| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.20 |
| Liaison | Jessica Thompson |
| Submission Date | June 20, 2024 |
Northern Michigan University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Jessica
Thompson AVP Sustainability People Culture & Wellbeing |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
NMU created a new position of assistant vice president for Sustainability to collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to significantly advance Northern's efforts in that arena. Thompson graduated from NMU in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in communication studies and public relations; she earned her masters and doctoral degrees in environmental communication and conflict resolution at the University of Utah and recently completed a certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard University. Her commitment to sustainability has permeated the courses she teaches for the College of Business, her interdisciplinary research with colleagues to enhance climate change communication and environmental awareness, and her service activities on campus and in the community. She is a member of NMU's Carbon Neutrality Task Force and director of its Sustainability Hub for Innovation and Environment (SHINE). Thompson's appointment expands on related initiatives. NMU had previously committed to achieving industry standards for carbon neutrality by 2050. The NMU Board of Trustees voted in December to fully divest its endowment fund from the fossil fuel industry by 2028, while also increasing sustainability-related investments by up to 15%. Trustees will also increase their support for EcoReps, a peer-to-peer sustainability education program, by sponsoring a signature Green Fund project and planning at least one Zero Waste awareness event in 2024. “Hiring the AVP for Diversity and Inclusion and the AVP for Sustainability under the People, Culture, and Wellbeing pillar of the president's university alignment plan demonstrates NMU's commitment to the Okanagan Charter and our holistic approach to supporting well-being for our students, faculty and staff," said Rhea Dever, vice president for People, Culture and Wellbeing.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Coordination & Planning
Wellbeing & Work
Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today voted to fully divest its endowment fund from the fossil fuel industry by 2028, while also increasing sustainability-related investments by up to 15%. The move aligns with NMU's core values and strategic priorities, which include a focus on building a culture of sustainability.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Air & Climate
Coordination & Planning
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Northern Michigan University's “Path to Carbon Neutrality by 2050” plan is now finalized, outlining the strategies for achieving that goal and targeted reductions in carbon emissions for each decade along the way. The completed plan aligns with NMU's core values and strategic priorities, which include a focus on building a culture of sustainability. While NMU has already reduced its carbon footprint by more than 30% since 2010 and has one of the smallest footprints among the state's public universities, it is striving to decarbonize the campus. NMU will progress toward that outcome via three targets: reducing emissions by another 25% by 2030 and 50% by 2040, then eliminating remaining emissions by 2050.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Energy
Coordination & Planning
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.