Environmental Caucus Meeting Notes

Thursday, March 14th. 12:30-1:45pm

ARD, Large Pod

Attendees: Eva Putsova, Liz Wiggen, Cori Cusker, Shawna Day, Laura Huenneke, Rod Parnell, Justin Pine, Nick Koressel, Avi Henn, Cat Sullivan, Scott Perelstein, Kathee Rose, David Bousquet, Bryan McLaren, Bo Stevens, Kim Curtis, Mathew Goodwin, Christopher Harnois, Lindsay Wagner, Kevin Ordean, Liz Grobsmith, (two other students whose names I did not get.)

I. New Introductions/announcements-

A. Fossil Free NAU

Here to clarify any misconceptions if they exist
Want to work together to complete campaign.
350.org- fighting climate change, advocating for universities to divest (withdraw investments from fossil fuel into sustainable industries). National campaigns.
Fossil Free NAU- call NAU to freeze new investments and divest overtime in over 200 fossil fuel companies. Feel that NAU is a leader in sustainability, want to ‘green portfolio.’ Want to work with students, and will meet with endowment. Engage campus and community with climate change.
Petition- 3,500 signatures
Work with campus and community groups like F3 to show campus wants this Goal is to vote to freeze divestments.
Suggestions: As a courtesy meet with endowment president. Start as a collaborative conversation first then move to pressure campaign if that’s the case. Don’t assume a public pressure campaign.
Trying to raise awareness and at the same time talk with the endowment president.
What Universities were successful? How? Private Northeastern Schools: Hampshire College is one.
Pay attention to our culture and know what works best for us.
Business students? How do we make profits while not investing in fossil fuels? The foundation is responsible for managing monies responsible for University, which funds scholarships and activities on campus. Need to know they can shift without harm to that responsibility. Public exposure of the institution. Be thoughtful of how you pursue this. Ask them first before they look back in public.
Will take this feedback and use it. Maybe meet with endowments first.
Fossil Free NAU- Facebook page- can sign petition here or on 350.org. Mondays at 6:30pm. Email: Shawna if you are interested.

B. Updates: GA, Sustainability awards, Earth Week, strategic planning workshop in June

Graduate assistantship- is funded. Full time graduate student, apply! The ECSC will review applications in April
Great response to sustainability Award nominations. Will be deciding after spring break
June- workshop with VP’s for Environmental Caucus strategic plans
Looking for faculty members for next associate chair of caucus. If you or anyone is interested, let us know

II. Future of the Office of Sustainability-

A. Bryan’s experience and where he sees things going from here.

On of the biggest things- NAU has a really unique advantage, great history working on sustainability, great culture. Our sustainability efforts are starting to move away from that. “lets not play their game, lets play ours.” (comparing NAU to ASU). We have a phenomenal opportunity to harness the energy of the community here. Most people know about sustainability; its inherent in our culture. We don’t have a ton of money to throw at huge sustainability projects. Office of sustainability-much more of a liaison structure that gives advice across disciplines. There are pro’s and con’s to that structure.

B. Other comments from other folks- other potentials?

Wish list? How could the position be more effective? What is missing? The University has made the decision to approach sustainability in this way. (Liaison)
Office of Sustainability has a tiny budget, which forces them to reach out to appropriate departments to ‘plug into existing structures and programs.’
Disadvantage- when it comes to new programs, can’t expect the office to ‘bootstrap that,’ making it an entrepreneurship position. (we don’t have a large endowment to pursue new projects and new ideas).
Revolving ‘green fund’ is extremely important. Not the office’s budget, but money available for the office to help other departments move towards. Large pool of potential donors interested in contributing to sustainability-related projects. Adding to the capitol campaign- outreach. Lots of responsibility for a single position. To get to carbon neutrality is a massive undertaking.
That office is a huge resource for students, and has the pulse on sustainability on campus. Having that available is key! Got a lot done with little to no budget with lots of student energy. Resources need to be brought to bear to continue (like student resources). Don’t forget about student energy!!
Lots a lot of work for one office to keep that bridge.
Stress physical access to the student body. Consistency! The office was in the building and provided some consistency.
Create a map for students- where the sustainable workers are like Cori and Cat (Reslife and Campus Dining).
Need more connectivity and consistency. What’s going on with what I can connect to? Re-doing the website will help with that.

C. How should the Caucus be involved in the job description and search process?

What’s the historical role? Env. Caucus members were on the search and hiring committee. Should it have student representation? Yes, would be beneficial.
Open setting for candidates to meet students, faculty, and staff?
Budget and time? Interest opportunity to assess another position or more bodies to support campus’ mission toward carbon neutrality.
Getting another position to run Green.nau site but doesn’t address central, time crunch issues.
Towards Carbon Neutrality- doesn’t necessarily take a lot of time, need to start making decisions. We don’t make the decrees and mandates. Killing demand vs. supply (like with plastic water bottles).
Encourages future thought, deliberation, and feedback on this position and office of sustainability

III. Strategic plan-

A. NAU online comments and input for strategic plan (until end of march) Ask everyone to tell 3 people to input comments online!

B. Eva Putzova review process to-date, opportunities for additional input, need for specificity in recommendations to plan

“vibrant sustainable community”: community engagement and operational sustainability. How to address sustainably and make visible and accommodate the other focus innovate, effective, and accountable practices?
Structure of strategic plan- we want it to be visible. “it just is.” How can we make it so it permeates the strategic plan and is the foundation? Weaves throughout. Could be values instead of goals level.
Sustainability be embedded in all goals, not be one separate goal- an overarching (360 degrees) that informs all other areas. Objectives can be related. Don’t want to be green-washed. Concept and culture is embedded without straight out saying it, not just saying “sustainability” in everything. Incorporate it.
Balance between removing and embedding through-out.
Need both internal and external communication. Need a major goal.
“Don’t change the title.” Put it out in front and weaving it through.
Some hybrid- don’t want to abandon ‘sustainability.’ Unpack it; what does that mean?
“It’s kinda a dangerous word.” It can be great in rallying people, but vague enough to what it actually is. How does the term apply? It’s really important in how you use it.
Another word to replace? Getting at sustainability as a value and also sustainability as a strategic goal, then how do you measure or engage what you are actually doing?
We are talking about this as if our campus is a bubble and not taking into consideration the community in which we are situated.

C. Discussion: how does turnover in sustainability coordinator position, status of climate action plan, campus sustainability plan fit into the overall NAU strategic plan

D. A planning process/procedure for revision of climate action plan and role of Environmental Caucus