Northern Arizona University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The sixth strategy in NAU's 2016 Strategic Plan is: 6. Sustainability and Effectiveness: Exemplify a sustainable, innovative, and effective university community Strategies: a. Model environmentally responsible and sustainable operations and education b. Continue to improve institutional effectiveness and organizational performance c. Maximize faculty, and staff commitment through workforce practices and services that contribute to the long-term viability of the university d. Develop fundraising opportunities in support of expanded capacity to meet the strategic goals

In 2010 a Campus Master Plan was completed with the intent of guiding the development of the Campus while balancing the needs of students, faculty, and visitors. The master plan was produced in collaboration between various Campus entities (student associations and University departments, among others), the community, and the City of Flagstaff. Emphasizing University values, sustainability and functionality were highlighted throughout: https://nau.edu/uploadedFiles/Administrative/Finance_and_Administration/Facility_Services/Folder_Templates/2010_MasterPlan.pdf 2015 NAU Landscape Master Plan: https://nau.edu/uploadedFiles/Administrative/Finance_and_Administration/Facility_Services/Documents/DP_Contract/2015%20Landscape%20Masterplan%20Final.pdf Some sustainability related text from the landscape master plan: Sustainability ▪ Be conscious of water use by utilizing native and adapted plants, zoning low-water use species together in irrigation design to facilitate weaning off of irrigation, limiting the amount of stark gravel areas to decrease heat island effects, and limiting or decreasing the amount of manicured turf areas; ▪ Avoid the use of pesticides/herbicides; ▪ Materials selection includes considerations such as longevity of the material/product and local availability in order to minimize impacts associated with extraction, processing, transport, and maintenance; ▪ As discussed in the ‘Northern Arizona University Design Guidelines’, the University considers stormwater as a resource and encourages designs to collect and infiltrate stormwater;

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Academics---Research/ Academics Objective 1: Embed environmental sustainability issues across the curriculum. Objective 2: Prepare students to compete in and be agents of change for a more sustainability society and economy. Maintain and develop disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs in sustainability. Objective 3: Partner with the community to provide opportunities for students in the green economy.

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Academics---Research/ Research Objective 1: Enhance and maintain the university’s emphasis on environmental and sustainability research and graduate education. Objective 2: Increase the university’s impact on environmental and sustainability research through increased publication and outreach activity. Objective 6: Promote the university as a responsible sustainable organization with experience in and commitment to sustainable practices. Objective 7: Improve fundraising and sponsored projects activities related to sustainability. Objective 8: Maintain and expand the opportunities for undergraduate and graduate student research and for student engagement in off-campus environmental and sustainability activities. Objective 9: provide opportunities for improving green laboratory practices. Objective 10: Create a voluntary carbon offset tracking and payment system for faculty and student research travel.

In the Sustainability Action Plan, actions require the maintenance of: 1) Residence Life maintains one EcoRep in each Residence Hall every year. 2) The Green Fund has very detailed objectives and timeframes. Each semester they accept two rounds of Green Fund proposals. http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/NAU-Green-Fund/ 3) SAP academics: "continue to promote campus-wide learning opportunities by incorporating sustainability themes into the lecture series and other community engagement activities."

Our Sustainability Action Plan has multiple actions that address Public Engagement. Successful progress on the Sustainability Action Plan will be measured by reporting achievements on 25% of each sections’ actions by 2015, 50% by 2016, 70% by 2017, 80% by 2018, 90% by 2019, and 100% by 2020. We measure our progress annually from this formal plan. Formal objectives from the SAP include: WASTE MINIMIZATION AND RECYCLING Objective 1: Reduce waste generated on campus. Action 4: Promote zero waste athletic and special events. (*This includes a great deal of recycling outreach to community members*) TRANSPORTATION Objective 1: Decrease emissions from commuting to and from campus. Action 4: Continue to collaborate with the city, state, and intergovernmental agencies to improve public transportation infrastructure to allow better bus access to campus and throughout the region. For example, increase SafeRide stops, consider expanding EcoPass to students, collaborate with NAIPTA on designing routes with respect to known densities, etc. Action 7: Advocate for sustainable community design throughout campus and the region. The NAU and Flagstaff region provides full-service amenities such as student housing, entertainment, dining, recreation, and green spaces. Promotion and creation of local events and attractions will reduce the need for out-of-region travel OPERATIONS Objective 5: Work with regional partners to negotiate sustainable products into future contracts and large scale purchases. Action 1: Coordinate and establish shared values with Arizona State University and the University of Arizona sustainability offices to determine requirements for future contracts. (Example: at least some recycled content in all paper purchases). Action 2: Discuss sustainable purchasing with other regional partners. Action 3: Continue to investigate opportunities to work with local businesses (Example: SCA). ENERGY AND CLIMATE Objective 4: Utilize renewable energy Action 1: Investigate and pursue opportunities for on-campus renewable energy development through discussions with the Energy Action Team, feasibility studies, class projects, and Green Fund proposals. Action 2: Investigate and pursue opportunities for off-campus renewable energy development through discussions with the Energy Action Team, APS, and community and state partnerships.

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Energy---Climate/ Objective 1: Complete administrative actions to develop the necessary foundation for achieving climate neutrality goal Objective 2: Implement diverse and comprehensive energy conservation programs Objective 3: Implement energy efficiency policies and upgrades Objective 4: Utilize renewable energy

All new buildings have been (since 2014) and will be LEED Gold. http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Operations/ Objective 1: Construct, operate, and maintain buildings sustainably Action 1: Build all new construction and major renovations to LEED Silver standards. Place an emphasis on the LEED energy efficiency category and ensure that buildings are 30% more efficient than the national average Responsible Party: Construction, Design and Planning Action 2: Investigate opportunities for LEED Existing Building Operation and Maintenance (EBOM) certification. Responsible Party: Construction, Design and Planning, Housing and Residence Life, Office of Sustainability Action 3: Move towards a “Group Relamp Program” to decrease resource expenditure associated with individual lamp replacement and to improve indoor environment for occupants. Responsible Party: Operations, Utilities Action 4: Fund operations and maintenance to levels consistent with the national average. Responsible Party: Finance and Administration Action 5: Incorporate formal Life Cycle Analysis into planning and prioritizing for deferred maintenance efforts as well as for planning construction. Responsible Party: Planning, Design and Construction, Operations

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Energy---Climate/ Objective 1: Complete administrative actions to develop the necessary foundation for achieving climate neutrality goal Objective 2: Implement diverse and comprehensive energy conservation programs Objective 3: Implement energy efficiency policies and upgrades Objective 4: Utilize renewable energy

Our Dining Services provider, SODEXO, has 14 Commitments to a Better Tomorrow http://nau.edu/uploadedFiles/Administrative/EMSA_Sites/Dining/_Media/14CommitmentsFlyer.pdf http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Procurement/ Objective 3: Support sustainable food purchasing Action 1: Support Dining Services efforts to purchase sustainable food as outlined by the Real Food Challenge’s guidelines for real food. The four guidelines are:  Local/Community based food  Socially just companies; fair treatment of employees  Ecologically sound conditions: conservation and environmental stewardship  Humane treatment of animals Action 2: Support Dining Services efforts to convert all retail, catering, and concessions take-away materials to be either recyclable or compostable and continue to investigate sustainable or zero-waste opportunities within food service operations

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Operations/ Objective 2: Reduce the impact of chemicals used in operations of campus buildings and grounds. Action 1: Commit to use 100% Green Seal Certified, or other “Green” 3rd party certified paints, cleaning, and other chemical products. Responsible Party: Operations Action 2: Continue test-plot research on non-toxic grounds maintenance methods until a successful method is discovered and herbicide and pesticide use on campus is eliminated. Responsible Party: Operations, Housing and Residence Life, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Action 3: Pursue landscape design and plant material selection to minimize or eliminate need for pest and weed control measures (e.g., native plant selection, semi-natural plant assemblages where appropriate in campus open areas, use of hardscape elements to reduce turf). Responsible Party: Operations, Housing and Residence Life, Planning, Design and Construction Objective 3: Increase conservation of on- and off-campus natural resources Action 1: Create a University Tree Preservation Policy Responsible Party: Operations, Office of Sustainability Action 2: Meet and maintain requirements of the Arbor Day Foundation for yearly certification of Tree Campus USA designation. Responsible Party: School of Forestry, Operations, Office of Sustainability Action 3: Maintain, improve, and expand campus organic gardens. Responsible Party: Campus Organic Gardener, University College Action Research Teams, Office of Sustainability Action 4: Create designated areas for wildlife habitat and pollinator friendly gardens. Responsible Party: Campus Organic Gardener, Office of Sustainability, Operations Action 5: Obtain long-term protection for NAU managed research and education lands such as the Historic School Forest and the Centennial Forest. Responsible Party: Legal Affairs, Government Affairs, School of Forestry, Finance and Administration Action 6: Preserve existing Green Space and incorporate new Green Space into campus planning where appropriate. Responsible Party: Planning, Design and Construction

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Procurement/ Objective 1: Quantify the amount of green products purchased on campus Objective 2: Improve sustainable purchasing requirements in future contracts Objective 3: Support sustainable food purchasing Objective 4: Improve marketing and awareness of available green products Objective 5: Work with regional partners to negotiate sustainable products into future contracts and large scale purchases Objective 6: Implement a life cycle cost (financial and environmental) analysis for the purchase of any major energy or water using products

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Transportation/ Objective 1: Decrease emissions from commuting to and from campus Objective 2: Decrease emissions from commuting on campus Objective 3: Decrease NAU vehicle emissions each year Objective 4: Decrease emissions from domestic and international travel

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Waste-Minimization-and-Recycling/ Objective 1: Reduce waste generated on campus Objective 2: Increase the reuse of all reusable materials on campus Objective 3: Increase recycling for all recyclable materials on campus

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Water/ Objective 1: Reduce the gallons of potable water used annually Objective 2: Implement water conservation practices for landscaping Objective 3: Improve stormwater management

Under our Affirmative Action Plan, you can find our Affirmative Action Recruitment Goals for Minorities and Women There are 100's of goals to attain regarding the hiring of diverse populations on this page: http://nau.edu/uploadedFiles/Offices_and_Committees/Affirmative_Action/_Forms/Goals%20report%202015%20final.pdf The third tenant of sustainability is social justice so this relates to sustainability. The Office of Diversity has four main plans and reports: Affirmative Action Plan Latino/Hispanic Study President's Diversity and Equity Statement University Strategic Planning

http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Operations/ Objective 4: Invest sustainably Action 1: Work towards implementing sustainable investment best practices such as the creation of a Committee on Investor Responsibility or investment in sustainable categories as defined by the Association for the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainable Tracking, Assessing and Rating System (STARS) report. Responsible Party: NAU Foundation

The Health Promotions Department have different requirements for their many different initiatives: http://nau.edu/health-services/health-promotions/ Same for Office of Employee Assistance and Wellness http://nau.edu/EAW/Services/

The sixth strategy in NAU's 2016 Strategic Plan is: 6. Sustainability and Effectiveness: Exemplify a sustainable, innovative, and effective university community Strategies: a. Model environmentally responsible and sustainable operations and education b. Continue to improve institutional effectiveness and organizational performance c. Maximize faculty, and staff commitment through workforce practices and services that contribute to the long-term viability of the university d. Develop fundraising opportunities in support of expanded capacity to meet the strategic goals

To find the link to our Climate Action Plan, you have to click on the "2010 Action Plan" link on the given page: http://nau.edu/Green-NAU/SAP-Home/ Our Climate Action Plan was created in 2010. Many of the Goals have been achieved and actions have been completed. In 2015 we rewrote the plan with specific goals, objectives, actions, and responsible parties. Many of the responses to this page relate directly to specific sections of that report. Successful progress on the Sustainability Action Plan will be measured by reporting achievements on 25% of each sections’ actions by 2016, 50% by 2017, 70% by 2018, 80% by 2019, 90% by 2020, and 100% by 2021.