Sonoma State University

October 4, 2022 Meeting Notes PSAC

Minutes

President’s Sustainability Advisory Council
Meeting notes
October 4, 2022

Tyson Hill opened the meeting with introductions of the membership.  

  1. Charge and History
    Tyson noted the the charge is available for all members to review and asked each member to review.  Tyson acknowledged that Claudia Luke has been instrumental in establishing the PSAC and the work that has been completed to date by the committee including working with EcoShift to develop the Carbon Neutrality Plan and the Climate Action Plan.  Kristin Cushman from EcoShift will still be contributing to the work that needs to be done and helping with the transition to Megan Varnadore as position moves more fully into Sustainability work.  
    Question for future meetings may be around the name of the Council - does President's Sustainability Advisory Council still fit?  Merith Weisman thought it had something to do with aligning with the President's Advisory Council on Diversity?
  2. Working Groups
    Megan Varnadore listed the current working groups
    • Strategy, Advancement and Communication
    • Zero Impact Working Group
    • Regional Resilience
    • Academic and Campus Life
    Each member should participate in a working group that meets periodically. Alicia Hodenfield suggested having charges for each working group, especially as there is transition. Megan mentioned that there are charges and will send to the membership.
  3. Climate Action Plan 
    Alicia Hodenfield will send to the membership the Goals of the Climate Action Plan to the membership.  The CAP is a plan that provides actionable steps to take and at the existing time, the campus will need to determine what steps can be taken now to move ahead while being aware of the current fiscal challenges.
    1. Next Steps
    2. Individual Goals and Action
  4. Develop standing agenda
    Tyson mentioned that he will be meeting with Mary Gomes, Megan Varnadore, VP Monir Ahmed to create a standing agenda.

Members attending:

Megan Varnadore, Mary Gomes, Andy Shepherd, Ian Hannah, Jessica Way, Rheyna Laney, Nadiya Parekh, Wendy St. John, Orleana Plytas, Merith Weisman, Lauren Antoni, Soo Haylett, Mike Dominguez

Members absent:

Sandy Destiny, Jenifer Barnett, Erin Hunter

Other attendees:

Tyson Hill, Alicia Hodenfield

Current Membership