CMU recognized for commitment to sustainability

An organization that promotes sustainable practices at higher education institutions across the country has recognized Central Michigan University’s campuswide efforts.

CMU earned a silver ranking for its efforts from The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education ranking system in May. Students from Central Sustainability spent three years auditing campus efforts to put together the report behind the award.

“Tracking how sustainable CMU is as a university is a tremendously important task that Central Sustainability has taken on not only to monitor campus operations and minimize their environmental impacts but also to inspire students to advocate for the same efforts to happen in their future communities,” said Tiffany Jurge, one of the students who wrote the report. “Additionally, CS is proud to receive the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Silver Award, as we believe it is an accurate reflection of where CMU stands in its progress toward sustainable development and serves as a motivator to do even better moving forward.

“Lastly, this award represents a collective effort of both the internal and external departments that worked tirelessly to make the data collection process possible.”

Central Sustainability played a critical role in conducting the audit, said Matt Liesch, who oversees the office. Students employed with it cast a wide net in assessing CMU’s sustainability efforts.

“You name an office at CMU, there’s a good chance that one or more of their staff have interacted with a student from Central Sustainability over the last year,” said Liesch, who also chairs the Geography and Environmental Studies department.

One of CMU’s most unique sustainability programs converts food waste across campus into compost. According to the university’s report, 600,000 pounds of organic matter was composted in a year, keeping it out of landfills.

Other notable initiatives on campus include restarting of an on-campus garden for students interested in growing their own food, student-led sustainability organizing and optional peer-to-peer sustainability presentations at the Leadership Safari for incoming freshmen.

Students from Central Sustainability also worked with staff to purchase tabling items that are made from more environmentally friendly materials, he said. That includes pens with bodies made from cardboard.

The audit was about more than just whether CMU is environmentally friendly. Among the 50 categories for which data was submitted, several addressed CMU’s commitment to economic and social sustainability.

“Big-picture thinking about sustainable places integrates environmental, social and economic data, Liesch said.