While most students had left campus for the summer, the learning didn’t stop at Pitt as leaders across Business and Operations came together to continue their own education. Staff from the seven units met at the University Club for the bi-annual Business and Operations Leadership Meeting, which provides an opportunity for information, ideas, and personal connections to be made across every department from Human Resources to Grounds to Mobility.
In May 2023, Sustainability was the focus of discussion, highlighting how the topic covers much more than improving recycling or reducing emissions. As explained by Dr. Aurora Sharrard, Executive Director of Sustainability, Pitt defines “sustainability” as balancing the environment, equity, and economics so current and future generations can thrive. As a result, Sustainability initiatives include not just stereotypical “green” practices like reducing waste, reusing resources, and recycling, but ensuring equity and accessibility for all members of the community.
How can sustainability be applied to work processes? Does it really make a difference to seek out “green” options? Where does someone start with sustainability? To help answer these questions and more, Dr. Sharrard moderated a panel of 4 Business and Operations leaders from offices that have embedded sustainable values into their efforts. Anastasia Dubnicay, Project Manager for Planning, Design, and Construction; Keith Duval, Associate Director for Environmental Programs; Jackie Gillespie, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Hospitality; and Will Mitchell, Director of Facilities Services.
Dubnicay kicked-off the discussion with a project literally at the heart of campus - the hillside development on O’Hara Street. The site hosts multiple projects, including the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, Victory Heights renovations and new construction, and underground infrastructure including lines for the new Upper Campus Chilled Water Plant. Rather than developing each project independently, each was considered within the framework of the entire hillside. The resulting nationally recognized design provides campus with needed indoor space while simultaneously transforming a topographic challenge into a destination with plentiful green space that bridges upper and lower campus.
Participants didn’t need to look far to see how Gillespie and Hospitality are integrating sustainability into their work. The Conference Services, University Club and Chartwells teams who planned and executed the event embedded multiple green practices, including a digital seating chart, live plant centerpieces, and a delicious menu created with locally sourced items and seasonal delights. Gillespie shared her team’s excitement and creativity leading up the event as staff were eager to embrace the challenge of hosting a memorable event that embraced sustainable practices.
EH&S recounted a goal set to increase the volume of chemical waste processed through recycling, waste to energy, or through a fuels blending process. . Over a number of years, Duval and his team helped implement a cultural shift in the attitude towards unwanted laboratory chemicals on campus. Where there was once a penchant to hoard chemicals, campus labs now regularly take stock of their chemical inventory and work with EH&S to re-distribute and/or sustainably and safely dispose of what is no longer need. The campus-wide Chemical Redistribution Program, although underutilized, was mentioned as an opportunity for faculty and staff to obtain unused chemicals for free. This program emphasizes the University's commitment to environmental protection by reducing the overall volumes of chemical waste generated.
Facilities Management have been steadfast advocates for sustainable practices at Pitt throughout Will Mitchell’s long tenure. He emphasized that sustainable practices are good business practices; utilizing local suppliers and resources have long-term positives with deep and wide reach, sometimes with upfront costs and/or savings. Mitchell also talked about the University’s long history of recycling leadership, with Pitt continuing to focus on diverting more and more materials from landfill annually.
In what has become a tradition at the Business & Operations meetings, attendees were assigned seats to help make connections and share ideas across units. During breakout discussions, everyone agreed that the pandemic facilitated the adoption of remote work practices that are also more efficient and sustainable. Shifting to work-from-home and hybrid schedules where possible has helped reduce emissions from commuting and required more utilization of digital formats, reducing both paper consumption and the space require to store paper documents. Flex work advanced by the pandemic also improved the equity and accessibility of employment at the University, providing employees with greater flexibility based on their position needs.
All four leaders acknowledged change can seem daunting at times, but no one is expected to go it alone. In addition to Pitt Green Office and Labs programs, the Pitt Sustainability team has over 20+ employees embedded throughout the University and specializing in various areas. Additionally, the newly redesigned Pitt Sustainability website also offers information and resources to create a thriving culture of sustainability at Pitt.