A new university Web site seeks to highlight progress toward a comprehensive sustainability plan at Ohio University.

As the official site of the Presidential Advisory Council for Sustainability Planning (PACSP), the content includes council guidelines, agendas, meeting minutes and online resources relating to university-wide sustainability measures.

Launched in July 2009, the PACSP's primary charge is to develop and submit recommendations to President Roderick J. McDavis for a comprehensive sustainability plan. The recommendations are due by fall 2009 in accordance with Vision OHIO and the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

A secondary responsibility of the council is to ensure the creation of a climate action plan. The ACUPCC recently granted Ohio University a four-month extension for developing its climate action plan, from Sept. 15 to its new deadline of Jan. 15.

According to Sustainability Coordinator and PACSP Co-Chair Sonia Marcus, the request for a deadline extension was filed to give the council an opportunity to focus on the development of the university's comprehensive policies.

Time constraints also posed challenges, according to Marcus. "The process by which this plan is created must be inclusive, transparent and participatory," she said. "[Under the old deadline] there simply wasn't enough time to propose solutions that could be vetted by the community in that way."

Marcus said the sustainability council will be focusing on goal-setting in its upcoming meetings and welcomes input from the university community. Comments may be submitted at www.ohio.edu/pacsp/comments.html.

For more information on the PACSP, visit www.ohio.edu/pacsp.