Climate Action Plan - ACUPCC Reports - Climate Commitment

Leadership and Modeling Goal 1Be a national leader and pioneering model for sustainability and energy efficient operationsamong large public research land-grant institutionsDesired Outcomes and Measuresa. The University graduates the largest number of green leadersi. Students graduate with community experience related to sustainabilityii. Students are more aware of sustainabilityissues and behave in a more sustainablemanner than before they came to the Universityb. The University undergoes external sustainabilityassessments, and peer review, recognition, andrankings show progress toward sustainability(for example, the University of Minnesota hasachieved a top ranking in reports on greencampuses)Academic institutions around the world that modelsustainable practices are seedbeds for a sustainablefuture. Because of their large size and broad mission,this effort is both exceptionally challenging andexceptionally compelling for land-grantuniversities.Rooted in a track record of outstanding environmentrelatedprograms, impelled by existing sustainability efforts at all five campuses, andnurtured by a culture that values social responsibility and hard work, the Universityof Minnesota is superbly positioned to show the way to integrating sustainability intothe fabric of land-grant university culture. Doing so will require transforming existingsystems, integrating input across disciplines, and working with many and diverseexternal partners. Change may not always come quickly, but it will come steady andstrong as we lead in a way that provides solid footing for those who follow.Green GroundbreakingCrookston students Chris Waltz, Marshall Johnson, and Erick Elgin brokeground in more ways than one last fall when they sank a shovel at thesite of a new student apartment complex at the University of Minnesota,Crookston. These students led the way for the University of Minnesota’s fi rstLEED ® –certifi ed residence facility, Evergreen Hall. Unique green buildingmaterials and energy effi ciency create a more sustainable Homecoming forstudents in 2009.U of M Systemwide Sustainability • 27