We are the Champions (of Sustainability!)

Johnson County Community College is committed to being environmentally, socially and economically responsible. This endeavor would not be possible without the dedication of our Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) to countless eco-friendly and equity-focused projects around campus!

Recognizing the Champions

The hard work completed by our SSC hasn’t gone unnoticed. The SSC recently received the Champion of Sustainability award by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). Each year, the ACPA recognizes exemplary students, administrators, educators and programs or initiatives.

The Champion of Sustainability Award is granted to the individual or group that best models the triple bottom line of sustainability: healthy environments, social justice and strong economies. In particular, the ACPA looks for evidence of collaboration that ensures a better quality of life for all, now and into the future, in a just and equitable manner.

“Though the Student Sustainability Committee’s work is ongoing, its efforts to date are impressive. In terms of projects supported, the Committee has funded over 100 individual proposals since its inception, totaling nearly $3 million,” said Kristy Howell, Sustainability Education and Engagement Coordinator and SSC advisor.

About the Student Sustainability Committee

Requested, funded and staffed by students, the SSC proposes and oversees projects that promote sustainability throughout campus. The committee is charged with allocating the Sustainability Initiatives Fund, which comes from a $1-per-credit-hour student fee.

Since its creation in 2009, the SSC has played a major role in many aspects of campus culture, operations and community. Through the years, campus projects implemented by the committee have helped JCCC save millions of dollars on energy and materials management costs.

Other projects include the purchase of an electric vehicle for JCCC's Driver Education program, followed by the installation of electric vehicle charging stations across campus. SSC has provided a variety of equipment, including tractors and composting tools, to the College's 2.5-acre Open Petal Farm, where Sustainable Agriculture courses are taught. The SSC also funded shelving for the College's food pantry, as well as our first LED lighting and solar panel installations.

The SSC’s commitment to transforming abstract ideas about sustainability into reality is key to meeting our goal of making campus a zero waste to landfill institution by 2025. This status is achieved by diverting 100% of waste from a landfill to an alternate disposal source. 

“JCCC's advances in sustainability enrich every aspect of our campus and provide useful tools as we foster student and organizational preparation for a rapidly changing world,” JCCC President Andy Bowne said.

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