Northern Arizona University
EN-13: Community Stakeholder Engagement

NAU's 2013 Strategic Plan embraces stakeholder engagement in two of its six goals:

1) Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Community Building: Promote issues of diversity, civility, democracy, citizenship, and community engagement and collaboration.
Strategies:
a. Expand diversity of the university community
b. Foster a community of inclusion and prepare students to engage in and understand the complexities of the human experiences
c. Enhance the university as a regional economic development driver and partner
d. Foster programs linked to civic engagement
e. Promote community engagement

2) Commitment to Native Americans: Become one of the nation’s leading universities serving Native Americans
Strategies:
a. Increase the enrollment and improve the progress and success of Native American students by nurturing a university climate and culture that enhances their academic experiences
b. Develop collaborative service and outreach programs with Native American communities
c. Promote engagement with and appreciation and understanding of Native American cultures and tribal nations within the university and in the broader community

NAU has multiple institutes and centers across diverse departments that each work to engage their issue specific community stakeholders.

For example,
The Ecological Restoration Initiative has collaborated with dozens of Federal, State, and Local Agencies and Representatives and tribes to work on Northern Arizona's For the Forest Restoration Initiative: http://www.4fri.org/pdfs/documents/NEPA/draft-eis-ch4-feb2013.pdf
4FRI Stakeholder Group Steering Committee includes Ethan Aumack of the Grand Canyon Trust, Pascal Berlioux of Arizona Forest Restoration Products Inc., Ed Smith of The Nature Conservancy, Sarah Reif of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Todd Schulke of the Center for Biological Diversity, Gila County Supervisor Tommie Martin, Navajo County Supervisor David Tenney, Steve Gatewood of the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Paul Summerfelt with the City of Flagstaff, Molly Pitts with the Northern Arizona Wood Products Association and Diane Vosick of the Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University.

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) collaborate with The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, National TWRAP Steering Committee, and USEPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) to host their annual Tribal Lands and Environment Forum.

Each institute, center, or other sub-department of the university identifies its own community stakeholders.
There are three examples listed above (Ecological Restoration Initiative, Northern Arizona's For the Forest Restoration Initiative, The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals)
NAU’s CRAFTS: Civic Re-engagement for Arizona Families, Transitions and Sustainability fosters sustainable communities through engaged learning, community partnerships, and action research with NAU. They support the many community partners, student based Action Research Teams, and members of the broader Flagstaff community in their efforts towards shifting the pedagogical structure in higher education while practicing the very essence of living sustainability through civic democratic practice.
Through CRAFTS, many groups work with the community:
• The Action Group for Water Advocacy works with Friends of Flagstaff Future, City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program, and community members to address water.
• Art Through All Mediums works to bring art to the Flagstaff community through a variety of outlets.
• Flagstaff Foodlink is a community organization that NAU CRAFTS participate and lead regularly. It aims to offer strong educational, organizational and fundraising tools to the exciting, emergent local food movement in the greater Flagstaff community.
• Health Education About Lifestyles and Therapies Holístico: Community partners include local practitioners, the Applied Indigenous Studies Department of NAU, and the Freshman seminars.
• The Immigration Action Research Team’s community partners include Repeal Coalition, No Más Muertes, MEChA, and NAIC.
• New Economy of Northern Arizona partners with “THE BUSINESS OF CHANGE” First Year Seminar, Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET), Sustainable Economic Development Initiative of Northern Arizona (SEDI), the new Upsilon Chi (YX) Coed Entrepreneurship Fraternity at NAU, and the New Economic Institute (NEI), a national network working toward building a new economy with a focus on students and youth.
• Public Achievement ART is partnered with: The national Public Achievement organization, Program in Community, Culture & Environment, Sustainable Environments and Engaged Democracy (SEED) Freshman Learning Community, Master of Arts in Sustainable Communities (SUS), Flagstaff Unified School District, Killip Elementary School, Kinsey Elementary School, Kinlani Dormatory
• Students for Sustainable Living and Urban Gardening works with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) – (seed exchange group), Indigenous Studies program – (medicinal herb group), Grounds/Facilities – (composting group), NAU Dining – (composting group), Exodus Outdoor Adventure youth group – (composting)

The Civic Service Institute partners with dozens of organizations to provide volunteer opportunities for students. Examples of projects and agencies they partner with include:
• Northland Family Help Center
• Arizona’s Children Association
• Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth’s Flagstaff PAWS: Promoting Assets With Sculpture
• Schultz Flood Clean-up w/ Coconino County
• Inn Transitions/ Royal Inn
• El Nathan Camp
• St. Mary’s Food Bank
• Flagstaff Family Food Center
• Second Chance Center for Animals
• Northstar Youth Ranch
• Visit CSI’s website to view many more: http://nau.edu/SBS/CSI/Programs/