In June, the Office of International Affairs was certified at the platinum level through the Sustainable Office Program. They are the second office to be certified as platinum, and are the 29th office certified since the program began in the spring of 2015.
The Sustainable Office Program is a voluntary, self-guided program that encourages staff and faculty to take the lead on promoting sustainability within the workplace. The Office of International Affairs, which is located in Coxe Hall, earned their platinum level certification by completing 128 actions within categories including ‘Participation & Engagement,’ Climate & Energy,’ Food & Dining,’ ‘Purchasing,’ Community Building & Social Equity,’ ‘Transportation,’ ‘Waste,’ ‘Water,’ and ‘Events & Meetings.’ These actions, such as putting devices in sleep mode when not in use, or taking the bus when traveling between campuses, allow members of the office to reduce their environmental footprint and contribute toward Lehigh’s sustainability goals.
The Sustainable Office Program Representative for the Office of International Affairs is Karen Weaver. When asked why joining the program was important to her office, she said “Participating in the Sustainable Office Program has created much more awareness and educated the OIA staff on how much small differences can make in promoting a sustainable workplace and attaining a sustainable global environment. We are very thankful that we took part in this program and are committed to Lehigh’s sustainability goals and commitments to protect our environment.”.
As the Office of International Affairs celebrates their achievement, we hope they will share this good news with their colleagues and encourage other officers to join the program! If your office is interested in participating, please fill out a registration form, and a Sustainable Office team member will reach out to discuss the program with your office.