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ICI EPA Peer Audit Initiative
In the fall of 2007, the ICI Board received a report about
coming EPA audits of independent colleges in Indiana. The Board authorized
the formation of a task force of member campus representatives to consider
options for the member campuses. A task force met in December and made
several recommendations for a proactive, collaborative response. In January
2008, the Executive Committee of the Board approved those recommendations.
A formative piece of the ICI collaborative initiative is creating a formal
relationship with EPA Region 5 to participate in a "College and University
Compliance Incentive Initiative". An innovative agreement has been
negotiated with the EPA to include peer-enhanced self-audits as an approach
to environmental education and sustainability. This program brings excellent
training to campus faculty and staff, enhancing the quality of self-audits
while reducing audit costs.
The peer-enhanced self-audit allows participating colleges and universities
to collaborate and help one another in assessing each campus environment,
identifying ways to further improve. The peer-enhanced self-audit program is
modeled after one set up by the Association of Independent Colleges and
Universities in Pennsylvania (AICUP) and has now been replicated and honed
by other consortia of independent colleges in New Jersey, North Carolina,
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. Much of the background
material on this website has been gathered and shared by our colleagues of
the Tennessee Independent Colleges and University Association (TICUA). All
of these consortia are working together to promote environmental education
and sustainability for independent colleges and universities.
This website will be the central point of news and resources for the
consortium.
EPA Peer Audit Participants - June 2008
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