A systemized approach to our campus' impact on the environment — from our use of electricity to how many reams of photocopy paper our offices use — is good news for the university and our surrounding community.

Earlier this year, when the central administration formed the Environmental Management System Committee (see the past issue of the Tech Times), members quickly decided that its work could only succeed with input from the entire campus community.

So a survey gauging how faculty, staff and students feel about our environmental impact was developed, launching last week.

Committee members report that responses so far have been good — but they could be better. If you haven't already participated in the EMS survey, please take a moment now to complete it; committee members plan to close the survey after Monday, Nov. 14. Your anonymity is ensured.

If you supervise staff who don't have ready access to computers, please consider printing and distributing the survey, so that every employee has the opportunity to participate in the project.

Survey results, along with additional actions by the EMS Committee, will be reported in the Tech Times and to student, faculty and administrative groups.