Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

3/18/08
Story by Julie Haas

JCCC president to sign climate commitment

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Terry A. Calaway, president, Johnson County Community College, will sign the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment in a ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 28, room 270 of the Regnier Center on the college campus.

Signing the commitment pledges the college to the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as a campus and symbolizes JCCC’s commitment to environmental sustainability on campus and in the community.

JCCC will be the second community college and the fourth institution of higher education in Kansas to sign the commitment. The other Kansas signatories are Labette Community College, Parsons; Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina; and Southwestern College, Winfield.

"One of the great challenges facing the entire global community today is that of climate change," Calaway said. "To meet this challenge will require a transformation of our society and its institutions, including our colleges and schools. Johnson CountyCommunity College is committed to playing a part in this transformation, as we examine our own green practices and incorporate sustainability into our curriculum and workforce training."

The college has established a committee of faculty, staff and students to study sustainability efforts at JCCC, including its dining services and facilities, its use of water resources, and waste minimization and recycling, as well as ways to incorporate information about sustainability into the curriculum.

Information about the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment may be found at http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/, including a copy of the commitment Calaway will sign.