University of Minnesota, Morris
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

We have a campus Strategic Plan that incorporates sustainability objectives and complements other plans, including the Campus Master Plan, Historic Preservation Plan, Morris Healthy Eating Assessment, Morris Sustainability Snapshot, and Morris Climate Action Plan. In the Recommendations of the Strategic Plan it specifically calls on our campus to leverage our Green Campus initiatives. The Strategic Plan also articulates our UMM Mission, which includes environmental stewardship. A specific recommendation in the report is as follows: Leverage our strong green campus initiatives and partnerships to integrate environmental issues into the curriculum and campus opportunities, while becoming an energy self-sufficient campus. Responsibility: Appropriate standing committees, Chief Academic Officer, Associate Vice Chancellor for Physical Plant and Master Planning, West Central Research and Outreach Center, community partners, and others. Timing: Since 2000, these initiatives have become nationally recognized and will be aggressively pursued. Here is another section from the Master Plan: Achieve energy self-sufficiency through wind generation, biomass heating and cooling, local foods initiative, green vehicles, recycling, and conservation. Invest resulting savings in strategic initiatives. Responsibility: Associate Vice Chancellor for Physical Plant and Master Planning, Senior Administrative Director for Finance and Administration, Campus Resources and Planning Committee. Timing: Initiatives have begun, additional steps beginning fall 2007.

The Morris Sustainability Snapshot (Sustainability Plan) is linked above. The Morris Campus Master Plan has a section covering sustainability objectives. https://cppm.umn.edu/campus-master-plans/morris-campus-master-plan The Master Plan has an entire section dedicated to outlining sustainability objectives including in food, waste, transportation, carbon footprint and more. For example, here are some of the goals stated in the Master Plan: Complete a thorough waste analysis and composition study for the campus. Conduct a cost benefit analysis of an industrial composting system. Expand educational efforts related to recycling and waste reduction with students and staff. Campus vehicle fleet should continue to be gradually converted to alternative fuel based and hybrid technologies We are signatories of the Second Nature Climate Commitment which outlines planning objectives we follow. http://secondnature.org/wp-content/uploads/Climate-Commitment-2017-Second-Nature.pdf

From the UMM Strategic Plan: Leverage our strong green campus initiatives and partnerships to integrate environmental issues into the curriculum and campus opportunities, while becoming an energy self-sufficient campus.5 Responsibility: Appropriate standing committees, Chief Academic Officer, Associate Vice Chancellor for Physical Plant and Master Planning, West Central Research and Outreach Center, community partners, and others. Timing: Since 2000, these initiatives have become nationally recognized and will be aggressively pursued. Evidence of work: Our campus Strategic Plan and Sustainability Leaders for the Future Program targets the growth of sustainability courses in the curriculum. https://www4.morris.umn.edu/sustainability/sustainability-leaders-future

The Morris Sustainability Snapshot (linked above in the Sustainability Plan section) outlines high level and sub-level goals at UMM in many areas of campus life. For example: In the Transportation section: Establish an e-bike program on campus In the Waste section: Improve recycling and compost education to eliminate improper disposal and communicate efforts In the Land Use and Wildlife section: Earn yearly recognition as a Tree Campus school (which requires a campus-community tree team) AND Conduct Morris campus biodiversity survey, soil health survey, and tree canopy survey.

UMM is classified as a Carnegie Community Engagement school, which is indicative of our successful public engagement work in the city of Morris and around the region. And, UMM is part of the national Campus Compact Civic Engagement planning process. We have released our official engagement plan below, which has specific time-bound engagement planning goals . UMM is also a signatory of the Second Nature Climate Commitment which includes several time-bound commitments. UMM is one of the first and only schools in Minnesota to have signed this planning commitment. To see more of these specific planning goals go to the Second Nature link below. These commitments are part of our sustainability planning efforts (the Chancellor at UMM had to approve these commitments). I have included the planning goals of the Second Nature Climate Commitment below, which includes the formation of a campus-community task force to conduct shared climate and resilience planning (See b), c) and d) in the Climate Commitment list below). http://reporting.secondnature.org/ip/resiliencePublic!2105 http://reporting.secondnature.org/institution/publiccampus!2105 http://reporting.secondnature.org/institution/detail!2105##2105 https://engagement.umn.edu/sites/engagement.umn.edu/files/morris-engagement-action-plan.pdf UMM identifies the Morris Model in the Sustainability Snapshot planning document. The purpose of calling it out in this way the Morris Model as an ongoing public engagement planning project that also meets our Second Nature planning goals, especially around community resilience. Some awards for our public engagement work: https://news.morris.umn.edu/news/mcap-2017 https://news.morris.umn.edu/news/morris-environmental-initiative-award-finalist Climate Commitment: An integrated climate commitment including carbon neutrality and resilience 1) Develop a comprehensive Climate Action Plan * a. Within two months of signing this document, create internal institutional structures to guide the development and implementation of the Plan b. Within one year of the implementation start date, actively support a joint campus-community task force (or equivalent) to ensure alignment of the Plan with community goals and to facilitate joint action, and complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, also identifying near term opportunities for greenhouse gas reduction. Report these in the first annual evaluation of progress c. Within two years of the implementation start date, lead and complete an initial campus-community resilience assessment including initial indicators and current vulnerability d. Within three years of the implementation start date complete the Plan, (also reflecting joint community-campus components), which will include: • A target date for achieving carbon neutrality as soon as possible • A target date by which defined thresholds of resilience will be met • Interim target dates for meeting milestones that will lead to carbon neutrality and increasing resilience** • Mechanisms and indicators for tracking progress (including those that cut across campus-community boundaries) • Actions to make carbon neutrality and resilience a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students • Actions to expand research in carbon neutrality and resilience e. Review, revise if necessary, and resubmit the climate action plan not less frequently than every five years 2) Submit an annual evaluation of progress a. Within one year of the implementation start date, and every year thereafter, complete an annual evaluation of progress b. Make the action plan, annual evaluation of progress (including greenhouse gas inventory, resilience assessment etc.), publicly available by submitting them to Second Nature’s reporting system for posting and dissemination

Our campus goal is carbon neutrality by 2020. This can be found in the Second Nature goal reporting and the Morris Sustainability Snapshot (which is linked above in the Sustainability Report section) See our Second Nature Climate Commitment reporting and goals. http://reporting.secondnature.org/dashboard/dashboard/?next=/##2105 http://reporting.secondnature.org/cap/cap-public!256

UMM newly built buildings need to comply with the SB2030 building performance planning standards. These are part of UMM building standards -- because we are required by law to conform to these planning standards. UMM campus buildings should also comply with the State of Minnesota B3 guidelines. These B3 guidelines outline measurable sustainability planning objectives, in a variety of areas, including the building site, water, energy, materials, waste, and indoor environmental air quality. For example, at the link below you can read the specification for low-emitting materials -- I.2 Specify Low-emitting Materials. https://www.b3mn.org/guidelines2-2/guidelines.html https://www.b3mn.org/guidelines/ To see how UMM has complied with these building planning objectives, see the links below: http://casestudies.b3mn.org/ProjectDetail?id=5294 https://news.morris.umn.edu/news/b3-2015

See our Second Nature reporting. For example: past goals included a 70% reduction (in Scope I, II, III) in our greenhouse gas emissions by 2015. Our goal is to obtain 60% of our electricity from wind. Our goal is to offset 70% of our traditional fossil fuel usage by biomass. http://reporting.secondnature.org/dashboard/dashboard/?next=/##2105

The Morris Healthy Eating Initiative outlines goals and program logic model in the Community Food Assessment document. https://students.morris.umn.edu/health-and-wellness/healthy-eating/community Morris has a goal, in partnership with Sodexo to reach 20% sustainable food by 2020. The Morris master plan has a number of recommendations around developing a system to better understand the carbon footprint of our campus food system, incorporating more seasonal menus, and more.

See Morris Sustainability Snapshot, Master Plan, and UMM Historic Preservation Plan for Grounds goals. We have several land use goals in our planning documents. For example, in our Morris Sustainability Snapshot, these are several goals listed: Minimize the use of fertilizer on campus and use composted soil as fertilizer. Conduct Morris campus biodiversity survey, soil health survey, and tree canopy survey Implement additional rain gardens on campus to capture rainfall. Build an outdoor classroom for further education about the environment. UMM is also a Campus Tree USA school and aligns its efforts around those goals. In the UMM Historic Plan for the South Grove, here are several actions listed: Treatment Recommendations [1] Spruce plantations: [A] Retain and prune remaining viable spruce. Remove buckthorn and other understory invaders. [B] Remove deadwood. Recreate the central mass of the grove with shade tolerant enduring species such as grey dogwood, and serviceberry. Rehabilitate the evergreen appearance of the grove by planting spruce along the edges where they will receive light. [2] Ash rows: Prune viable remaining ash for longevity and storm resistance. Rehabilitate rows by interplanting with new ash trees from varieties resistant to ash borer. They should be set ten feet on center or as appropriate. [3] Scotch pine and red cedar rows: Prune viable remaining Scotch pine and cedars for longevity and storm resistance. Prune surrounding trees to allow adequate light to the conifers. Rehabilitate rows by interplanting with new Scotch pine and red cedar; 15-feet on center. [4] Throughout the grove, remove buckthorn, box elder, and other invasive species. [5] Throughout the grove, encourage native ferns, sedges, and spring ephemerals for the understory floor, including the areas abutting the walk to the LaFave House. Refer to shrub and groundcover recommended species lists in this report’s vegetation guidelines when planting along the walk edge areas or within the Grove. [6] Continue to use the University Standard poles for lighting, but replace the luminaires with the luminaires recommended under this plan’s lighting section (see Structures, Furnishings, and Objects guidelines). More links: https://news.morris.umn.edu/news/tree-history https://www4.morris.umn.edu/historic-preservation/historic-preservation-plan Examples of grounds crew planning efforts: Improve the composting process by incorporating the use of a compost sifter. Continue to improve the campus tree canopy, by planting more diverse and climate-tolerant trees. Continue preparations for possible emerald ash borer invasion by managing the campus ash tree population.

Sustainability Snapshot includes transportation. For example: Conversion of vehicle fleet to alternative-fuel/hybrid vehicles to increase the fuel economy of the fleet. Convert existing parking to green spaces. Coordinate travel for students between Morris and common travel locations, like the Twin Cities, providing preferential parking locations for low-emission vehicles and more.

Sustainability Snapshot includes waste. To measure an increase in waste diversion towards our composting system each year. To measure a reduction in our non-recyclable/compostable waste hauled each year.

Sustainability Snapshot, Master Plan include water goals. Examples include: restoration of a wetland near campus, creating some wetland/drainage areas on-campus, analyzing volumes of campus water discharged to the Pomme de Terre River, etc.

An example from our Strategic Plan: increase U.S. students-of-color to 25% of total enrollment by 2016.

An example from the Morris strategic plan: modernize the Food Service Building to improve preparation and serving facilities to offer a greater variety of fresh, healthy, locally-provided food of improved quality that is attractive to a more diverse student body.

Yes, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents passed a policy on sustainability in 2004. There have been subsequent sustainability planning initiatives since then. https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Sustain_Energy_Efficiency.pdf

We are one of the only schools in Minnesota to have signed the full Second Nature Climate Commitment -- which commits us to doing carbon reduction planning and campus-community resilience planning. We have won statewide and national awards in both of these areas.