Northern Arizona University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

The Green Fund serves as Northern Arizona University's primary source of sustainability funding, demonstrating our institution's commitment to environmental initiatives. Through the Green Fund, university students, staff, and faculty have the opportunity to propose innovative projects that contribute to sustainability on campus. These proposals undergo a rigorous review process facilitated by a committee of seven students, supported by staff and faculty advisors.

One notable aspect of the Green Fund is its funding mechanism. The fund is sustained by a $15 per student, per semester Green Fee, accumulating to an annual budget of over $600,000. This financial support allows students to utilize fee money to drive positive changes on campus, creating a better environment for themselves, their peers, and future students.

By empowering our community members to propose and implement sustainability projects, the Green Fund supports tangible initiatives and fosters a culture of environmental stewardship among our students, staff, and faculty. It serves as a testament to our institution's dedication to sustainability and the active involvement of our campus community in shaping a greener future.

Watch this video to learn more about the Green Fund and their initiatives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A9uF_OGe1s

Read the letter from President José Luis Cruz Rivera:

December 2022

Earlier this year, I declared a climate emergency and adopted the goal for NAU to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. This statement was made with a pragmatic acknowledgement that words alone are not enough and must, of necessity, be supported by an intentional institution-wide commitment, the investment of appropriate resources, and a willingness to take on difficult challenges ahead in order to be successful.

Today, thanks to the thoughtful planning of the Climate Action Plan Steering Committee and the Climate Action and Sustainability Task Force, I am pleased to share an update on how we will accelerate our work toward carbon neutrality through a suite of foundational investments in capacity and the launch of systematic planning structures that will support an institution-wide commitment to sustainability.

Investments to drive climate action

As with many institutional priorities that we pursue, successful investment in climate action will, in part, be contingent on the contributions of time, talent, and energy from the full spectrum of our Lumberjack community. However, given the expertise needed to orchestrate engagement, review options, recommend actions, prioritize resources, and assess impacts, a core team dedicated to this work is essential. To that end, we will invest in the following three areas to deliver on our climate goals for NAU:

1. Increased personnel capacity

Beginning in January, we will welcome Dr. Erik Nielsen to our university leadership team as NAU’s inaugural Chief Sustainability Officer. Currently, Dr. Nielsen serves as an associate professor in the School of Earth and Sustainability, where he is a respected scholar, a mentor to many students, and an engaged member of the NAU community. In this new role, Dr. Nielsen will oversee a core team in the Office of Sustainability, convene and chair the University Sustainability Advisory Board, and coordinate across university divisions to best position NAU to make clear progress toward carbon neutrality through thoughtful infrastructure investments, as well behavioral, operational, and policy changes.

To appropriately build capacity in support of the work of the Chief Sustainability Officer and Sustainability Manager—as well as the recently hired Sustainability Data Analyst—we will also move forward with two additional key positions: Energy/Water Manager and Conservation Program Coordinator. These positions were identified and prioritized specifically because each component of their work is essential to reducing our carbon footprint through adjustments to energy and water usage in our facilities; behavioral change by students, faculty, and staff that support sustainability; and clear documentation of the university’s carbon footprint and areas of challenge, opportunity, and improvement. We look forward to having these important roles filled in the new year and to their cross-divisional work that will help us meet our carbon neutrality goals.

2. University Sustainability Advisory Board

Similar to the representative advisory boards formed around the university’s budgetary and strategic planning efforts, we will launch a University Sustainability Advisory Board (USAB) under the leadership of Dr. Nielsen in early 2023. This group will be charged with assessing options and making actionable recommendations to the University Advisory Board and Cabinet on high-impact measures that can be taken to reach carbon neutrality. I anticipate that their work will divide into two main workstreams: first, identifying opportunities for swift actions and quick wins that can have an immediate effect in the months ahead, and second, prioritizing recommended actions from the Climate Action Plan Task Force with milestones for steps that must be taken between now and 2030. I look forward to Dr. Nielsen’s recommendations to help finalize the charge and composition of this group, whose membership will combine individuals who have both subject matter expertise and a university-wide perspective to help best inform the work ahead.

3. Green Seed Investment Fund

In conjunction with building out a core team and university advisory body, the third element of our plan is creating a fund that the university can leverage to make responsive, high-impact investments in promising efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality. Beginning in January, we will create a Green Seed Investment Fund with an initial budget of $500,000 to be used based on recommendations from the USAB. This pool of resources will allow us to engage in efforts similar to the previously announced Elevating Excellence investment in campus-wide indoor recycling, which was generously supported by resources from the student-led Green Fund.

The road ahead

With this foundation in place, I look forward to the hard and important work ahead. NAU is well known for its exceptional academic programs and impactful scholarship that advance the study and practice of climate science, climate justice, and sustainability. Now, I am confident that we can draw on this expertise and the collective efforts of our university community to lead the way to a brighter, more just, and more sustainable future through an institutional commitment to sustainability.

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) was established in 1992 with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to promote environmental protection of Native American natural resources. ITEP brings together tribal governments, research and technical resources from Northern Arizona University (NAU), various levels of government (federal, state, and local), and the private sector to strengthen tribal capacity and sovereignty in environmental and natural resource management. ITEP achieves this through culturally relevant education, research, partnerships, and policy-based services. Its ultimate goal is to create a healthy environment that supports strong, self-sustaining tribal communities while respecting their unique cultural perspectives and values. ITEP serves as a leading force in the advancement of tribal environmental protection by promoting collaboration between tribal governments, academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector to drive meaningful change and ensure the preservation of Native American natural resources for future generations.

The work of ITEP exemplifies NAU's commitment to community engagement, environmental stewardship, and the promotion of cultural diversity, making it a distinct asset within the higher education landscape.