) Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago

Master of Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago

Bachelor of Architecture, Iowa State University

Michael resides in Canton at the Grasse River Home and Studio, and with Laura Young, has two children, Ingrid and Roy.

Evelyn Laferriere, AmeriCorps/Campus Compact Climate Action Leader

During her stay at St. Lawrence University, Evelyn has been responsible for managing and completing the three Campus Compact projects, along with several campus and community ancillary projects, such as the Village of Canton's Climate Smart Communities, and SLU's ReUse Sale Event and Permaculture Garden.  See 'Campus Climate Action Corps 2023-24' on the OoS website for more information.

SPECIALTY

Certified Interpretive Guide Certificate, Community Outreach, Environmental Education, Environmental Field Sampling, Guest Relations, Inventory & Store Management, Basic ArcGIS, Canva, Basic AdobeXD, Basic Adobe Premiere Pro, Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Report & Academic Essay Writing, Editing Writing, Research, Microsoft/Google Suites

EDUCATION

After graduating in 2022 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from Clarkson University, Evelyn participated in the Disney College Program at the Walt Disney World Resort. Upon completion of her AmeriCorps term, Evelyn will be returning to Clarkson in Fall 2024 to  pursue a Master of Science in Environmental Policy, while serving as a Sustainability Coordinator at the Institute for a Sustainable Environment.

Work Study Students (Spring Semester, 2024)

For the Community-Campus Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan component of Campus Climate Action Corps project. 

• Keegan LeBoffe. Biology 
• Ellie Dykstra, Biology