Initiatives and Projects

Since its launch in May 2020, Central Sustainability has collaborated with community partners to create educational materials and resources, pursue policies and initiate projects to better the CMU community.

Ongoing partnerships

Central Sustainability has had amazing opportunities to connect with various organizations in Michigan, such as the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, the CMU Honors Program, Residence Life, Take Back The Tap, CMU Sierra Club, the Student Government Association, the Residence Housing Association, the Mount Pleasant Citizens' Climate Lobby, the City of Mount Pleasant, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center and many more.

Thanks to these partnerships, CS can put on events, facilitate ongoing projects, create and distribute resources and integrate sustainability into many areas of the campus community and university functions!

Campus resources and education

Sustainability walking tours

Central Sustainability created two different walking tours designed to show the unique parts of campus that often go unnoticed. Learn the various types of sustainability with the Sustainability Walking Tour. Explore the unique art on campus and understand its role in relation to sustainability with the CMU Campus Art Tour.

During walking tours, Central Sustainability takes participants on an adventure across campus and talks about sustainability. CS invites you to walk and learn more about campus resources, coalition-building, environmental justice, art, advocacy and community health, among other topics. The tour takes about two hours, so make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes, a bottle of water and a spirited attitude!

If you're interested in going on a walking tour, email sustainability@cmich.edu and ask to be added to the mailing list for walking tour updates.

Sustainable living guide

With the Sustainable Living Guide, CS hopes to educate and improve the public perception of sustainability. This document serves as a guide on how to incorporate sustainability into campus life through community-building, education and healthy habits. The guide includes tips on how to reduce waste, get civically involved, support local businesses and more!

CS is always working with various on-campus organizations to help distribute this living guide and hopes to eventually include the guide into orientation resources.

CMU waste website

Do you have any questions about waste management, waste reduction or sustainable living on campus? Check out Central Sustainability’s waste guide at cmichwaste.wordpress.com! You can find information about composting, recycling, waste partnerships and involvement opportunities. If you have additional questions, reach out to sustainability@cmich.edu.

Sustainability map

Interested in finding sustainable spots on campus? Visit the sustainability map here!

Ethnobotanical garden

Central Sustainability worked with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College to create an ethnobotanical garden on CMU’s campus, which can be found behind the Fabiano Botanical Gardens near St. Mary's Parish. The garden was planted in June 2021.

An ethnobotanical garden represents the traditional knowledge and customs of local culture and people. This garden features the Three Sisters, a combination of three plants that work together and support one another.

Cultural sustainability is a form of sustainability that focuses on celebrating cultural beliefs and practices, respecting heritage conservation and honoring identities. This garden serves as a gesture of respect to members of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and honors the rich culture of the Anishinaabek peoples.

Every year, Central Sustainability presents to the CMU Student Government Association on initiatives, sustainability efforts on-campus and how students can get involved. In the spring, CS presents at the annual Diversity Symposium. CS has presented to various student organizations such as the Residence Housing Association, Central Votes and the SGA Sustainability Committee.

Central Sustainability is always willing to present, so if you're interested in having the office talk about sustainability to your group, please email sustainability@cmich.edu.

Event coordination

Annual Earth Month programming

Central Sustainability collaborates with various student groups to present exciting Earth Month programming. In the past, Central Sustainability has worked with the Cora Di Brazzá Foundation, Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, CMU Center for International Ethics, Take Back the Tap, Student Environmental Alliance, Sierra Club and CMU Student Government Association, among many others.

Follow Central Sustainability on social media or email sustainability@cmich.edu to join a mailing list to stay up to date with Central Sustainability programming.

Campus sustainability month programming

October is Campus Sustainability Month! This annual program includes exciting events like waste audits, walking tours, a sustainability fair, a campus clean-up and more! Programming varies each year.

On-campus farmer’s market

Central Sustainability hosted the first-ever campus farmer’s market in fall 2023! Local vendors came to campus to share their work with the campus community. There was an overwhelming response from students, and CS looks forward to continuing the farmer’s market each fall!

Institutionalizing sustainability

Sustainable purchasing policy

Central Sustainability created the Sustainable Purchasing Policy, which has been reviewed and approved by the university's cabinet. This policy requires a commitment from the university to purchase materials that have been sustainably made and have green certifications.

Data collection

Sustainability tracking assessment & rating system (STARS) Reports

As part of Central Sustainability’s commitment to monitoring sustainability, CS submits the STARS report on behalf of Central Michigan University. This report allows CS to benchmark the university's performance in sustainability efforts related to specific areas like campus operations, academia and strategic planning.  For the first time ever, the CMU STARS report earned a gold ranking for 2020. The 2024 CMU STARS report earned a silver ranking. The next STARS submission will be completed in 2028. Access to the full reports can be found here.

Future projects

Central Sustainability is always looking for new projects and initiatives.

This website does not list all of Central Sustainability’s projects and initiatives, but more information can be found on CS’s social media pages. If you have any questions or are interested in collaboration, please reach out to the office at sustainability@cmich.edu.