Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

As stewards of the IUPUI campus and of all its resources, we recognize the interdependence of humans with the environment. We must apply thoughtful and creative planning to achieve a thriving campus community built on the principles of sustainability. We must foster conservation, protection and enhancement of natural resources through campus policy and personal behavior. We must promote a common agenda for IUPUI as a green campus. We must preserve and enhance the quality of life for our campus community and future generations in ways that enhance teaching and learning, research, civic engagement and administrative practices.

Leadership Commitment and Measures. We will offer the leadership and planning needed to carry out these principles. We will establish goals, objectives, and indicators; select priority projects; conduct an annual self-evaluation of progress through established campus reporting; and produce a campus-wide report.

Recycling and Waste Reduction. We will work to raise the environmental consciousness of the IUPUI community. The subcommittee advocates programs that promote environmentally sound purchasing practices as well as reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste materials. Learn more about recycling initiatives.

Land, Air, and Water Management. We value and conserve natural resources and will seek to preserve and sustainably use air, water, and land. We will protect and conserve nonrenewable natural resources through efficient use, careful planning, collaborative land management programs, and regulatory compliance. We will minimize use of substances that may cause environmental damage to the air, water, land, or its inhabitants and seek alternative substances that are more environmentally friendly. We will safeguard habitats affected by our facilities and operations and promote biological diversity, especially on and near the public lands we manage. We will conserve and increase greenspace through comprehensive planning. Learn more about land, air, and water management initiatives.

Energy Use. We will conserve energy and improve the energy efficiency of our buildings, vehicles, and equipment as well as the goods and services we use. Learn more about energy conservation initiatives.

Purchasing Products and Services. We will pool our knowledge and resources to buy green products and services where possible and work to adopt joint purchasing practices. We will work with our suppliers to adopt sustainable approaches and solutions. We will partner to create a stronger market for environmentally friendly and regionally produced products and services. Learn more about green products and services.

Design and Management of the Built Environment. We will try to design, build, restore, and manage our facilities and grounds using sustainable materials and practices. We will implement the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system or an equivalent rating when possible. Total life cycle costs, energy use, and environmental impact are factors that will influence material selection and practices. Learn more about the built environment initiatives.

Public Health. We will work to raise awareness about how the environment affects individual and community health. We will monitor our policies and practices to see if they might cause environmental and occupational hazards. When potential risks are identified, we will seek solutions. Learn more about public health initiatives.

Education. Through education, we will develop and support environmentally aware and engaged students, faculty, staff, and community members. We will collaborate with the campus community to implement these principles. We will work with academic units to enhance and expand the teaching of sustainability.

Sustainability Steering Committee:
Angie Hill, Auxiliary Services Administration, Auxiliary Services
Joe Hayes, Assistant Dean of Students and Director, Campus Center and Student Experiences
Jeff Plawecki, Associate VC Facilities, Campus Facility Services
Holly Thomas, Energy Engineer, Campus Facility Services
Josh Miller, Building Operations Manager, Campus Facility Services
Evan Green, Mechanical Utility Project Coordinator, Campus Facility Services
Rich Thompson, Senior Associate University Architect for Research, Capital Planning
Vacant, University Landscape Architect, Capital Planning
Jennifer Boehm, Asst. VC, Community Engagement, Community Engagement
Pierre-Andre Jacinthe, Director/Associate Professor, Earth Sciences
Gabriel Filippelli, Professor Earth Sciences/Center for Urban Health
Angela Reece, Work-Life Consultant, Healthy IU, Employee Health Engagement
David Goodman, Assistant Professor, Engineering and Technology
Kevin Mouser, Environmental Manager, Environmental Health and Safety
Vacant, Assistant VC for Finance and Administration, Finance and Administration
Pamela Napier, Faculty, Herron School of Art & Design
Josh Skillman, Associate Dean of Students/Director of Housing and Residence Life, Housing and Residence Life
Peter Schubert, Director, Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy Lugar Center
Deb Ferguson, Assistant Director, Office of Sustainability
Jessica Davis, Director, Office of Sustainability
Cristina Padilla, Sustainability Engagement Coordinator, Office of Sustainability
Patricia S. Fox, Clinical Assistant Professor, Organizational Supervision and Leadership / Engineering and Technology
Amanda Cecil, Chair, Tourism Convention Event Mgmt., School of Human & Health Sciences
Jerome Dumortier, Assistant Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
David Craig, Professor, Liberal Arts, Religious Studies
Student President, GPSG,Graduate Professional Student Government
Student President, SSC Student Sustainability Council
Student President, USG Undergraduate Student Government

The IUPUI Office of Sustainability is dedicated to creating a culture of campus sustainability, to making IUPUI a place where faculty, students, and staff are engaged in research, teaching, and learning about urban sustainability and its best practices.

We strive to be a leader among higher education institutions in this arena as well as a national model for urban sustainability in both academic offerings and campus operations.

We are committed to creating a campus and community that is engaged in the practice of urban sustainability. We promote education and action through programs of environmental stewardship, energy conservation, applied environmental science and policy research, environmental literacy and community outreach.

The IUPUI Office of Sustainability provides sustainability support and guidance across campus in three main areas:

1. Operations – renewable energy and energy efficiency, waste diversion and minimization, water efficiency, sustainable landscaping, built environment, purchasing, sustainable food options, alternative transportation, and greenhouse gas emission reductions
2. Academics/Research – course development and redesign, immersive sustainability academic experiences, support for sustainability research, and use of campus as a living laboratory
3. Engagement – student orientation, student life, residential experiences, outreach campaigns, equity, collaboration with over 30 partners across the city, community-based internships, and the Indiana Sustainability Development Program (a Sustainability Workforce Development program providing student's sustainability externships in municipalities, for-profit and nonprofit agencies throughout the state of Indiana

The Office of Sustainability consists of three full-time staff members and 6-12 student interns at any given time. The IUPUI Office of Sustainability is dedicated to creating a culture of campus sustainability, to making IUPUI a place where faculty, students, and staff are engaged in research, teaching, and learning about urban sustainability and its best practices.

The IUPUI Sustainability Strategic Plan for 2018-2025 can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hTy9sRDYQ-WQJh4YNLsg4j-1p2nJAI_9/view?usp=sharing
The Strategic Plan is develop around the 3 key areas of Academics & Research, Operations, and Engagement

Notable IUPUI Sustainability achievements to date include:
(1) IU Natatorium became the first athletic Olympic venue to host a zero-waste event during the Olympic Diving Trials in June, 2016
(2) Exemplary Higher Education Sector Parking, LEEP Campaign (2017) – IUPUI received national recognition among all higher education parking garages for energy efficiency projects, resulting in a total energy reduction of 58%
(3) Bee Campus USA, Bee City USA (2017) – IUPUI was the first state university in Indiana to receive Bee Campus USA designation, demonstrating the university’s commitment to sustainable landscape practices
(4) Environmental Innovator of the Year, Green Sports Alliance (2017) – IUPUI was nationally recognized for hosting Indiana’s first zero waste athletic event with a waste diversion rate of 93%
(5) Sustainable Campus Competition, Kimberly Clark (2016) – IUPUI in collaboration with Butler University, defeated 225 colleges and universities to create a commercial compost service in the Indianapolis community
(6) STARS Gold University, AASHE (2019);(Silver 2013, 2016) – STARS, a global sustainability rating system, awarded IUPUI a silver rating
(7) Tree Campus USA, Arbor Day Foundation (2012-present) – IUPUI has earned this national designation for its commitment to tree care
(8) IUPUI hosts Indiana's first Campus Kitchen, the Campus Kitchen at IUPUI (CKIUPUI), which has rescued over 31,000 pounds of food, through the assistance of over 2,000 volunteers to provide over 10,400 meals to the food insecure, adding an economic value of over $55,000. These efforts were recognized during the 2018 Sustainability Summit, when CKIUPUI received the Indianapolis’ Sustainable Institution of the Year Award
(9) In 2017, Campus Kitchens Projects, a national organization, recognized IUPUI’s leadership by naming it host of the 2018 Food Waste and Hunger Summit, 290 registrants/70 IU attendees/38 IUPUI volunteers/45 other universities were in attendance
(10) In 2018, IUPUI Sustainability selected to co-host the Inaugural City of Indianapolis’ Sustainability Summit and repeated with the 2019 Indianapolis Sustainability Summit on April 17, 2019
(11) In 2016, IUPUI Sustainability and the Indianapolis’ Office of Sustainability co-hosted the InVision Resiliency, a 24 hour Climathon event at Hine Hall
(12) IUPUI was ranked Sierra Magazine’s No. 57 Cool School in 2017; the highest university rating to date
(13) Since 2012, IUPUI has purchased 10% of its electricity needs as renewable energy through Indianapolis Power and Light’s Green Power Option. By doing so, IUPUI was named the Summit League Champion of the EPA’s Green Power Partnership, (2013-present)
(14) IUPUI has seven LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, buildings: the James J. Fritts, D.D.S. Clinical Care Center; the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute; the Neuroscience Building; North Hall; the Rotary Building; the Science and Engineering Laboratory Building; and University Hall. All newly constructed buildings at IUPUI must meet LEED Gold certifications.
(15) Since 2018, IUPUI Sustainability has partnered with IUB Sustainability to support the Indiana Sustainability Development Program (ISDP), a statewide workforce development program that partners with Indiana-based private, public and nonprofit organizations to host IU and IUPUI students in a summer externship throughout the Hoosier state to provide solutions based sustainability expertise. ISDP is supported by the McKinney Family Foundation.
(16) IUPUI 2019 Arbor Day: 50 Trees in the 50th Anniversary were planted with the support of IUPUI students, Campus Facility Services and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. IUPUI also became the 1st institution to adopt all 68 blocks of campus as part of KIB’s Adopt-A-Block program. This commitment to keep public spaces clean and beautiful will make IUPUI the largest “KIB Adopt-A-Block Captain” in Indianapolis. The 2019 Arbor Day celebration was highlighted on Fox59
(17) Hosted Virtual Earth Month events, April 2020 available on our You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuAYz8JvSBNogrAsxASBQw
(18) Host of the Virtual 2020 Indiana Sustainability and Resilience Conference (ISRC) 09/01-09/02/2020, made possible by the McKinney Family Foundation, is a productive, annual gathering of sustainability professionals and champions from across the state of Indiana. Themed Sustainability as an Economic Driver, the Conference is designed to showcase local successes, share best practices, engage in place-based problem solving, and facilitate collaboration to advance sustainability in the Hoosier state.
(19) Recipient of a 2020 IDEM Pollution Prevention Grant $12,199 to support the expansion of our EV Campus Grounds Fleet.
(20) IUPUI Sustainability director, Jessica Davis, was recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as the Regional Sheroe for the East North Central region. The USGBC recognizes women in the industry who emerge as respected sustainability leaders - women who encourage and inspire those around them through their actions, conversations and behaviors, moving the industry forward.
https://www.usgbc.org/articles/usgbc-recognizes-regional-sheroes-leadership-march?kui=a9Vzs0zyTf-Ac2iO269K3w&fbclid=IwAR0C9mP1W4uBlOlBO9YsxZWNrJybYMJJuvkhsuDH45SwA3j1Oeseeb19YDM
(21) Spring 2020, Jags Helping Jags: Launch of Paw's Express Addresses Two Growing Issues on Campus - a program designed to address both food insecurity and food waste. Paw's Express provides Paw's Pantry customers with nutritious meals consisting of rescued food, during times when they can't shop the pantry to help fill gaps in service.
https://news.iu.edu/stories/2020/02/iupui/jagnews/19-paws-express.html?fbclid=IwAR1owPUvfx7_G10faYaUO-xV75ZXv4MWbC20oYljHvUQIp8y2u3D0FeCG_k
(22) Jessica Davis, director of IUPUI Sustainability, has been named one of the Indiana Recycling Coalition 's 30 Recycling Rock Stars! As part of their 30th anniversary, the IRC has named 30 individuals who have made a significant impact on the organization, its mission, and the circular economy in the state of Indiana. Davis has been recognized for her leadership on waste reduction, recycling and composting.

More sustainability successes can be found at https://sustainability.iupui.edu/

We also have a Sustainability Operations Committee that meets quarterly that includes members from Campus Facility Services, Parking & Transportation services and the Office of Sustainability
https://cfs.iupui.edu/sustainability.html
https://parking.iupui.edu/transportation/index.html

We also have a Greening IUPUI Grant Committee that reviews and selects annual proposals for investment in Sustainability Initiatives. Proposals should focus on one or more of the following areas: Planning & Administration (Strategic initiatives, diversity, affordability, innovation); Academic (Courses, research, other educational pursuits); Campus Engagement (student engagement programs, events); Public Engagement (volunteer opportunities, campus-community partnerships); Operations (Grounds, energy, waste, water, purchasing, transportation, buildings); Health & Wellness (Food, health, equity, and human sustainability)
https://sustainability.iupui.edu/resources/greening-iupui/index.html