Northern Michigan University
EN-3: Student Life

Active student groups include: Conservation Crew, Environmental & Conservation Law Club, Hoop House, EcoReps, Fisheries and Wildlife Association, and Northern Climate Network, Citizens Climate Lobby These groups do many things, including (1) exploring lifestyles, life choices, education, and careers in line with these practices; (2) grassroots activism on campus and within our community; and (3) organizing and attending functions designed to create awareness for the necessity of sustainable living; (3) promote climate policies on campus; (4) organize community events.

The Northern Michigan University (NMU) Hoop House serves as a collaborative learning center for eaters of all ages who are curious about where food comes from and how it is grown. Through research and education on sustainable agriculture, the project aims to expand our local food system, increase food security, and provide increased access to fresh, healthy food.

The NMU Hoop House produces and donates sustainably grown produce. This hoop house employs and is operated by NMU students. It serves as a collaborative learning center for eaters of all ages who are curious about where food comes from and how it is grown. Through research and education on sustainable agriculture, the project aims to expand our local food system, increase food security, and provide increased access to fresh, healthy food. NMU students also manage the Climbers Cooperative in town, which is open to students and community members who are interested in permaculture and sustainable living.

At the budget meeting in the summer of 2020, the Board of Trustees approved the Green Fund. The first tuition bill that included the $5 opt-out fee was in the Fall of 2020. The first Green Fund proposal was submitted in September 2020. When that proposal arrived, there was no protocol for selecting and funding projects. Thus, the President’s Council quickly put together guidelines for the EcoReps and the President’s Sustainability Advisory Council to review and submit proposals, to be approved by the President’s Council. As of Fall 2022, the process is as follows: Green Fund Fee Process Northern’s newly instituted Green Fund Fee will generate about $50,000 per year for sustainability efforts. The following process has been approved for the annual management of the fee. Funding Process Step 1: EcoReps will develop proposals for the Green Fund Fee, understanding that all costs related to the operations of EcoReps and all sustainability efforts must not exceed $50,000 annually unless carry-forward funds are available from previous years. Each proposal must be presented in a 1-3 page concept paper, including any known timeline and budget elements. The paper must explain how the sustainability project/initiative supports NMU's mission, vision, core values and/or strategic plan, and it must provide information on how it benefits current or future NMU students and the long-term sustainability of the university. To clarify, a proposal requesting funds to support operations of EcoReps should be submitted separately from proposals for specific projects. Step 2: The EcoReps’ Green Fund Fee proposals would go to the NMU Sustainability Advisory Council, which has student, faculty, staff, administration and community representation. The Council would review the proposals, add additional commentary (more information on timeline, costs, benefits, etc.) and prioritize the projects, initiatives, and operations in a funding recommendation that would go to the President’s Executive Council. Step 3: Prior to submission to the President’s Executive Council, the funding recommendations will be provided to the VP Finance office for initial review, and the recommendations may be sent back with questions or comments related to the budgets. Step 4: The President’s Executive Council would review the Sustainability Advisory Council's recommendation of priorities and approve it or send it back with questions or comments. Step 5: Some aspects of a Green Fund Fee recommendation may need Board of Trustees approval, but most will be university operations and not need BOT approval. However, the BOT will be kept informed of the sustainability efforts.

The Northern Climate Network is a campus-wide consortium providing opportunties for faculty, staff, students and community members to discuss and learn about climate change in our region. As of 2020, we have more than 150 members representing 35 different departments and the Marquette community. Interests include community ethics and policy, education and communication, and solutions/alternative energy.

The Devos Art Museum at NMU frequently features exhibits which relate to some aspect of sustainability. Examples include shows on local endangered wildflower weaving. Forest Roberts theater - Co/Lab performance - What We Leave Behind (https://www.nmu.edu/forestrobertstheatre/what-we-leave-behind-addressing-climate-change). Great Lakes Cycle art + biology resources (https://www.nmu.edu/biology/great-lakes-cycle). Cultural installations in Whitman Hall, Info from Kristen on Devos Art Museum, including Surviving the Anthropocene, http://art.nmu.edu/department/museum/archive.html#! http://art.nmu.edu/department/museum/featureThree.html

The Outdoor Rec Center organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and other outings for NMU students. These activities are guided/led by students who have taken a variety of Leave No Trace courses. See below for more information on NMU's Outdoor Rec Center and offerings: https://www.nmu.edu/recsports/outdoor

https://nmu.edu/dcrp/archive In 2020, the University's Diversity Common Reader selection was: Southside Buddhist by Ira Sukrungruang. Programming across campus related to themes of sustainability/equity/environment/justice/mental health as evident in Sukrungruang's book. In Southside Buddhist, Sukrungruang explores Chicago streets, treks Southern Illinois forests, wrestles with his ever-expanding body, and contemplates the complexities of Thai immigrant life. He finds solace with his imaginary friend, Buddha; causes mischief with the boys in his working-class neighborhood; battles depression and suicide; and marries the whitest woman in the world, who teaches him to appreciate a world blessed by the absence of concrete, skyscrapers, and noise. This book navigates the tricky terrains of urban and rural life with increasing awareness of what it means to be an immigrant son. Campus-wide programming included invited speakers and reading circles organized to explore sustainability-related themes. In addition, the annual United Conference included themes of sustainability, economic and social justice (https://www.nmu.edu/united/) And in 2020, NMU's Sustainability Week was a collaboration with Indigenous People's Day and included several events that were co-hosted with social justice organizations on campus (https://news.nmu.edu/nmu-sustainability-week-oct-12-16) and included sessions linked to the themes in the Diversity Common Reader book - Southside Buddhist

https://nmu.edu/sustainablenmu/aroundcampus#carbon Every semester EcoReps hosts training for residential assistants in dorms to promote sustainable life skills such as waste reduction, composting, mending clothes, energy conservation, and more. EcoReps also organize Sustainability Week (campus-wide) workshops and Unplug Week (residence hall energy conservation competition) workshops.

SHINE (Sustainability Hub for Innovation & Environment) the NMU Hoop House and the NMU Outdoor Learning Area employ student interns and supervisors who oversee the operations & maintenance of the areas in addition to coordinating student worker/volunteer scheduling and involvement. The NMU Hoop House serves as a collaborative learning center for eaters of all ages who are curious about where food comes from and how it is grown. Through research and education on sustainable agriculture, the project aims to expand our local food system, increase food security, and provide increased access to fresh, healthy food. The goal of the NMU Outdoor Learning Area is to maintain and develop sustainably designed green spaces for academic and recreational experiences on campus. https://nmu.edu/shine/ https://nmu.edu/sustainablenmu/nmu-hoop-house https://nmu.edu/sustainablenmu/outdoor-learning-area