South Dakota State University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The South Dakota Board of Regents' strategic plan (2022-2027) includes the following goals about open education resources/content:

Objective: Engage in a system-wide collaboration and grant opportunity for funding to incorporate open educational resources/content (OER).
Actions: Create a system coalition for OER content including faculty, library and bookstore stakeholders.
Explore ideas to engage faculty momentum in OER adoption. Research and apply for OER grant opportunities.
Performance Measures: Meet quarterly with coalition. Document grant opportunity received for OER annually and over the five-year period. Tasks assigned will be measured throughout the period to evaluates accomplishment of the
five-year goal.

Imagine 2023 (SDSU Strategic Plan)
Goal 2: Cultivate and Strengthen Community Engagement
a. Align academic and outreach programming across the university to optimize institutional efforts to support tribal communities and underserved populations.
Goal 4: Be a Growing, High-Performing and Healthy University
a. Create a culture that encourages and supports collaboration, sustainability, creativity, and bold ideas.

2025 Design and Master Plan
• All new construction or major renovation projects must be LEED Silver. This is mandated by South Dakota Codified Law 5-14-32. Designers are also encouraged to use local products, as well as, find sustainable practices that go beyond LEED.
• All new planning, capital projects, renovation projects, operations and maintenance, should incorporate the principles of sustainability and energy efficiency by minimizing the use of non-renewable energy sources, increased use of local renewable energy, and implementation of conservation measures that reduce energy consumption, and promote ongoing energy conservation practices. When possible, building placement should capitalize on solar heat gain/loss in the appropriate months and maximize the introduction of natural light and natural ventilation through the use of operable windows. All these rest on budgetary constraints and programmatic requirements.
• This document encourages the use of plants that require minimal long-term watering. The current Horticulturist works to ensure this is accomplished where possible.
The plan also encourages the protection of existing trees during construction projects.
• Becoming a walking campus is one of the guiding principles in SDSU’s current 2025 Design and Master Plan. Everything in this plan contributes to a more walking friendly environment (i.e. infilling of buildings and decreasing car-pedestrian conflict). In addition, there are plans to move all parking lots to the edge of campus and designing the lots so that they have sustainable designs, including storm water management. Bike traffic and parking also needs to be considered in all campus improvement projects.
• It is encouraged to promote waste reduction and increase recycling efforts.

Imagine 2023 (SDSU Strategic plan)
Academic Excellence
a. Ensure student success of underrepresented populations through the establishment and continuation of programming and initiatives focused on access.
b. Achieve strategic enrollment targets by implementing the strategic enrollment management plan, that will include strategies for at-risk and diverse student success.
c. Develop and enhance key retention and persistence programs that facilitate the development of skills in intercultural engagement, global citizenry, and international relationships.
Community Engagement
a. Increase diversity of faculty, staff, and students through inclusive recruitment and retention practices.
b. Regularly evaluate the climate at South Dakota State University as experienced by faculty, staff, and students, communicate, and respond with actionable strategies.

Sustainability is the formation of a better society through the interdependent actions of improving environmental quality, increasing economic prosperity, and instilling social justice for present and future generations.
Definition of each pillar of sustainability
-Environmental sustainability – the act of preserving, restoring, and utilizing the earth’s natural resources in a way that does not inhibit ecological services, remove resources faster than they can be replenished, or harm the surrounding environment.
- Economic sustainability – the act of distributing money and resources equally so that all may obtain basic human needs. Being economically sustainable should allow the economy to function, prosper, and thrive.
- Social sustainability – the act of ensuring all people are treated with equity and have access to basic human rights, including but not limited to: clean water, nutrition, education, healthcare, sanitation, shelter, security, a meaningful livelihood, and the opportunity to pursue their aspirations.