University of New Hampshire
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

A “Commitment to Sustainability" is one of the six "visions and values" in the "UNH in 2020 v2.0" university strategic plan. In addition, the UNH Sustainability Institute is identified as one of four targets of strategic academic initiatives to facilitate diverse faculty to build working relationships and academic programs to support interdisciplinary initiatives.

• UNH Climate Action Plan (WildCAP, Update 2014-2020): https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/sites/sustainableunh.unh.edu/files/images/WildCAP%20Update%20FINAL.pdf • UNH Cooperative Extension Strategic Plan 2016-2021: https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource006134_Rep8753.pdf • UNH Dining Services Sustainability Plan: https://www.unh.edu/dining/sustainable-efforts • Campus Master Plan: http://www.unh.edu/sites/www.unh.edu/files/departments/facilities/CMP/unh_2012_approved_campus_master_plan.pdf • See Transportation Project Updates April 2017: https://www.unh.edu/transportation/sites/www.unh.edu.transportation/files/media/PDFs/TPC/0417projupd.pdf • UNH Storm Water Management Plan: https://www.unh.edu/sites/www.unh.edu/files/departments/facilities/Stmwatr/unh_stormwater_management_plan.pdf • UNH Inclusive Excellence Plan 2010-2020: http://www.unh.edu/sites/www.unh.edu/files/departments/community_equity_and_diversity/pdf/10-20_inclusiveexcellencestategicplan.pdf • The UNH Indoor Air Quality Management Plan: http://www.unh.edu/research/sites/www.unh.edu.research/files/docs/EHS/Occ-safety/iaq_mgt._plan_rev.1.pdf • Healthier Campus Initiative with the Partnership for a Healthier America: http://www.unh.edu/healthyunh/partnership-healthier-america-healthier-campus-intiative • The University System of New Hampshire 's Open Education: http://at.usnh.edu/2017-year-of-open • UNH OER Ambassadors: https://www.unh.edu/it/oer/oer-ambassadors-2017 • UNH Open Education Project: https://at.usnh.edu/university-new-hampshire-oer-ambassador-project

The Sustainability Strategic Roadmap includes university-wide goals and objectives around curriculum, education and learning. URL including the following overarching learning objectives for all UNH students: 1) Every UNH student will gain knowledge of the complexities and interconnectedness of economic, environmental, and social challenges; 2) Students will also be able to analyze and synthesize ideas and perspectives from more than one academic or intellectual discipline; 3) This knowledge and experience will equip students to contribute to a just, prosperous, and verdant world for present and future generations; 4) Further Sustainability Pedagogy within the curricular and co-curricular environment by supporting interdisciplinary education approaches; and 5) Begin implementation in fall 2018. See Sustainability Institute Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/roadmap

Objectives related to sustainability research include: 1) Reconvene and reimagine the Sustainability Research Collaboratory as a means to organize UNH resources and research expertise by serving as a networking matchmaker for faculty to generate and support new and emerging research opportunities; 2) The Sustainability Institute will build a research agenda focused specifically on sustainability in higher education that uses UNH and the entire higher education sector as a learning laboratory; 3) Strengthen the Sustainability Institute's Faculty Fellows Program by engaging faculty from across the university's colleges, institutes, and schools by clarifying and communicating the program's benefits, objectives and expectations; 4) Build on the Institute's transdisciplinary work with state and regional food systems to facilitate collaboration among practitioners and communities and UNH's colleges, schools, extension programs and Institutes; 5) Increase the publication of research findings related to sustainability Initiatives in open-access, peer-reviewed journals and other impactful publications. See Sustainability Institute Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/roadmap

UNH's Climate Action Plan (WildCAP, Update 2014-2020) include the following objectives: 1) Expand and Improve Bike, Carpool and Transit Schedules and Outreach 2) Establish an Employee Air Travel Policy 3) Expand Power Down Outreach 4) Expand and Improve Waste and Recycling Signage 5) Expand Faculty and Staff Engagement through Partnerships with Other UNH Offices 6) Expand Student Engagement Online and Through Student-Focused Offices See https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/sites/sustainableunh.unh.edu/files/images/WildCAP%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

Sustainability Strategic Roadmap includes the following objectives: 1) Build on the Institute's transdisciplinary work with state and regional food systems to facilitate collaboration among practitioners and communities and UNH's colleges, schools, extension programs and Institutes; 2) Continue to work with state and regional partners to inform integrated solutions to the challenges presented by our changing climate such as the New Hampshire Climate Change Policy Task Force and the New Hampshire Coastal Risk and Hazards Commission; and 3) Merge and commercialize the carbon and nitrogen campus calculators and elevate their status as the leading measurement tool in higher education. This will include launching a new, fee-for-service business model and renaming of the calculator SIMAP (Sustainability Index Management and Analysis Platform). UNH Cooperative Extension Strategic Plan 2016-2021 also commits UNH to the following: 4) Grow the number of meaningful relationships between university faculty, staff and students with the communities and communities of practice that can put their research into action; See Sustainability Institute Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/roadmap See also: http://www.unh.edu/engagement https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource006134_Rep8753.pdf

UNH's Climate Action Plan (WildCAP, Update 2014-2020) includes an overarching goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) 50% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 en route to climate neutrality by the end of the century, as compared to 2001 GHGE baseline. It also contains many specific goals and objectives in areas ranging from Information Technology and plug loads to transportation and energy production and renewables. More information at https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/sites/sustainableunh.unh.edu/files/images/WildCAP%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

UNH's Climate Action Plan (WildCAP, Update 2014-2020) includes short, medium and long-term goals and objectives that address buildings. Objectives include the following: 1) Install updated lighting and lighting controls; 2) Continue retro-commissioning program; 3) Review demand controlled ventilation; 4) Review occupancy controls; 5) Install distribution piping insulation (mechanical spaces); 6) Explore remote building energy management systems; 7) Research feedback mechanisms to modify heating controls (central plant HW); 8) Explore mini back-pressure steam generation; and 9) pursue fuel conversions to natural gas from oil and propane. See from p.13 of WildCAP 2014-2020 update. https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/sites/sustainableunh.unh.edu/files/images/WildCAP%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

The UNH Energy Task Force's (ETF) https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/etf is to guide UNH toward a systematic and integrated energy policy that emphasizes health and integrity, climate protection, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and stability, fairness for all University constituents, and consistency with priorities set by the UNH strategic plan and campus master plan. The ETF is charged with 1) Developing timelines, targets, and action items under a UNH Climate Action Plan (called “WildCAP”) to help move UNH towards carbon neutrality; 2) Developing immediate and future actions to reduce energy costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy conservation through technological improvements, increases in efficiency, reductions in waste and selection of fuels; and 3) Inventorying and promoting curricular, research and engagement programs intended to increase awareness of and behaviors around energy use, efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. UNH's WildCAP 2014-2020 Update includes many specific goals and objectives. See https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/sites/sustainableunh.unh.edu/files/images/WildCAP%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

UNH’s Dining’s Sustainability Plan 2017-2020 includes the following objectives: 1) Develop and implement an improved tracking system for sustainable food purchases; 2) In order to support sustainable food purchases, amend RFPs for distributors to include preferences regarding supplier traceability and sourcing flexibility; 3) Partner with the UNH Sustainability Institute to increase local and regional produce procurement by enhancing or developing new relationships with farms, food hubs, and/or distributors; 4) Continue pursuing innovative strategies to reduce red meat and increase fruit, vegetable, and whole grain purchases. See UNH Dining Services Sustainability Plan: https://www.unh.edu/dining/sustainable-efforts

The UNH Campus Master Plan established a "flexible planning vision for our sustainable learning community" and commits UNH to "Reaffirm and Strengthen UNH's Long-Standing Commitment to Sustainability" as one of its 5 goals. Objectives include the following: 1) Strengthening the ecosystem management of the campus; 2) Addressing climate change; 3) Fostering renewal; 4) Preserving our agricultural heritage; and 5) Celebrating our cultural heritage. The UNH Sustainability Strategic Roadmap commits the Ecosystem Task Force to review and make recommendations for updating the UNH Campus Landscape Master Plan. See: http://www.unh.edu/sites/www.unh.edu/files/departments/facilities/CMP/unh_2012_approved_campus_master_plan.pdf See Sustainability Institute Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/roadmap

UNH's Climate Action Plan (WildCAP, Update 2014-2020) includes the following objectives: 1) Promote Energy Smart Purchasing and Working Guidelines for Faculty and Staff; and 2) Implement IT/Plug Load Awareness Campaign Create and Implement and EPEAT Purchasing Policy Across Campus. See https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/sites/sustainableunh.unh.edu/files/images/WildCAP%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

There are two fundamental policies adopted to promote sustainable transportation and reduced energy/emissions from the transport sector at UNH: 1. The Walking Campus which includes a robust local transit system; and 2. Transportation & Parking Demand Management (TDM) The term “walking campus.” was deliberately chosen to actively reflect and describe our overarching goals of enhancing the walkability, bikeability, and transit accessibility of the campus per the program set forth in the UNH Campus Master Plan and adopted transportation policies. Included in that mission is a fundamental goal to reduce private vehicle and single occupancy vehicle (SOV) traffic while improving access to core campus for all visitors. Implementation objectives are established through the UNH Climate Action Plan (WildCAP) as well as Transportation Policy Committee workplans. WildCAP transportation objectives include the following: 1) Continued evaluation of opportunities to modernize and market price the UNH parking permit system; 2) Implement an incentivized Infrequent User parking permit program; 3) Install public infrastructure and integrate electric vehicles (EV) into UNHfleet; 4) Strengthen anti-idling provisions; 5) Increase allocated funding for University Transportation Services annual marketing program of transit and other non SOV (single occupancy vehicles); and 6) Pursue ongoing streetscape improvements to improve the mobility of the campus with a focus on transit and non-motorized intra-campus trips. In addition, Transportation Policy Committee Documents Spring 2017 Update include the following objectives including: 1) Compressed Natural Gas Fuel Station Emergency Power Backups; 2) Transit Stop Enhancements; 3) Bus Wash Facility Engineering & Design Study; and 4) Real-Time Transit Displays. See UNH Climate Action Plan (WildCAP, Update 2014-2020) p. 26: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/sites/sustainableunh.unh.edu/files/images/WildCAP%20Update%20FINAL.pdf See UNH Campus Master Plan: http://www.unh.edu/sites/www.unh.edu/files/departments/facilities/CMP/unh_2012_approved_campus_master_plan.pdf See Transportation Project Updates April 2017 https://www.unh.edu/transportation/sites/www.unh.edu.transportation/files/media/PDFs/TPC/0417projupd.pdf

UNH's Climate Action Plan (WildCAP, Update 2014-2020) goals include the following: 1) Finalize waste and recycling audit and develop a management plan; 2) Institutionalize Trash 2 Treasure (student-led initiative to reduce solid waste); 3) Maintain and expand the UNH composting program; and 4) Research offsets and sinks. In addition, the UNHSI Strategic Roadmap calls for the development of a zero waste plan in academic year 2017-18. See UNH Climate Action Plan: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/wildcap; See UNHSI Strategic Roadmap URL Appendix to include: UNHSI will work with the Zero Waste Task to finalize a Zero Waste Plan in academic year 2018.

The Campus Master Plan recommends continued collaborative efforts to preserve and enhance campus and community ecological resources through the leadership of the UNH Ecosystem Task Force, whose initial efforts are aimed at land use, ecosystem health, biodiversity and development, watershed protection, and waste minimization and management. The overarching goal of these efforts is to protect campus ecosystem services and expand the university’s stewardship of campus lands and natural resources. Goals and objectives are included in UNH's Storm Water Management Plan and include the following: 1) Reduce the discharge of storm water-carried pollutants from the contiguous UNH-Durham Campus to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP) and the achievement of measurable goals to satisfy six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs); 2) Protect water quality; and 3) Satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act; and 4) Follow Best Management Practices for Minimum Control Measures including those relating to Public Education and Outreach, Participation/Involvement, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Construction Site Runoff Control, Post-Construction Runoff Control, Pollution Prevention, and Recording and Record Keeping. In addition, objectives contained in the University/Durham Water Conservation Plan include following best practices in: 1) Water Metering and Billing; 2) Water Audit and Leak Detection Program; 3) Water Rate structure; and 4) Water Conservation Outreach. The Ecosystem Task Force Subcommittee on Water Supply identified the following issues to be addressed for long term future that will be reviewed and updated by the Ecosystem Task Force: 1) Water Conservation; 2) Water Resource Protection; 3) Optimization of Water Resources; 4) Water System Redundancy; 5) Water System Inventory; and 6) Water Management Emergency Plans. See Storm Water Management Plan https://www.unh.edu/sites/www.unh.edu/files/departments/facilities/Stmwatr/unh_stormwater_management_plan.pdf; See Sustainability Institute Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/roadmap

The UNH Strategic Plan includes A Culture of Inclusion and Diversity as one of its six Visions and Values and its strategic initiative #2 "A Learning Centered environment for the 21st Century commits UNH to the following: 1) Provide increased financial and educational supports for international, first generation, and minority students, especially as demographics of admitted students change, in order to enhance academic achievement, foster persistence to degree completion, and facilitate career choice; 2) Increase access to high-impact learning experiences, as defined by the Association of American Colleges and Universities to all students; 3) Increase international student access and international institutional partnerships. In addition to the many objectives contained within the UNH Inclusive Excellence Strategic Plan 2010-2020, The UNHSI Strategic Roadmap calls for supporting the efforts of a presidential task force on campus climate that will be formed in 2017 that will assess issues of race, inclusion and civility on our campus and make comprehensive recommendations for action. In addition the Roadmap calls for supporting an extensive campus climate survey in the fall of 2018 to learn how students, faculty and staff experience and perceive the climate for living and learning and how the UNH community responds to them. See http://www.unh.edu/sites/default/files/departments/president/media/StrategicPlan_FINAL_052015.pdf p. 13. See Sustainability Institute Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/roadmap

The UNHSI Sustainability Roadmap URL TBD includes that following objectives: 1) Convene Committee on Investor Responsibility to develop a plan and recommendations to the UNH Foundation; 2) Research and recommend how to increase ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) portfolio; 3) Research and recommend how to increase the percentage of funds not invested in the ESG portfolio can be invested in a manner that meets the STARS ESG criteria; 4) Research and recommend steps to increase investments in community development funds; and 5) Research in collaboration with Human Resources on increasing awareness and ease of accessing Low or No Carbon investment options for individual retirement programs offered through employee benefits. See Sustainability Institute Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/roadmap

The UNH Indoor Air Quality Management Plan establishes the following objectives: 1) Reduce the levels of indoor air pollutants through preventative measures such as routine housekeeping, maintenance activities, periodic building evaluations and inspections, and IAQ-specific policies and procedures; 2) Provide and maintain adequate air flow by maintaining and repairing ventilation equipment, which will promote a comfortable and healthy environment for faculty, staff, and students; and 3) Respond to IAQ-related concerns and complaints in a prompt and thorough manner and effectively communicate the progress of investigative and corrective actions to all impacted parties. UNH is also in the first cohort of campus partnerships Healthier Campus Initiative with the Partnership for a Healthier America that includes an extensive set of objectives that include the following: 1) Implement an integrated, comprehensive wellness program for individuals on campus that is provided annually; 2) Provide marked walking routes on campus, one of which must be at least two (2) miles in length and have distance markers at regular intervals (a route map is made available to individuals on campus); 3) Offer a rewards-on-benefits structured program that gives insurance premium discounts and/or rebates to individuals on campus who participate in a wellness program designed by the health insurer on campus; and 4) Monitor and maintain all elements of the plan in an ongoing manner. See The UNH Indoor Air Quality Management Plan: http://www.unh.edu/research/sites/www.unh.edu.research/files/docs/EHS/Occ-safety/iaq_mgt._plan_rev.1.pdf See Healthier Campus Initiative with the Partnership for a Healthier America: http://www.unh.edu/healthyunh/partnership-healthier-america-healthier-campus-intiative

The University System of New Hampshire 's Open Education initiative is part of its commitment to innovation in public education and collaborative efforts to improve access to higher education in New Hampshire, increase the impact that our research, teaching, and service have on the public good, and provide an agile and connected learning environment to serve a 21st -century world. To that end USNH supports Open Education materials and practices (open education resources, open access, and open pedagogy in its commitment to collegiate value, access and affordability. On the UNH Campus, the OER initiative is supported by The UNH Library, UNH Academic Technology, and the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching & Learning. In academic year 2017-18, the OER initiative will engage its third cohort of faculty OER Ambassadors who are committed to the following objectives: 1) Making substantive changes to their courses through the use of Open Education Resources; 2) Using Open Education Practices; and 3) To advance the OER conversation across campus by sharing their experiences with colleagues. This third cohort will pursue the same objectives of previous cohorts and will be evaluated with a range of criteria including the following: 1) Savings realized by students enrolled in the course that adopted OER/Library resources; 2) Student learning outcomes for the OER pilot courses; 3) Faculty success in identifying and incorporating OER materials; 4) Faculty satisfaction with the support and services offered through the OER pilot; and 5) Student satisfaction with the course/modules materials. The University System of New Hampshire 's Open Education http://at.usnh.edu/2017-year-of-open See UNH OER Ambassadors https://www.unh.edu/it/oer/oer-ambassadors-2017 See UNH Open Education Project: https://at.usnh.edu/university-new-hampshire-oer-ambassador-project

The UNH Strategic Plan http://www.unh.edu/sites/default/files/departments/president/media/StrategicPlan_FINAL_052015.pdf Page 11 states the following: UNH is world-renowned for its leadership in the “greening” of American higher education and its work in organic agriculture, eco-gastronomy, environmental engineering and global climate change. The university’s innovative and collaborative work in sustainability lies at the intersection of the sciences, humanities and engineering.

The UNHSI Strategic Roadmap provides the following definition of sustainability: Sustainability is a collective commitment to human dignity for all people and ecological integrity in all places. It is built upon an intergenerational, ethical obligation that holds social justice, collaboration, and inclusive prosperity to be essential to fulfill diverse human potential and preserve the health of the planet upon which we all depend. See Sustainability Institute Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/roadmap

Grand Coalition Statement on Paris Agreement “We Are Still IN” http://secondnature.org/grand-coalition-statement-paris-agreement/ The Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments (Charter Signatory) http://secondnature.org/what-we-do/climate-leadership/

See Sustainability Institute Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/roadmap See measurable objectives related to the Roadmap: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/sites/sustainableunh.unh.edu/files/media/roadmap_objectives.pdf Sustainability Task Force: https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/sustainability-task-force Each topic area has its own contact person, including: - Doug Bencks, Campus Planning - Bill McNamara, Campus Dining - Bill Janelle, Facilities - Julie Williams, Outreach Scholarship - Jan Nisbet, Research - Mica Stark, Communications and Public Affairs