New Mexico State University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The mission of the NMSU Sustainability Council is to coordinate sustainability-related activities and efforts throughout the New Mexico State University system and to residents statewide. While a primary goal is making sustainability awareness part of the experience of all NMSU students, council members recognize that addressing the many challenges revolving around sustainability issues calls for the involvement of everyone. University faculty, staff and students are committed to working with individuals, community organizations, business owners, farmers and ranchers, and local, state and national leaders. a) Composed of volunteers from the faculty, staff and student body, and other stakeholders 1. Operations (OP) This committee is made up of representatives from Facilities and Services (FS), Auxiliary Services, and Housing and Residential Life departments, as well as others concerned with maintaining buildings and infrastructure sustainably at NMSU. The Operations Committee has a large role in greening the campuses including Grounds, Energy and Utilities, plumbing, electrical, custodians, and recycling. 2. Education This committee ensures that sustainability is infused throughout the core curriculum to give each graduate of NMSU multiple perspectives for dealing with sustainability-related challenges. The ER committee will also work to identify and support sustainability-related research by NMSU faculty. "Greening the Curriculum" is a sub-committee that has created three sustainability minors in agriculture, business, and anthropology in 2014. 3. Outreach The Outreach committee works to institutionalize sustainability at NMSU through sustainability coordination, incorporating sustainability into campus plans, and developing further plans to move toward sustainability. Outreach committee helps NMSU organize, implement, and publicize sustainability initiatives, providing the infrastructure that fosters sustainability within an institution. This is the committee that does outreach to the community (City of Las Cruces, county, and statewide). 4. Programs and Education - this committee is responsible for finding speakers for each monthly meeting.

Council Chair - David Boje, faculty) Council past-chair - Steve Self, staff Committee chairs: 1) Operations - Pat Chavez 2) Education - Dave Dubois and Luis Rios 3) Outreach - vacant 4) Programs and Education - joni newcomer Student co-chairs for each committee

The Office of Sustainability (OoS) is responsible for developing policies and guidelines for protecting natural resources, reducing the university's ecological footprint and ensuring accountability for green building and low impact development. • Environmental sustainability initiatives on issues ranging from climate change to recycling and water conservation • Academic programs and educational outreach activities aimed at enhancing faculty, staff, and student environmental literacy and awareness • Be a resource for those pursuing sustainability initiatives • Create Sustainable Building Design Standards for new construction and renovations • Utility conservation to reduce energy use and associated costs • Recycling initiatives to increase landfill space and lower disposal costs • Student support for environmental projects and student organizations • Climate Leadership Commitment (ACUPCC) reporting The Environmental Education Center (EEC) is run by the sustainability manager. The EEC was designed by the sustainability manager and constructed as a green building. The Center is open to everyone – campus and local community alike. Some of the teaching points you’ll see at the Center are: • Zero VOC paint • Interface carpet tiles that have been re-used from another location • Furnishings that are all reused • LED lighting on occupancy sensors • Rapidly-renewable bamboo veneer cabinets and doors • Hydration station • Re-used blue jean insulation that can be seen through the “Honesty Window” in the wall • Video system to show webinars and environmental movies • What makes a building LEED • The 10 sustainability initiatives

The all-volunteer Sustainability Council is our institution and community-wide mechanism for broad sustainability coordination.

The Office of Sustainability (OoS) is responsible for developing policies and guidelines for protecting natural resources, reducing the university's ecological footprint and ensuring accountability for green building and low impact development. • Environmental sustainability initiatives on issues ranging from climate change to recycling and water conservation • Academic programs and educational outreach activities aimed at enhancing faculty, staff, and student environmental literacy and awareness • Be a resource for those pursuing sustainability initiatives • Create Sustainable Building Design Standards for new construction and renovations • Utility conservation to reduce energy use and associated costs • Recycling initiatives to increase landfill space and lower disposal costs • Student support for environmental projects and student organizations • Climate Leadership Commitment (ACUPCC) reporting

The Office of Sustainability was created in 2010. The Environmental Education Center was opened March 2015