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Cost Savings from Effective Communication
A college or university is a complex place, comprising many autonomous
units with diverse activities, functions and needs. Meeting everyone's
needs is an operational challenge. A sustainability assessment can play
an important role in a communication strategy that helps service staff
better understand the needs of campus users, while helping faculty, students
and the community better understand the constraints faced by staff and
the institution as a whole.
Share success stories and on-going efforts
Chances are good that you're doing something well – perhaps many
things. An assessment can be a tool for informing campus stakeholders
and the surrounding community of your successes. A clear report on continuing
challenges can also contribute to constructive campus dialogue and focus
the energies of change-seeking students and faculty on viable options.
Meet rising expectations of disclosure and transparency
Campus users no longer accept campus management as a black box (if they
ever did). Complex institutions of all kinds, from the private sector
to government to higher education, are increasingly expected to speak
openly and honestly about what they do and the impacts they have. The
good news is that this communication can save you trouble and therefore
money, if your assessment is solid – and since we specialize in sustainability
assessment, we understand what makes for a good assessment. With minimal
time burden, our assessment will bring together the impacts that matter
most to a wide range of stakeholders. This kind of disclosure will enhance
your status inside and outside the campus community.
Enhance operational efficiency
Every smoothly functioning organization we have encountered has open
lines of communication. With better cross-function communication, staff
know how their specific tasks fit into a larger whole. With a better reporting
structure to management, an organization's managers can better grapple
with the big picture. And campus users (including faculty, staff and students)
are more likely to save energy and water, care for the physical infrastructure,
and recycle well if they know that their efforts count – and are
counted. A sustainability assessment can be a powerful tool for communicating
the fity-thousand-foot view to a wide range of stakeholders.
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