Michigan State University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

"Given this report covers the previous three years, the committees that have moved the progress forward are recognized here. In addition, as a part of the ""Moving Forward"" strategy; some membership has changed and representations expanded. The Moving Forward structure is intentionally decentralized, utilizing the advisory committee, the office of sustainability, and then key sustainability relations managers throughout the university. The new overarching advisory group for the university strategy is the Sustainable Systems Steering Group (S3G). It hosts several cross divisional teams including: energy, mobility, academics, organics, food waste, purchasing, and STARS team. The mission of the S3G is to embed sustainable practices at all levels in the university, focused in the four C's Campus Curriculum, Community, and Culture. The S3G also serves as the university communication body for developing the message, and leading strategic planning in future sustainability goals, and identifying key metrics to monitor progress. At the next tier, sustainability teams are spearheaded by the Sustainability Relationship Manager within their divisions. These individuals are champions within their divisions and work to update divisional policies, train new employees in sustainability, and continuously help their division adapt and grow in this area. The sustainability department under the Infrastructure, Planning and Facilities unit has a full-time sustainability officer who works with the IPF green teams, and with the business leadership to strategically implement their goals. They were successful in collecting and publishing MSU's annual sustainability report, and piloting innovative energy conservation programs such as Green League, the Spartan Treasure Hunt, and the Energy Incentive Program. The sustainability relationship manager in Residential and Hospitality Services is responsible for waste reduction progress in the last three years, attends staff orientation and educations new employees in sustainability, spearheads waste reduction programs such as dining hall composting and Pack-Up Pitch In every semester, assists in conducting sustainability marketing and communications, leads projects with students, and many other duties besides. The Surplus Store and Recycling Center Sustainability Relationship Manager works to educate the entire team at that location on sustainability, as well work through all campus recycling, surplus store resale and production, composting, upcycling, and waste audits and sustainability student education. The Sustainability Student Group (S2G) is comprised of three student leaders in sustainability on Campus, with two representatives from prominent sustainability Registered Student Organizations and one sustainability employee in the Association Students of MSU (the university's student government). These students meet regularly with MSU sustainability to discuss student projects and needs, and the students submit post-event summaries of sustainability events to the Office of Sustainability to aide in documenting their efforts and progress. These three students speak on behalf of the students, and their valuable and heard voices help MSU Sustainability push forward pressing issues related to students and sustainability forward. "

"Committees include: the Systems Steering Group (S3G) as listed below. The overarching committee is the Sustainable Systems Steering Group (S3G). There are several Members of the previous serving Systems Team for Sustainability that will continue to serve and join the new members of theS3G including Staff, Faculty, and students. Adam Zwickle, Professor, Criminal Justice, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ben Darling, Land Management Sherri Jett, IPF Director of Utilities Carla Iansiti, RHS Sustainability Diana Twede, Packaging Diane Barker, RHS Sustainability Jan Beecher, Institute for Public Utilities representative Business College Kris Jolley, Surplus & Recycling Joan Rose, Professor, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Laurie Thorp, RISE/Community Sustainability representative, Environmental Health & Safety representative, Student representative, University Services Ron Rosenberg, Engineering Dave Smith, Surplus and Recycling Ruth Kline -Robach, Institute for Water Research Satish Joshi, Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics Stephanie White,Faculty, Community Sustainability Gabrielle Whopi, Student, ASMSU Steve Safferman, Biosystems Engineering Steve Troost, Campus Planning representative, Supply Chain representative, Electrical and Computer Engineering Tom Hult, Eli Broad College of Business Jim Lucas, undergraduate education representative 1, Athletics representative 2, Athletics Student Sustainability Group (S2G): Annalisa Rocca,, Student Holly Pummel, Student Gabrielle Wihongi, Student Energy Transition Operations Committee: Diane Barker, Sustainability Officer, Residential and Hospitality Services Dave Byelich, Assistant Vice President, Office of Planning and Budgets Sherri Jett, Director of Utilities, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Amy Butler, Director of Sustainability Ron Flinn, Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Mark Haas, Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, Administrative Services Carla Iansiti, Culinary Services Sustainability Officer, Residential and Hospitality Services Barb Kranz, Assistant Director for Facilities Planning and Space Management, Office of Planning and Budgets Bill Lakos, Energy Analyst, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Bill Latta, Assistant Vice President for Operations, Administrative Services Bob Nestle, University Engineer, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Vince Schimizzi, University Management Analyst, Office of Planning and Budgets Nate Verhanovitz, Performance Engineer, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities representative Communications Manager, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Mobility Committee Athletics Committee Organics Committee Food Waste Committee Purchasing Committee "

MSU has established a sustainability office in the EVP of Administration to provide the overall coordination of sustainability throughout the university and with external partners. The office is responsible for the strategic application and integration of sustainability across the institution, including divisions and colleges. In the last four years, the office convened a Systems Team for Sustainability - comprised of students, faculty, and staff - with the goal of improving sustainability for energy, water, supply chain (purchasing, waste, recycling, reuse), and food. Numerous research grants for faculty and students were awarded through this committee. An ad hoc Energy Transition Steering Committee was also convened to create a long-range energy plan for the university. The committee completed its activities in April 2012, however responsibility for implementation of the plan continues with an Energy Operations Committee.

"The Director has established the Sustainable Systems Steering Group (S3G). It is multi functional and represents the various departments and divisions across the university. It has met quarterly, but will be moving to monthly. Meetings conducted center around needs and issues that arise divisionally and universally, and discussion leads to solutions for such issues. Each division has its own unique set of skills to bring to the group, but MSU's strategy long-term for sustainability is demonstrated through it's array of sustainability positions scattered throughout the university. Sustainability is imbedded ubiquitously in the framework of the institution, which creates a decentralized sustainability structure that works independently in each division. The S3G creates the opportunity for those divisions to come together to solve problems and innovate practical and efficient solutions divisionally and university-wide. Energy Operations Committee: Using the goals and strategies in the Energy Transition Plan, the Energy Operations Team develops specific recommendations for achieving Energy Transition Plan goals, and presents them to the university’s senior leaders and Board of Trustees to approve for implementation. "

"The MSU Campus Sustainability director reports to the Associate Vice President for Administrative Services. The Director carries out the following responsibilities: • Long-term planning and strategic visioning Facilitates long-term planning and visioning for sustainability goals for the university based on input from strategic internal and external partners, keeping abreast of intrinsic and extrinsic influences that affect sustainability on campus. • Develop and enhance strategic partnerships Develops and enhances strategic partnerships on and off campus among researchers, operations staff, students, organizations, businesses, and peer institutions. • Sustainability Research Facilitates the Sustainability Systems Group and Registered Student Organizations research and sustainability pilot projects. Works with core operations and academic personnel to prioritize environmental issues, identify research areas, select research proposals, and implement research-based recommendations. The director will also be responsible for tracking the data infrastructure for this process. • Unit management and planning Responsible for providing unit level planning for the office including budget, employment needs, and prioritization of projects and initiatives. • Measuring, reporting, and benchmarking campus sustainability efforts Collects and analyzes data to measure and report the long term impact of campus sustainability programs and initiatives. • Secures alternative funding Works with university partners such as University Advancement, Physical Plant, and academic units; and external partners to identify development and grant opportunities for sustainability"

"RHS Sustainability is committed to connecting sustainability, operations, education and research by continuing to be a living laboratory for faculty, staff and students at MSU. RHS works collaboratively with faculty, staff and students to improve our practices while partnering with research and academic programs. [upload: Teams/worksheets/PA Planning and Administration/PA1/RHS Sustainability Responsibilities and Achievements_FINAL"

The Sustainability Program Coordinator (Administrative Business Analyst) is a critical team member of the MSU Sustainability Program. Specific job duties and responsibilities include: designs reports, compiles and analyzes information in order to produce metrics to analyze progress in University sustainability programs and practices, assists in the development of reporting; serves as a sustainability program liaison communicating with faculty, staff, and external partners engaged in activities to relative sustainable practices; utilizes various tools for communication and outreach; and other duties as assigned to carry out the mission of Michigan State University.

MSU Sustainability has six positions: Director, Project Coordinator, Communications Manager, two Energy Educators, and Administrative Assistant. We are a department under the unit Infrastructure Planning and Facilities. Residential and Hospitality Services has its own sustainability office to address specific goals for housing, residence education, and auxiliary facilities. They work closely with MSU Sustainability to ensure that goals are coordinated. Additional websites for information: http://sustainability.msu.edu http://energytransition.msu.edu http://rhs.msu.edu/sustainability