Michigan State University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

MSU administers its Sustainability Programs through a decentralized sustainability action network made up of several links including committees, program networks, and ambassadors. The MSU Sustainability Action Network consists of: 1) Sustainability Staff; 2) Sustainability Champions Group; 3) The University Sustainable Systems Steering Group (US3G); 4) the Student Sustainability Leadership Council (SSLC); 5) The Campus Sustainability Student Projects Fund (CSSPF) Oversight Committee; 6) Waste Warriors (over 300 members); and 7) Eco-reps student ambassadors. See below for more information about committees that comprise the Sustainability Action Network.

The anchor groups of the action network are sustainability staff and the informal network of Sustainability Champions. Sustainability staff have elements of sustainability as a part of their overall job responsibilities. Sustainability Champions are those that have incorporated sustainability into their job functions in addition to the employee's regular responsibilities. Sustainability Champions serve as peer-educators within their units to further embed sustainability across the university.

The University Sustainable Systems Steering Group (US3G) is a cross-discipline group that serves to advise the President and Director of Sustainability on matters relating to sustainability and climate change. The US3G will oversee the development of the Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. The strategy will serve as the action plan for Michigan State University to advance its role in reducing GHG emissions and transition to a climate neutral economy through sustainability efforts supporting the sustainable development goals. After development of the strategy, the US3G will provide ongoing guidance to the President and Director of Sustainability on the implementation and reporting of progress on the strategy.

The Student Sustainability Leadership Council is the student sustainability advisory group. It consists of members of leadership in student organizations, in individual college advisory groups, and representatives of distinct programs and departments. Their function is to provide student guidance to the Office of Sustainability on sustainability issues and programs and create opportunities for student groups to collaborate on projects, campaigns, and programs. The SSLC enables students to amplify their voice related to important sustainability issues. Representatives bring forward ideas, input and issues of concern from their membership and also share back resources and information gained from serving on the SSLC. Representatives also gain additional leadership experience, planning skills, collaboration tools, and policy understanding.

The CSSPF Oversight Committee is responsible for reviewing proposals requesting funds from the CSSPF. Refer to IN-40 for more information about the CSSPF.

Members of the Sustainability Staff include: the Director of Sustainability, OOS; Laura Young, Sustainability Program Coordinator, OOS; Carla Iansiti, SLE Chief Sustainability Officer, RHS/SLE; Kris Jolley, Manager, Surplus Store and Recycling Center (SSRC); Dave Smith, Recycling Coordinator, SSRC; and Katie Deska, Education Coordinator, SSRC; Tim Potter, Sustainable Transportation Manager, MSU Bikes Service Center; Sherri Jett, Director of Power and Water, IPF; Sarah Geurkink, Farm Manager, Student Organic Farm; Katie Brandt, Educational Programs Manager, Student Organic Farm.

Members of the Sustainability Champions Group include: Lauren Scott, Senior Communications Manager, EVPA; Alex Dardas, Assistant Director - Affinity Giving, MSU Alumni Office; Eric Tans, Environmental Science Librarian, MSU Libraries; Seth Kesler, Associate AD, Athletics; Kyle Sweitzer, Data Resource Analyst, Office of Institutional Research; Lisa Randolph-Stukey, EVPA; Bill McConnell, Associate Professor, Center for Global Change and Earth Observation; Rex LaMore, Director of the Center for Community and Economic Development; Teresa Qu, Associate Professor, Dept of Community Sustainability; Matt Bailey, IPF Landscape Services Manager; Opal Bartzis, Director of the Office of Education Abroad; Jim Lucas, Assistant Dean, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education; Steve Troost, Campus Planner, IPF; Bob Wilson, Instructor, Dept. of Community Sustainability; Louie Hengesbach, Management Analyst, IPF; Yuanji Li; Engineer/Architect, IPF; Guy Halsey, Electrical Engineer, IPF; Alan Prather, Director of the MSU Herbarium; George Berghorn, Assistant Professor, School of Planning, Design, and Construction; TJ Hall, Education Program Coordinator, Health4U; Kristin Traskie, Community Health Associate, Student Health and Wellness; Erica Phillipich, Health Promotion Administrator, Student Health and Wellness; Jody Strank, Assistant Director, RecSports; Patty Oehmke, Associate Director, RecSports; Rebecca Kegler, Assistant Director, RecSports; Deanna East, Assistant Director, Health and Nutrition Institute, MSU Extension; Meg Moore, Associate Director, Graduate Student Life and Wellness; Terence Brown, Assistant Director of Admissions; Richard Lunt, Professor, Dept. Chemical Engineering and Materials Sciences; Stephen Gasteyer, Associate Professor, Dept. of Sociology; Josh Gunn, Associate Director, Community, Food and Environment, MSU Extension; Adam Zwickle, Associate Professor, Dept. of Criminal Justice; John Prush, Public Safety Operations Director, Dept of Police and Public Safety; Ruth Kline-Robach, Outreach Specialist, Dept of Community Sustainability; Mark Sullivan, Associate Professor, MSU Science Gallery/MSU Museum; Sandra Lupien, Director of MSU Mass Timber; Jose Jackson-Malete, Co-Director, Alliance for African Partnership; Amy Jamison, Co-Director, Alliance for African Partnership; Genevieve Cottrell, Chemical Safety Officer, Environmental Health and Safety; Denise Gerst, Senior Purchasing Agent, SLE/RHS Culinary Services; Jason Rowntree, Associate Professor, Dept. of Animal Science; Steve Safferman, Associate Professor, Dept. of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering; Kristin Cetin, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Annick Anctil, Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Vlad Tarabara, Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Norm Graham, Professor, James Madison College; Sean Lawrie, Assistant Director, Environmental Science and Policy Program (ESPP); Erin Dreelin, Associate Director, Center for Water Sciences; Lifeng Luo, Director of ESPP; Verdat Verter, Chairperson, Dept. of Supply Chain Management; Arnold Weinfeld, Director of Workforce and Economic Development Partnerships, Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship/Associate Director, Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. The OOS continues to expand representation within this group.

Members of the US3G include: Director of Sustainability, Office of Sustainability (Co-Chair); Dan Bollman, Vice President, Infrastructure, Planning, Facilities (Co-Chair); Prabu David, Dean, College of Communication Arts and Sciences; Designee from MSU Police; Josh Gunn, Associate Director, Community, Food & Environment Institute, MSU Extension; Phillip Duxbury, Dean, College of Natural Science; Designee from College of Social Science; John Gaboury, Associate Provost for Academic Services, Enrollment Management and Academic Initiatives; Sanjay Gupta, Dean, Eli Broad College of Business; Joe Salem, Dean, MSU Libraries; Leo Kempel, Dean, College of Engineering; Mark Largent, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies; Laurie Thorp, Director, Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment; Chris Long, Dean, College of Arts and Letters; Merri Jo Bales, Vice President and Strategic Director of University Communications; Judith Stoddart, Associate Provost for University Collections and Arts Initiatives; Laurie Van Egeren, Interim Associate Provost for University Outreach and Engagement; Kathy Wilbur, Senior Vice President Government Relations, Governmental Relations; Randolph Rasch, Dean, College of Nursing; Designee from James Madison College; two representatives from the Council of Graduate Students; one undergraduate representative from the Student Sustainability Leadership Council; and one representative from the Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU).

Members of the SSLC include: Laura Graham, ASMSU; Emily Miller, ASMSU; Blake Lajiness, ASMSU CANR; Sophie Nowak, Biosystems Engineering Club; Claire Bott, Climate Reality; Anna Lee, Community Sustainability GSO; Jeremy Rapp, Earth and Environmental Sciences GSO; Will Hamilton, Eco Reps; Olivia Wheeler, Eco Reps; Meredith Freeby, Engineers for a Sustainable World; Mike Porcaro, Engineers for a Sustainable World; Ellie Baden, James Madison College; Abby Frost, James Madison College Student Senate; Alice Puchalsky, MSU Climate Justice Coalition; Robin Waterman, MSU Climate Justice Coalition; Devon Ferguson, MSU Student Housing Cooperative and Eco-Rep; Destyni Luna, PIRGIM; Leah Sargent, PIRGIM; Josh Montgomery Patt, PIRGIM; Sydnie Burnstein, James Madison College; Sophie Iannone, Spartan Sierra Club; Tony Olshansky, Spartan Sierra Club; Alec Said, Spartan Thrift; Spencer Kuehn, Spartan Thrift; Shikha Advani, Spartans Empower Body Acceptance; Cara Hodgins, Spartans Empower Body Acceptance; Kate Harvey, Student Athlete Advisory Committee; Mitch Kreiner, Student Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects; Paige O'Keefe, Student Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects; Ayo Osofisan, Student Greenhouse Project; Justin Thomas, Student Greenhouse Project; Makaila Rawls, Sunrise Movement; Sarah Savage, Sunrise Movement; Lea Dyga, Sunrise Movement, SORT; Miranda Graleski, Sustainable Business Association; Holly Pummell, Sustainable Business Association; Sarah Slinkman, Sustainable Business Association; Lexi Gavlas, Sustainable Business Association; Isabella Barone, Sustainable Business Association; Rosabella Bojin, Sustainable Business Association; Isabella Siroky, Sustainable Business Association; Nick Histman, Sustainable Parks and Recreation Club; Lauren Sawyer, Sustainable Parks and Recreation Club; Arianna Farina, Sustainable Spartans; Ashley Jeon, Sustainable Spartans; Ben Adams, Sustainable Spartans; Abigail Comar, Sustainability Writer; Kelsie Stuber, Urban and Regional Planning Student Association; Lizzy Asker, Veg Club

MSU has established a sustainability office in the Office of the Executive Vice President of Administration to provide the overall coordination of sustainability throughout the university and with external partners. The Office of Sustainability is supported by a portion of three additional positions through the EVPA: Administrative Support; DEI Support; and Communications Support. MSU also includes Sustainability as a key part of their objectives as coordinated through its Planning and Projects Office within the Division of Student Life & Engagement (SLE), formerly Residential and Hospitality Services (RHS). It includes 1 FTE plus student assistants.

Last three years of progress of OOS Director and the Sustainability Action Network -

Over the last 3 years, the office has established and is working to actively embed the framework of 4 pillars of success (Campus, Curriculum, Community, Culture) throughout the institution. It was important to create a framework that embraced all aspects of sustainability where people could see how the work they do makes a difference for advancing sustainability at MSU. The framework reflects what is done operationally to advance sustainability; how sustainability is integrated into teaching, research and experiential learning; how sustainability is a major part of community engagement; and how sustainability is embedded in the institution's planning. The framework has been promoted to the entire university community, including through a MSU Sustainability update provided by the MSU president in celebration of World Environment Day. https://president.msu.edu/communications/messages-statements/2021_community_letters/2021-06-04-sustainability-update.html. Another major accomplishment was the incorporation of sustainability as a part of and embedded throughout the university's strategic plan that will guide the institution for the next decade.

The Office of Sustainability also uses assessment tools and recognition's to help assess progress and achievements. Example sustainability-related recognition's and achievements include:
-Gold rating for STARS reporting through the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
-Gold rating as a Bicycle Friendly University
-Gold rating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for 2020
-Gold campus for Exercise is Medicine
-Tree Campus Higher Education campus for the fourth year
-Gold award recipient in the Residential Dining Facility category for the Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards through The National Association of College and University Food Services.
-No. 4 in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for Sustainable Development Goal No. 2: Zero Hunger.
-Princeton Review Top 50 Green Colleges for 2020, 2021 and 2022 lists.
-Reached U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings goal 2 years early: reduce 20% of energy use in 20 million sq ft of buildings by 2020
-MSU Libraries established as a Climate Resilience Hub by Communities Respond to Extreme Weather (CREW)

Successes in integrating SDGs into the curriculum and student experience:
Through the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assessment process, the Office of Sustainability began identifying and aligning courses with U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as sustainability. In addition, the Office of Study Abroad and the Center for Community Engaged Learning have begun to align their programs with the SDG. The Office of Sustainability has collaborated with the Office of Study Abroad to conduct training and provided resources to faculty on aligning coursework with the SDGs. The Office of Sustainability has identified and is promoting the increased number and successes of MSU's academic innovation centers that address elements of sustainability. This includes amplifying messaging around MSU's work in sustainability through campaigns such as SDG Week, World Environment Day, Earth Month, Garden Month, Semester of the Trees.

Successes in Expanding the Sustainability Action Network Internally
The Surplus Store and Recycling Center established a university wide Waste Warriors program for employees to educate peers about waste minimization and sustainable waste practices and RHS expanded the Eco Rep program for students. In the 2020-2021 school year, the number of students participating in the Eco Reps program nearly doubled from the previous year, and the students involved developed and successfully piloted the Spartan Green Living Certification which encourages and recognizes students for engaging in sustainable behaviors. Organizations have established positions within their organizational structure dedicated to sustainability and that effort is growing in faculty and staff (e.g., MSU Libraries) and students (ASMSU), reflecting how sustainability is being embedded in the institution.

Broadening External Partnerships and Commitments
The Office of Sustainability has strengthened and added many external partnerships. Examples include: West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, U.S. Green Business Council Detroit, Global Challenges University Alliance (GCUA), Big Ten and Friends Sustainability Network (BTAF), Michigan Campus Sustainability Collective, and the Capitol Area Sustainability Partnership. For details, see: https://sustainability.msu.edu/campus-information/STARS/PartnershipsForSDGs.html

New and Revised Programs Promoting Sustainability
The Office of Sustainability has launched multiple programs to engage students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members in sustainable practices. This includes the launch of: the MSU Sustainability Pledge for anyone commit to simple sustainable actions; the MSU Sustainability Graduation Pledge for students to uphold social and environmental responsibility in their personal and professional lives after they leave MSU; the Spartan Green Living Certification Program to certify student living spaces on and off campus for embracing sustainable practices; the Green Office Certification Program to certify MSU units for embracing sustainable practices; and establishing the Student Sustainability Leadership Council (refer to PA 01 for details).

Other accomplishments of the Office and the Sustainability Action Network include advancing health and well-being through sustainable dining. For example, Thrive Dining at Owen Dining hall is the first certified allergen free hall from the big 8 allergens (e.g., eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat). In addition, the Office of Sustainability has partnered with Athletics to identify opportunities to advance sustainability both at athletics venues and the activities held at the venue. For example, the women's basketball team invited the Office of Sustainability to host sustainbility-themed games that engaged 5,000 patrons.

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 University Sustainable Systems Steering 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, IPF,
and academic units; and external partners to identify development and grant
opportunities for sustainability

The Sustainability Program Coordinator (Administrative Business Analyst) is a
critical team member of the MSU Sustainability Program. Specific job duties and
responsibilities include:
designs and implements programs to support a sustainable culture at MSU; serves as a sustainability program liaison communicating with faculty, staff, and external partners engaged in activities to relative sustainable practices; coordinates the Student Sustainability Leadership Council; collects data and analyzes information for sustainability assessments; produces reports to analyze progress in University sustainability programs and practices; fundraising for the Campus Sustainability Student Projects Fund; utilizes various tools for communication and outreach; and other duties as assigned to carry out the mission of Michigan State University.

The SLE (formerly RHS) Chief Sustainability Officer characteristics duties- responsibilities: •Develops, oversees, and implements sustainability procedures and guidelines for the Division of Student Life $ Engagement
•Develops and maintains an integrated sustainability program for Residential and Hospitality Services.
•Develops and coordinates sustainability training for division management and staff.
•Serves as liaison between the operational units in Residential and Hospitality Services, in order to respond to and exchange information with MSU Surplus and Recycling and MSU Waste Management, MSU IPF, MSU Food Stores, etc.
•Assists in establishing, auditing and enforcing MSU Sustainability directives,and goals.
•Conducts periodic inspections and compliance assessments within the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services.
•Prepares written plans for marketing and advertising with brand managers and ensures a unified approach including web, print, multimedia display.
•Develops Environmental Stewardship Team training and follow up.
•Advises administrators on potential sustainability projects and impacts.
•Conducts and/or provides input for sustainability research for the University.
•Provides fiscal oversight of sustainability related purchases.
•Manages inquiries for public speaking and program development.
•Tracks related data and ensures accuracy across all RHS buildings and properties.
•Maintains currency in regard to all applicable LEED regulations and guidelines related to Interiors, New Construction, Existing Buildings, etc.
•Participates in related committees, meetings, conferences, and seminars in order to improve knowledge and consult with experts, peers, and advises student groups. Interacts with: University Sustainability practitioners - in order to receive information and consult on operations, investigations, compliance and training.
Designated Support Staff - in order to provide direction, review operations, assign and review work, and exchange information.
RHS Department Heads, Unit Managers, Staff, Administrators and Employees - in order to review operations, provide training and consultation, answer questions and exchange information.
Representatives of external governing agencies - in order to act as a liaison, respond to inquiries and exchange information.
Supervisor - in order to determine priorities and strategize efforts

Please note that Amy Butler served as Director of Sustainability during the entire reporting period for this STARS report (FY19-21). The position is currently vacant.