University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The Sustainability Office is housed in the office of University Services. It employs two full time staff and three undergraduate students. The office provides support for the sustainability committees at the University, works to communicate sustainability efforts to the public through events and communications, and coordinates sustainability programs and initiatives across campus. In addition, a Sustainability Education Coordinator is employed through the Institute on the Environment and in the on-campus student housing department.

The Twin Cities Sustainability Committee is charged with planning, implementing, and reporting campus wide sustainability efforts in teaching, outreach, research, and operations. Some roles of the committee include: leading completion of STARS, leading the development of a Climate Action Plan, and overseeing the living laboratory program.

Membership of the Committee is currently being revised and the Committee recharged. Past Sustainability Committee Members include: Todd Arnold, Associate Professor Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Mike Berthelsen, Associate Vice President and Committee Co-Chair Facilities Management Emily Hoover, Professor, Head and Committee Co-Chair Department of Horticultural Science Raymond Hozalski, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies Civil Engineering Beth Mercer-Taylor, Education Sustainability Coordinator Institute on the Environment Ned Mohan, Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering Lance Neckar, Professor Department of Landscape Architecture Virajita Singh, Senior Research Fellow Center for Sustainable Building Research Tim Smith, Associate Professor Bioproducts/Biosystems Engineering, and Director of Northstar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise at IonE Shane Stennes, Sustainability Director University Services Deb Swackhamer, Charles M. Denny Chair of Science, Technology , and Public Policy, Humphrey; Professor, Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; Co-director, Water Resources Center Brian Swanson, Budget Officer Office of Budget and Finance George Weiblen, Associate Professor Department of Plant Biology Amelious Whyte, Chief of Staff Office of Student Affairs Donovan Woldt, Undergraduate Aerospace Engineering and IT student representative to MSA

University Services and the Office of Sustainability creates and sustains a physical environment and service culture that advances teaching, research and outreach at the University of Minnesota. The department’s work encompasses the critical infrastructure and services needed to support the university’s mission and overall academic plan. More than 3,000 U Services employees support six major functions that are critical to the day-to-day operation of all University of Minnesota campuses

Implementation, assessment, and support of sustainability programs, initiatives, and communications related to operations activities on the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. Work with staff, faculty, and students to advance sustainability practices and institutionalize sustainability within University operations. Work toward the development of a strategic plan to engage the campus community in sustainability activities; work with function (e.g. dining, waste, transportation) subject matter experts and leaders, and stakeholders across the university to ensure successful implementation of the engagement plan; develop and implement engagement strategies to facilitate, empower, and encourage campus community members to integrate sustainability into their actions, practices, and behaviors; create, track, and report on related metrics.