University of Wisconsin-River Falls
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

UWRF Academic Plan: Sustainability
UWRF defines sustainability as our local and global responsibility to meet the needs of present and future generations, as demonstrated by an integrated set of ecologic, social, and economic values, principles, and practices that frame how we think, choose, and act in personal, professional, and community life. This holistic approach to sustainability includes educational opportunities to better understand and appreciate the science behind environmental change and recognize how sustainability impacts ecological and human health. We are committed to broad-based sustainability while adapting our academic community to climate change and our water needs for the future.

The UWRF community values sustainability and the development of a shared ethic of responsibility for people and the planet, and we will infuse these values throughout the curriculum. UWRF will fulfill our obligation to promote sound environmental practices that ensure ecosystem resilience and diversity. We will examine and implement ways the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) criteria already identified by UWRF will enhance the university’s curricular and co-curricular activities when and where appropriate.

Goals & Metrics:
Provide faculty, staff, and students with tools and experiences that increase their understanding and appreciation for the science behind environmental change and its impact on ecological and human health. Create a shared ethic of responsibility for people and the planet.

1. Promote a shared ethic of responsibility for people and the planet by providing students with opportunities to increase their understanding and appreciation for the fact-based science behind environmental, economic, and social change.
a. Develop and implement a sustainability category in General Education with explicit learning outcomes.
b. Increase the number of academic departments offering at least one sustainability-focused or sustainability-inclusive course per the AASHE criteria for designating either sustainability-focused (entirely on sustainability) or sustainability-inclusive (includes a sustainability component/module).
c. Increase sustainability experiences and practices in opportunities beyond the classroom, such as study abroad, internships/practicums, URSCA (Undergraduate Research, Scholarly & Creative Activity), and activities using the campus as a living laboratory.
2. Provide faculty/staff with time and resources to engage in activities to support the development and offering of sustainability-based initiatives.
a. Continue and grow the Sustainability Faculty Fellow program to support the development of sustainability-focused courses and/or elements of a course.
b. Support and grow research activity and dissemination of sustainability-focused projects.
c. Develop a tool/database for identifying and tracking sustainability-focused research and high-impact practices.
3. Assess sustainability literacy among students as a measure of achieving a shared ethic of responsibility for people and the planet.
a. Develop a comprehensive literacy assessment using AASHE guidelines.
b. Administer the assessment annually among a representative sample of the student body.
c. Annually report areas of strengths and weaknesses from the assessment.

Strategic Plan Components:
1. Develop more curricular and co-curricular opportunities centered on sustainability
a. Increase the number of academic programs with a sustainability component.

Strategic Plan Components:
1. Develop more curricular and co-curricular opportunities centered on sustainability
b. Increase student/staff participation in sustainability-focused programs and workshops.
c. Increase the number of co-curricular learning opportunities for sustainability across UWRF programs.

2. Protect and maintain campus ecology while increasing commitment to preserving the environment.
b. Identify and improve STARS rating indicators for UWRF

3. Increase awareness of the impacts of social disparities on environmental resource access
b. Establish baseline and provide support for additional opportunities for students and employees to engage in projects that address environmental resource inequities.

Strategic Plan Components:
2. Protect and maintain campus ecology while increasing commitment to preserving the environment
a. Decrease campus overall environmental impact as detailed in Sustainable Campus Community Plan.
b. Identify and improve STARS rating indicators for UWRF.

3. Increase awareness of the impacts of social disparities on environmental resource access.
b. Establish baseline and provide support for additional opportunities for students and employees to engage in projects that address environmental resource inequities.

Strategic Plan Components:

Goal 2: Inclusive Excellence and Intercultural Competency
UWRF is building a sense of belonging for all our students and employees. We’re fostering an engaging, accessible, and equitable environment where people who may have different identities, views, and backgrounds can productively interact. With high-impact practices and programs like first-year and URSCA (Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity) opportunities, peer mentoring, learning communities, internships, global education, and study abroad, we’re
providing dynamic educational experiences that strengthen student retention, instill career competencies, and power lifelong success.
Sub-Goals:
1. Create a more diverse campus with improved retention rates of students and employees.
a. Increase to 15% the percentage of underrepresented students.
b. Increase to 15% the percentage of underrepresented faculty and staff.
c. Remove equity gaps in six-year graduation rates between underrepresented students and majority groups.
2. Establish a process for completing ongoing campus culture surveys and intercultural
growth opportunities and address shortcomings
a. Establish baseline and understand current challenges that lead to improved level of
satisfaction of campus culture for students and employees.
b. Establish baseline and increase attendance at training workshops and forums focused on
intercultural growth, support, and belonging.
c. Identify and fund recruitment and marketing opportunities to increase diversity of faculty,
staff, and students.
3. Provide greater opportunity and access to High Impact Practices (HIPs)
a. Establish baseline and identify key HIPs for further investment and growth.
b. Identify additional funding sources to support HIPs access for all students
c. Remove equity gap in HIPs participation.
4. Fulfill our Land Acknowledgement commitment to indigenous nations of our region.
a. Provide opportunities to grow cultural competency of indigenous cultures and history.
b. Host at least two campus-wide education events annually that address indigenous peoples' issues and concerns.
c. Establish a baseline of attendance at events addressing current indigenous issues and increase attendance from each college each year.
d. Establish at least one ongoing and active partnership with an indigenous nation of the area that provides support for ongoing needs they identify.

Sustainability Core Value: We help address local and global challenges by integrating sustainability across all academic programs, campus operations, and activities. We embrace the holistic definition of sustainability, which includes “human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations.” (ref. AASHE)

Sustainability Commitment:
Joint resolution to re-affirm and advance our actions as part of a sustainable community between the following organizations: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, City of River Falls, School District of River Falls, and Chippewa Valley Technical College.
Whereas, the City of River Falls, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the School District of River Falls, and the River Falls community have formally committed to sustainability in policy and practice since 2012 and are leaders for these efforts; and Whereas, we have a deep respect for the land and environment and recognize our role as stewards of the natural resources; and Whereas, our organizations recognize that we desire a prosperous, sustainable future for current and coming generations; and Whereas, our organizations recognize the importance of sustainable development and we understand our responsibility to contribute by taking local action; and Whereas, our organizations wish to strongly support our own sustainability goals and those of the entire River Falls community; and Whereas, our organizations wish to share our knowledge with one another and encourage and reinforce partner and leadership roles within our communities to pursue sustainability in community and organizational planning, education, and in our operations; and Whereas, our organizations recognize that we will take the collective good will and determined work of citizens, educators, students, businesses, civic organizations, households, and government to become a more sustainable community; and Whereas, by endorsing sustainable community development, our organizations commit to educate ourselves and our constituents further about sustainability principles and practices, and to expand educational initiatives, professional development, and entrepreneurship in support of this commitment; and Whereas, our organizations strive to be part of a more sustainable community through collaborative efforts to reduce pollution, limit the degradation or destruction of ecosystems; reduce “carbon footprint” produced by energy use, transportation, and other sources; and reduce conditions that undermine people’s capacity to lead productive, healthy, and civically-engaged lives.

Now, Therefore Be It Resolved, that our organizations declare ourselves part of a sustainable community by endorsing the values, principles, and practices of sustainability described herein, and agree to seek opportunities for collaboration, communication, and partnership in joint
sustainability efforts.

Be It Further Resolved, that our organizations specifically commit to advancing sustainability through educating and engaging our stakeholders, advancing sustainability in our operations, incorporating sustainability into our guiding plans, and seeking innovative sustainable practices that address sustainability including social, economic, and environmental justice for current and future generations.

UWRF defines sustainability as our local and global responsibility to meet the needs of present and future generations, as demonstrated by an integrated set of ecologic, social, and economic values, principles, and practices that frame how we think, choose, and act in personal, professional, and community life.