FAQs Archive - Page 3 of 19 - Penn State Sustainability

Q: 3) Does Penn State have a policy on waste disposal to measure the amount of waste sent to landfill and recycled?

Yes, Penn State Policy AD34 , or the University Recycling Program Policy, has 5 high-level goals centered around waste generation and disposal to reduce the University's waste. They are: 1. To enhance recycling/reuse of University-generated solid waste and recognize recycling/reuse as the primary means of disposal. 2. To ease the University's reliance on landfilling University-generated solid waste. 3. To comply with Department of Environmental Protection guidelines, state, and local laws and ordinances. 4. To encourage the development and adoption of specifications which eliminate barriers to, and encourage the purchase of products that contain post-consumer recycled materials. 5. To develop and implement a policy that will promote waste reduction at the University to include recycling, reuse, composting, and green purchasing." Additionally, the amount of waste and recycled materials generated by the University as a whole are available to view on Penn State's Sustainability website. Policy created (2008) Policy reviewed (2008)

Q: 2) Does Penn State have a policy, process or practice on waste disposal that covers hazardous materials?

Penn State does not have an active policy on hazardous waste disposal, however Penn State Environmental Health and Safety has a robust hazardous waste management program. Penn State also has a Waste Stream Task Force that emphasizes the importance of reducing Penn State's carbon footprint by diverting as much waste from the landfill as possible through multiple waste streams.

Q: 1) Does Penn State have a policy on ethical sourcing of food and supplies?

Penn State does not have a policy on this, however Penn State prioritizes ethical and sustainable food sourcing through the Student Farm, local food sourcing, and dining programs that emphasize local and sustainable options. For example, the Student Farm has a pay-what you can food stand market that sells fresh produce from the student farm to students on a weekly basis. Additionally, more than 16% of food in Penn State dining halls comes directly from Pennsylvania farms, manufacturers, and producers.

Q: 8) Does Penn State have a process for employees to appeal on employee rights and/or pay?

Yes, HR79 is a Penn State policy that allows employees to appeal on employee rights through grievances.

Q: Does Penn State provide women's access schemes (e.g. mentoring, scholarships, or other provisions)?

The Penn State College of Medicine has a Commission for Women program specifically designed to create mentorship for women in the medical field. The Commission for Women also supports initiatives outside the College of Medicine, such as the PAW+ (Physics and Astronomy for Women+) Program, which is an organization dedicated to mentoring women who study Physics and Astronomy .

Q: 1) Does Penn State have targets to admit students who fall into the bottom 20% of household income group (or a more tightly defined target) in the country?

No, Penn State does not have a specific published target. However, Penn State routinely tracks the opportunity gaps that are seen in success statistics between non-advantaged populations and the majority. This includes low-income students as well as first generation students and underrepresented minority students. Penn State believes in equitable outcomes, which would mean the elimination of these gaps.

Q: Does Penn State actively promote conscious water usage on campus?

Penn State has ways that it promotes water conscious usage on campus. For example, many restroom facilities have the "less water" flush option and sinks that have timed spout usage. The Penn State Sustainable Lab Program promotes water conscious usage by implementing aerators on lab sinks to decrease the amount of water usage in lab spaces. Additionally, Penn State has a Water Dashboard to raise awareness of water consumption and to hopefully decrease water consumption over time.