Central Michigan University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Mid-Michigan policy-makers want to implement a path that is ADA-compliant, that will expand walk-ability and bike-ability in Mid-Michigan. The land is in Veit's Woods, which is owned and operated by Central Michigan University (CMU). CMU administration expressed support of granting an easement to creating the bike/walking pathway through CMU's campus that could connect Clare to St. Johns, Michigan. The CMU Board of Trustees signed agreements with the City of Mount Pleasant to help coordinate the piece of CMU property that would be devoted to to completing this bike and walking trail, which will connect current path dead-ends and save costs.This path is part of the statewide program called "rails-to-trails", and its aim is to create a bike path from Detroit to Traverse City. This encourages motorless transportation, both between Mount Pleasant and CMU's campus, and between cities. 

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2024/02/d_news_boftcommittees_020524

Central Michigan University is a member of the Michigan Campus Sustainability Collective, which is a faction of the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum (MISBF). Through CMU’s membership, CMU supports the MISBF which encourages policies that are favorable to both businesses and the environment, with the goal to “advance climate leadership, community resilience, social justice and the creation of a circular economy”. CMU allows students in Central Sustainability to attend the monthly meetings of the Michigan Campus Sustainability Collective. The MISBF held an online webinar shortly after the November midterms about the effects of having a fully democratic government in Michigan, and how that will change climate action and circularity in the state. It discussed the implications of having a unified government for sustainability and sustainable businesses, and how these policies will be a great step forward for Michigan’s Healthy Climate Plan. The MISBF supports the strengthening of the Michigan Healthy Climate Plan and hopes to spread awareness about how it could be good as well for the businesses of Michigan.

CMU is a part of the Association for Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU), and through this membership, CMU supports all the advocacy efforts of the APLU. The APLU engages with the universities it partners with to “effectively advocate for federal policies and funding levels that support and enhance the work of public research universities”. They advocate yearly for agricultural research, and for natural resources research and funding through the boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere and Climate. The issues this board deals with are relating to funding from the USDA, Farm Bill Authorization and implementation, the USGS, NOAA, and the EPA. As CMU administration remains partnered with the APLU, they will statements about standing with the APLU as they advocate for different policies. 

 https://www.aplu.org/our-work/4-policy-and-advocacy/agriculture-and-natural-resources/index.html

https://www.cmich.edu/blog/presidential-perspectives/2022/03/04/statement-of-solidarity-with-ukraine

Central Michigan University works with the Cora di Brazza Foundation, which is a nonprofit that works to tell stories of the Peace Through Law Movements through educational events. The organization also focuses on the Peace History of Korea, and the peaceful establishment of their democratic government. This organization furthers cultural and human sustainability in their education outreach, and above all, promotes peace. CMU and Central Sustainability has partnered with Hope May and the Cora di Brazza Foundation for multiple projects, including raising the peace flag on Earth day each year, where there are CMU student and faculty speakers. In 2023, the Cora di Brazza Foundation and Central Sustainability also teamed up to facilitate the planting of a seed from Japan on Earth day that survived the bombing of Hiroshima in a Mount Pleasant park, as well. https://www.coradibrazza.com/About/index.html