Originally formed in 1991, the faculty committee will explore new strategies related to the 10 action areas of the international Talloires Declaration, which Ball State signed a year ago this week.

"The renewed Green Committee will identify opportunities for Ball State to pursue in addressing the urgent challenges to sustainability that we confront today," said Warren Vander Hill, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"Within this framework, Ball State can become a recognized leader by building on past achievements and playing a major role in the drive for sustainability," Vander Hill said.

To support the effort, a portion of the university's Bracken Environmental Fund will be used to bring several speakers to campus next year to address sustainability issues.

Ball State became the first Indiana university to sign the Talloires Declaration, a global agreement that hundreds of schools worldwide use as a guide for environmental efforts.

The document's 10 action steps urge universities to promote environmental awareness, education, research, policy formation and information exchange across the campus and in society.

"With the leadership of the Green Committee, the university has been actively engaged in carrying out many of the objectives described in the Talloires Declaration," said Robert Koester, Green Committee co-chair and director of Ball State's Center for Energy Research/Education/Service.

The Green Committee has acted on some 35 recommendations made nearly 10 years ago, and many independent efforts have been initiated on campus, Vander Hill said.

Ball State's recent environmental initiatives include:

• Three international Greening of the Campus conferences that helped colleges and universities around the country and the world explore environmental strategies. Greening of the Campus IV is set for September 2001.
• The Bracken Environmental Fund, created in 1997 to support visiting scholars, faculty research grants and student projects.
• New interdepartmental Clustered Minors in Environmentally Sustainable Practices for students in each academic college.
• Special courses and classroom assignments in disciplines ranging from natural resources and environmental management, biology and geology to architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, geography, English and telecommunications.
• An annual summer workshop where faculty members explore ways to introduce environmental issues into their courses.
• Cutting-edge faculty research projects fostered by the Center for Energy Research/Education/Service.
• Sustainable practices in university operations, including composting, paper and concrete recycling, use of efficient lighting and computers, and purchasing.

"There's a nice atmosphere of cooperation on campus," Vander Hill said. "We can work together to take Ball State to the next level in its commitment in these important areas."

The original 13-member Green Committee consisted of faculty members from diverse disciplines, including the social and physical sciences and economics. New members for the committee will be appointed by next fall.

By Ted Buck, Communications Manager

(Note to Editors: For more information, contact Warren Vander Hill at (765) 285-1333. )