University of Iowa
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The University of Iowa strives to further integrate sustainability into the university’s teaching, research, and public engagement missions as well as its operations. By 2027, the University aims to increase undergraduate students completing a sustainability-focused course to 75%.

This goal was published in the University of Iowa 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.

The University of Iowa strives to bolster community partnerships in areas of institutional excellence—including health, arts and cultural programming, sustainability, entrepreneurship and business development, policy leadership, well-being and mental health, and others—to positively impact communities in Iowa and advance the university’s mission around the world. An example of the university's goal to increase engagement is to increase the percentage of campus participation in campus climate surveys to 60% by 2027.

This goal was published in the University of Iowa 2022-20127 Strategic Plan.

The University of Iowa strives to continue to exercise responsible and effective stewardship of resources, prioritize sustainability, and address the needs of stakeholders in the state of Iowa and beyond as well as integrate sustainability into the university’s operations. The university aims to reduce green house gas emissions by 47% by 2027 with a goal of 50% reduction by 2030. 

This goal was published in the University of Iowa 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.

One of the University of Iowa's five pillars in its 2022-2027 Strategic Plan is Holistic Well-Being and Success.  This pillar aims to provide a comprehensive foundation of support for individuals throughout all stages of their relationship with the university.

From Strategic Plan:

A. Embed well-being and mental health into all aspects of campus culture to better support students, faculty, and staff.

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of and recommend improvements to existing well-being programs, and identify service gaps based on population data.

2. Identify well-being and mental health needs of diverse groups and evaluate effectiveness of existing programs in meeting those needs.

3. Create a cohesive framework of existing holistic well-being services and resources for students, faculty, and staff to ensure a more inclusive and equitable well-being and mental health infrastructure.

4. Increase access to and awareness of mental health and well-being resources.

5. Expand curricular and co-curricular learning for all students that provides foundational well-being knowledge and skills.

B. Promote institutional excellence and success by attracting and recruiting a talented body of students, faculty, and staff to create an inclusive and engaged community rich in diversity of experiences, perspectives, and expertise.

1. Recruit talented undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

2. Recruit exceptional faculty, with a focus on areas of strategic importance.

3. Recruit talented staff, with attention to areas of critical need to the institution

Action on the well-being pillar is being led by the Well-Being and Mental Health Campus Committee, which has several subcommittees, including the Built and Natural Environment subcommittee.  The Built and Natural Environment subcommittee includes members of the Office of Sustainability and the Environment, as well as Utilities, Campus Planning, Human Resources, Grounds Management, and Campus Recreation. The subcommittee provides information and recommendations on best practices for integrating sustainability and wellness into campus environments. Some examples include, developing Design Standards for campus buildings that prioritize biophilic design, Well-Building standards, and outdoor spaces that are welcoming and functional.

Regent Institutions Sustainability Plan

The Plan is to provide a vision for long term comprehensive sustainability. The premise of the plan rests on:

♦ Leadership -Sustainability has been underway on the Regent campuses for a number of years and has become more visible with the appointment on each
university campus of a presidential-level council to develop best practices in sustainability, and the creation of an Energy and/or Sustainability Coordinator/Director position. This Sustainability Plan builds on those stewardship initiatives.

♦ Flexibility - the Sustainability Plan is meant to be a framework for each Regent institution to use in developing a campus plan that recognizes the uniqueness of each. This Plan will be refined as needed for Regent institutions to stay leaders in education, research, and action.

♦ Measurement - the Sustainability Plan is intended to further the development of a campus assessment and benchmarking framework. Its purpose is to continue the work underway on all Regent campuses. Regent institutions will monitor AASHE sustainability rating systems; the Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council; as well as other sustainability standards. An annual update/progress report will be presented to the Board of Regents.

The Sustainability Plan is a dynamic document intended to provide an overarching vision. The development and utilization of emerging technology will be incorporated as it balances with economic, social and environmental goals. The Plan does not attempt to encompass every aspect of sustainability, but selects specific goals in areas in which the Regent institutions can achieve real and measurable progress. It is also recognized that as programs grow or develop absolute consumption could increase while meeting efficiency and improved per unit measures. Each institution will develop methodologies for implementing, measuring and educating to that vision.

Eight functional areas have been identified:
o Planning and Development
o Purchasing
o Energy and Climate
o Materials and Recycling
o Transportation
o Water and Landscape
o Sustainability in the Curriculum
o Sustainability in Research and Outreach

As noted by the Iowa Board of Regents in the preamble of the annual Regent Institutions sustainability report:

Iowa’s public universities are committed to a sustainable future through academics and research, operations and economic development. Respect for the impact on the environment is part of decision-making at all levels. Regent institutions broadly apply campus sustainability in the general operations of each institution, in curriculum and in experiences of students and employees. Sustainability is also utilized effectively when partnering with industry leaders, joining with all levels of government and transferring technology within the institutions.

The University of Iowa is a certified tree campus with Tree Campus Higher Education as well as an affiliate with Bee Campus U.S.A.