McLennan Community College President Dr. Dennis Michaelis has signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, a pledge to sharply reduce and eventually eliminate their schools' emissions that contribute to global warming. The commitment also includes dedication to accelerating research and educational efforts to help re-stabilize the planet's climate. Signing this commitment is a demonstration of the college's dedication to environmental, economic and social stewardship; to yield cost savings through reduced operating costs; to provide healthy environments for students, faculty, staff and visitors; and to contribute to conservation of environmental resources.

By joining this mission, Michaelis has promised that MCC will move toward a "climate-neutral" campus. That means having no net greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing such emissions as much as possible and implementing measures to mitigate remaining emissions.

MCC will create a comprehensive institutional action plan for achieving climate neutrality that will be implemented within two years, as part of the commitment. In the meantime, the school is committed to several "green" measures:

• In May 2007, Michaelis appointed a leadership team to study the sustainability issue and develop recommendations for incorporating sustainability into the campus culture.
• The Board of Trustees has decided to build new campus facilities at least to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver standard or equivalent.
• The college encourages use of public transportation for faculty, staff, students and visitors by encouraging use of the public bus system. Tickets are sold in the College Bookstore.

The Presidents Climate Commitment is the first such effort by any major sector of society to set climate neutrality—not just a reduction—as its target. To date, more than 270 presidents of colleges and universities across the country have signed the agreement.