The success of AICUP’s Environmental Self-Audit Program has gained the attention of colleges, universities and regulatory agencies nation-wide. In 2004, AICUP was the first association of private colleges and universities to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to perform self-audits using peer auditors from fellow AICUP institutions. This program has allowed Pennsylvania’s private colleges to perform self-audits at a reasonable pace of five to six institutions a semester; to assess the environmental compliance at each campus; disclose certain findings to the government; and implement systems to promote long-term management of regulatory compliance. The success of this project has led to the development of similar programs in many states in the southeast with programs in other regions now in the planning stages.
To date, 35 institutions have been audited with 8 more scheduled over the Fall semester of 2007 and the spring semester of 2008. None of the institutions who have completed the full AICUP program have been assessed penalties of any kind by EPA or the DEP. Participating institutions have averaged 56 violation categories with a high of 103 and a low of 19. The average fine avoided is $397,819 and the average cost for an institution to come into compliance is $84,892; with the lowest cost per institution coming in around $25,000 and the highest around $400,000.
PHASE II Self-Audits — As the AICUP program reaches its final year, member institutions have expressed an interest in continuing and growing the peer program to include long term management and sustainability. In response, Phase 2 of the AICUP self-audit program will be launched in the spring of 2008. This new phase will focus on periodic on-campus compliance assessments designed to maintain the gains that have been made through Phase 1. The same software protocols will be used as an assessment tool and Phase 2 will be open to institutions who have not previously conducted an environmental self-audit and who now wish to do so.
TO ACCESS THE OUTCOMES REPORT, CLICK BELOW:
Summary Report
Long-Form Report
Contact: Victoria Justus (Turning Bird) 888-851-0614, victoria@turningbirdconsulting.com
The success of AICUP’s Environmental Self-Audit Program has gained the attention of colleges, universities and regulatory agencies nation-wide. In 2004, AICUP was the first association of private colleges and universities to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to perform self-audits using peer auditors from fellow AICUP institutions. This program has allowed Pennsylvania’s private colleges to perform self-audits at a reasonable pace of five to six institutions a semester; to assess the environmental compliance at each campus; disclose certain findings to the government; and implement systems to promote long-term management of regulatory compliance. The success of this project has led to the development of similar programs in many states in the southeast with programs in other regions now in the planning stages.
To date, 35 institutions have been audited with 8 more scheduled over the Fall semester of 2007 and the spring semester of 2008. None of the institutions who have completed the full AICUP program have been assessed penalties of any kind by EPA or the DEP. Participating institutions have averaged 56 violation categories with a high of 103 and a low of 19. The average fine avoided is $397,819 and the average cost for an institution to come into compliance is $84,892; with the lowest cost per institution coming in around $25,000 and the highest around $400,000.
PHASE II Self-Audits — As the AICUP program reaches its final year, member institutions have expressed an interest in continuing and growing the peer program to include long term management and sustainability. In response, Phase 2 of the AICUP self-audit program will be launched in the spring of 2008. This new phase will focus on periodic on-campus compliance assessments designed to maintain the gains that have been made through Phase 1. The same software protocols will be used as an assessment tool and Phase 2 will be open to institutions who have not previously conducted an environmental self-audit and who now wish to do so.
TO ACCESS THE OUTCOMES REPORT, CLICK BELOW:
Summary Report
Long-Form Report
Contact: Victoria Justus (Turning Bird) 888-851-0614, victoria@turningbirdconsulting.com