University of Oklahoma

President Boren signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. The University of Oklahoma is also a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange. The university is in the beginning phases of forming a sustainability committee whose members will include faculty, staff, and students.

OU’s emissions are calculated based on its annual purchase of natural gas for heating and power generation, but it does not include other sources of electricity. The university has contracted with Oklahoma Gas and Electric to purchase the maximum allotment of credits from wind-generated sources.

The university buys locally grown foods from four farms, including a dairy. Cage-free eggs, fair trade coffee, and organic produce and baked goods are available on campus menus. Landscape waste is collected for the City of Norman compost facility.

OU's Museum of Natural History has registered to become LEED-certified. The university has increased energy efficiency through installation of motion sensor lighting systems. In addition, renovations of residence halls include installation of virtually 100 percent recyclable furniture, compact fluorescent light bulbs, low-flow toilets, and energy-saving washers and dryers.

The student environmental organization, Our Earth, works on campus sustainability issues. The Housing and Food Services Live Green Challenge awards the housing center that recycles the most materials and conserves the most energy in a given period. Outreach efforts, such as 2008's Green Week, raise awareness on OU's sustainability initiatives.

The university has mandated that any vehicles purchased must be capable of using an alternative fuel when possible, and newly purchased small utility vehicles must be electrically powered. Currently, the motor pool contains 24 compressed natural gas vehicles, 23 ethanol-capable vehicles, and 42 electric vehicles. The student association offers a free bicycle library that restores used bicycles and checks them out to students to use for the semester.

The university makes a list of endowment holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. This information is available at the investment office. The university does not make its shareholder voting record publicly accessible.

The university aims to optimize investment return and does not invest in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The university does not have the ability to vote proxies, as the entire endowment is invested in mutual funds.