Florida International University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

President Mark Rosenberg appointed the Sustainability Committee in January of 2010. The committee is uniquely comprised of an equal number of students, faculty, and staff. The committee’s main charge is to recommend policies and procedures to the President regarding the integration of environmental sustainability into its operations, education, research, and outreach. Upon its creation the committee established 15 Guiding Principles for FIU Sustainability in areas pertaining to education; teaching and research; land and resource management; service, outreach, and extension; energy and climate change; transportation; water resource management; agriculture and dining services; built environment; solid waste reduction; procurement; investment; health; monitoring; and stewardship. In addition the committee also reviews and awards funding to sustainable student projects both on and off campus. For example, Spring 2016 recipients received funding for an eco-couture fashion show on campus and off campus students held a City of Sweetwater cleanup that included the purchase of trash cans and signage to improve litter issues along main city corridors and waterways.

Current Committee Members: Students Rolando Martinez, Student Government Association- Modesto Maidique Campus, Sustainability Chair Michelle Poletti, GLADES President Rosemary Hannah, Student Government Association- Biscayne Bay Campus, Sustainability Rep Carlos Formoso, VP ASCE Club Open Faculty Peter Craumer, Associate Professor, Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies Hector R. Fuentes, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering John Stuart, Professor, Department Chair, School of Architecture Ebru Ozer, Associate Professor, College of Architecture + The Arts Carlos Parra, Clinical Professor, Department of Marketing, College of Business Staff Nick DiCiacco, Senior Director, Facilities Management Julissa Castellanos, Director of Operations, Vice Provost's Office El Pagnier Hudson, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources Kelly Loll, Director, Purchasing, Office of the Controller Eric Arneson, Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs Committee Chair Tom Hartley, Director, Parking and Transportation Ex-Officio Ali Dutton, Sustainability Manger, Office of University Sustainability

The Office of University Sustainability was created to centralize sustainable initiatives and reduce FIU's carbon footprint. The mission of Florida International University Office of University Sustainability is to implement policies and procedures regarding the integration of environmental sustainability into its operations, education, research, and outreach. The Office of University Sustainability will encourage and facilitate the collaborative efforts of students, faculty, and staff to generate knowledge, acquire skills, develop values, and initiate practices that contribute to a sustainable, high quality of life on campus, in the state of Florida, and across the globe. The FIU Office of University Sustainability envisions FIU as a global leader in environmentally sustainable, economically feasible, and socially just practices. The Office strives to instill in the university community “best practices” in all areas, to significantly reduce our negative impacts on the natural environment. It seeks to create a permanent position of leadership in sustainable practices through the creation of an Office of University Sustainability with the budgetary and administrative powers required to implement policies that make FIU a global model of environmental stewardship.

In 2013 the Modesto A. Maidique Campus celebrated the grand opening of yet another outdoor recreation space for students, faculty and staff: the FIU Jogging Path, a lighted footpath that surrounds the FIU Nature Preserve managed by the Office of University Sustainability. The FIU Jogging Path is 0.6 miles long and has six workout stations along the path. Made from approximately 5,640 recycled tires, the ground material offers pedestrians and joggers better traction and a softer surface that is better for feet, ankles and knees. In addition, the material is durable and able to withstand South Florida’s rainy season and strong sun. In 2013, the Sustainability Program Coordinator created the FIU Urban Forestry Internship Program through support from the Florida Forest Service, the FIU Department of Biological Sciences and the FIU Department of Earth and Environment. This program made it possible to fund student internship positions solely dedicated to the education and outreach, maintenance, and conservation of the FIU Nature Preserve. In 2014 Eco-Couture was created with the purpose of promoting sustainability through fashion. Through collaborative effort from FIU students, the FIU Office of Sustainability, and Florida International University’s School of Architecture, Eco-Couture features a recycled fashion show competition, giveaways of recycled projects, and recycled art installations. Through this event, Eco-Couture strives to educate and inspire the community about good recycling habits and a sustainable lifestyle. Students from FIU create and model outfits that are made only of recycled materials. This event has become an annual tradition. In 2015 approximately 4 acres of exotic invasive species were removed from the northern portion of FIU's 11 acre Nature Preserve in preparation of re-vegetating with over 2,000 native species. Also in 2015, The Nature Preserve received an Award of Excellence from the Florida Native Plant Society Landscape Awards for five years of restoration efforts. In March 2016, FIU approved it's first prescribed burn to support the conservation efforts of our globally imperiled pine rocklands. This activity was very successful and we will continue improving our pine rocklands through best management practices for this unique ecosystem. In partnership with the National Campus Leadership Council, Defend Our Future, and the Environmental Defense Fund, Florida International University was one of six universities selected to host the 2016 Climate Leadership Summit. This event aims to create and empower climate solution makers by bringing together public officials, business professionals, academics, and student leaders.