University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

To respond to farmers’ interest in sustainable practices, a partnership was formed between the University of Minnesota and the Sustainers’ Coalition, a collection of farmers and other agriculturally-oriented organizations, to serve as a dependable source of information on alternative systems. The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) seeks to increase communication and collaboration among the University community and the agricultural community, instigating collaborative research projects and access to University resources for farmers, agencies, non-profit groups, and others working to further sustainability of agriculture.

Since 1981, the Chemical Safety Day Program (CSDP) has offered assistance to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations in disposing of hazardous material and waste at a reasonable cost and in an environmentally responsible way. This program is a joint effort of the MN Department of Children, Families and Learning, and the University of Minnesota. Based on the number of schools/organizations involved and the quantities of material/waste concerned, the CSDP directly collects waste from each site between the months of April and November which is then sent to the Thompson Center for Environmental Management (TCEM) on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus to be processed.

In support of local agriculture, University Dining Services has developed an on-going partnership with the Midwest Food Alliance, an organization that provides certification of products grown with environmentally friendly and socially responsible agricultural practices.

University Dining Services’ recent partnership with Urban Ventures broadens their purchasing spectrum. In 2007, UDS purchased 1,200 pounds of CityKid Java true-trade coffee. Coffee purchased from Urban Ventures’ brand, City Kid Java, is “true trade;” meaning, coffee beans were purchased at or above fair trade industry cost. The profits from the sale of City Kid Java are then given to Urban Ventures, which works to build a better community by providing youth leadership programs, education, training and work opportunities for those in need.

The University of Minnesota Landcare partners with local service provider, Rumpca Companies, to recycle waste wood materials. A space is provided on campus to store the wood waste and shredded material. Rumpca Companies grinds all the wood that is collected and the University uses the wood mulch around campus. This partnership saves the University approximately $10,000 annually in materials alone, in addition to the transportation to a disposal site.

In coalition with Xcel Energy, the University participates in the Energy Design Assistance program to implement the most cost effective and energy efficient strategies within new construction and major renovation projects on campus. The program provides designers and contractors with a set of energy-saving strategies appropriate for each building project. As additional encouragement to maximize energy conservation practices, Xcel Energy provides financial incentives for applying the strategies in the final design.

The Great Lakes Northern Forests Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (GLNF CESU) was formally authorized in August 2002. It is part of a national network of CESUs and stretches from Minnesota to Maine, including all or part of 13 states. The mission of the GLNF CESU is to conduct a program of research, technical assistance, and education that involves the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences needed to address, manage, and preserve Great Lakes Northern Forest ecosystems in a rapidly changing social, economic, and environmental landscape. In addition to the host university, the University of Minnesota, GLNF CESU has 16 university partners, nine nongovernmental organization partners, and six federal partners.

The Interagency Information Cooperative (IIC) is a partnership between the Minnesota Forest Resources Council, Minnesota Association of County Land Commissioners, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Land Management Information Center, University of Minnesota, and the USDA Forest Service. This Cooperative and its site maintain a vast amount of information on Minnesota’s forest and related natural resources. This information is fundamental to planning and management for sustainability.

The University of Minnesota Regional Partnerships combine citizen leadership with the research and education resources of the University to foster long-term sustainability in the state, with particular attention focusing on agriculture, natural resources, renewable energy (which includes the Clean Energy Resource Teams), and tourism. The partnership operates under three principles: active citizenship, which involves local citizen participation in designing and implementing projects in the region; sustainable development, which addresses issues according to sustainable principles; and University of Minnesota involvement. The five regional citizen-faculty Board of Directors envisions a sustainable future for the state and supports targeted projects to achieve this vision, with funding provided by the Minnesota Legislature through the University.

The University of Minnesota Reuse Program collects unwanted, reusable items from Housing and Residential Life (dorm) clean-outs. These items are donated to a non-profit in St. Paul called Families Helping Each Other, who in turn gives the items at no charge to a family in need.