East Carolina University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

2019-2023 ECU Sustainability Plan

Goal 1: Be a sustainability research leader for the region
Strategy 1.1 ECU will add an academic sustainability coordinator position to staff before 2023
Strategy 1.2 Hold a regional sustainability-related conference once every three years

Goal 2: All undergraduate students are literate in sustainability by graduation
Strategy 2.1 Add a three-credit “sustainability” category to the general education requirements for undergraduates OR add environmental or sustainability designation to specific courses that will show on their transcripts by 2023
Strategy 2.2 Create an interdisciplinary environmental studies or sustainability studies minor in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences that addresses the three E’s of sustainability (equity, economics and environment) by 2023
Strategy 2.3 Assess pre- and post-sustainability literacy of freshman and seniors every three years starting in spring 2019
Strategy 2.4 Establish a student educator program for collaboration between academics, operations and student life by 2023
Strategy 2.5 Offer at least one immersive sustainability-focused educational program per year that is one week or longer in length of study by fall 2019

Goal 3: Increase the use of campus and community as a living laboratory for sustainability
Strategy 3.1 Provide more sustainability-focused days of service, new community partners focused on sustainability, and course development grants related to sustainability objectives
Strategy 3.2 Increase the number of capstone projects related to sustainability to increase awareness and curricular integration
Strategy 3.3 Establish a sustainability fee by working with SGA, Student Affairs, Administration and Finance, and the ECU Board of Trustees

2019-2023 ECU Sustainability Plan

Climate Change Mitigation:
Strategy 1.1 - Work with ECU’s Campus Living Office to plan, promote and run one energy and water competition per semester in residence halls.
Strategy 3.2 - Create incentives for using public and alternative modes
of transportation by fall 2019

Campus Grounds:
Strategy 1.4 Create a plan of support for outdoor classroom space to enhance and improve the overall outdoor space utilization by fall 2019

Materials Management:
Strategy 1.1 Increase recycling 10 percent over the next five years (2019-2023) by improving recycling infrastructure and community engagement
Strategy 2.2 100 percent of Port, Procard, and major purchasers will be trained on green procurement practices within two years and maintain 100 percent compliance through 2023 and beyond
Strategy 2.3 Eliminate single-use plastic bags, straws and bottled water over the next five years (2019-2023) by educating students and employees and distributing reusable alternatives free of charge

2017-2022 ECU Strategic Plan - Administration and Finance Unit Plan

Unit Objective 12: To provide leadership in fostering a culture of sustainability at East Carolina University and demonstrate a commitment to wellbeing for all, including people, places, and nature throughout eastern North Carolina. Educate all members of the university community about environmental responsibility and promote sound campus stewardship and commitment to sustainability principles. Achieve a 10% increase in recycling over 5 years. Achieve 5% decrease (per GSF) in energy consumption over 5 years. Achieve 5% decrease (per GSF) in water consumption over 5 years. Achieve 5% decrease in net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over 5 years.

Metrics:
1. Sustainability Master Plan.
2. Annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory
3. Biannual Campus Sustainability Report
4. Biannual Strategic Energy and Water Plan
5. Annual Collegiate Recycling Report

Unit Actions:
1. Systematic integration of sustainability principles throughout the institution
2. Work with Greener U consulting firm to develop a five year Sustainability Master Plan
3. Work with constituents to develop diverse and targeted outreach and educational offerings on sustainability
4. Maintain the sustain.ecu.edu website as a clearinghouse for publicly available sustainability information

ECU Sustainability Plan:

Climate Change Mitigation:
Strategy 1.2 Reduce water usage across campus by an additional 5 percent over the next five years (2019-2023) through the use of rainwater collection and high-efficiency fixture upgrades
Strategy 1.3 Ensure all major ECU facilities are metered for all energy and water consumption over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 1.4 Initiate retro-commissioning processes on facilities with the highest energy consumption to identify building optimization opportunities over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 2.1 Compile options for the purchase or sale of renewable energy through Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC)
Strategy 2.2 Request nonrecurring state funds to implement renewable energy projects on university-owned properties over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 3.3 Install idle reduction devices and educate fleet vehicle users via the U.S. Department of Energy toolkit by fall 2019

Campus Grounds:
Strategy 1.1 Plant more native species on campus over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 1.2 Improve maintenance and increase use of natural areas to support academics and research and promote positive attitudes toward the environment over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 1.3 Set up Clean Air Carolina PurpleAir monitoring devices by fall 2018 and continue to monitor particulate matter (PM) over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 1.5 Reduce fertilizer application on campus 20 percent over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 2.1 Install additional best management practices (BMPs) to retain more stormwater and reduce runoff over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 2.2 Create a campuswide survey of hardscape and softscape by type and use by fall 2019
Strategy 2.3 Develop a rainwater management plan by fall 2019
Strategy 2.4 Strategically increase the number of IQ irrigation systems on all campuses to reach 50 percent coverage area over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 2.5 Renovate existing parking spaces on campus using sustainable materials and/or practices over the next five years (2019-2023)

Materials Management:
Strategy 1.1 Increase recycling 10 percent over the next five years (2019-2023) by improving recycling infrastructure and community engagement
Strategy 1.2 Increase pre-consumer food waste diversion 50 percent over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 2.1 Locate space for a reuse center for departments, starting with arts and theatre by fall 2019, and expanding efforts to serve others over the next five years (2019-2023)
Strategy 2.3 Eliminate single-use plastic bags, straws and bottled water over the next five years (2019-2023) by educating students and employees and distributing reusable alternatives free of charge
Strategy 3.1 Increase expenditures to ensure that 10 percent of food served on campus qualifies as local, fair, ecological, or humane over the next five years (2019-2023)

2019-2023 ECU Sustainability Plan

Climate Change Mitigation:
Strategy 3.1 ECU, the Greenville Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Greenville Area Transit (GREAT) will produce documentation to define a cooperative partnership between the university and the city by fall 2020

ECU Strategic Plan - Administration and Finance Unit Plan

Unit Objective 13: Achieve a minimum score of STARS Silver by end of Fiscal Year 2020.

Metrics:
1. AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS)

Unit Actions:
1. Meet and confer with the key leadership in Academics, Engagement, Operations, and Planning/Administration to compile data for STARS submission.
2. Establish framework for periodic updates facilitated through the University’s Sustainability Committee.

LETTER FROM CHANCELLOR CECIL P. STATON - Pages 2-3 in ECU Sustainability Plan
Through the planning process, a powerful vision of ECU anchoring the region emerged: "to provide leadership in fostering a culture of sustainability at ECU and demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of a very diverse people and environment in eastern North Carolina."

DATA SOURCE: Chad Carwein, University Sustainability Manager

NOTE: Nothing has changed for this credit since the 2020 submission because our Sustainability Plan is still active and being implemented. However, our new Chancellor, Phillip Rogers, is undergoing the process of updating our Strategic Plan, but it will not be adopted until summer of 2023.