Sustainability Policies of North Carolina Universities
In doing some preliminary research around North Carolina universities and their policies on sustainability, it is very intriguing to see the subtle differences between them. However, the North Carolina Universities policy manual makes a great effort at highlighting some key initiatives that all NC universities are required to contribute to including recycling and waste management, transportation, and environmentally friendly purchasing.
After analyzing a few university sites on sustainability, four schools stuck out as universities who are consciously making a strong effort to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable. These universities are North Carolina State University, Appalachian State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Two of these schools, NCSU and UNC, are located in the middle of the state in the Piedmont region. Appalachian State is located in the mountains and UNCW on the coast.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University, being one of the biggest agriculture and engineering schools not only in the state but in the region, does a great job of emphasizing sustainability in all that they do. The sustainability office website states that NCSU’s sustainability policy “enhances the management and growth of NC State’s academic enterprise by becoming a leaner, stronger, and smarter campus”. The site engages individuals to introspectively review their daily lives and offers suggestions on ways to decrease the carbon footprint of the individual.
NC State’s sustainability department has recently combined efforts with Carter Finley Stadium, their football venue located one mile from campus. In doing so, there has been a development of a compost unit that allows tailgaters to rid their site of food into proper waste management bins that recycle these organic goods to be used on local farms. The school makes it clear that sustainable practices suggested in the policy should be followed by all NCSU students and faculty. In doing so, they are setting a positive example, especially for other agricultural and engineering environments.
One very interesting section on the site that set it apart from others was the personal wellness and diversity page. No other university had a similar site in which NCSU takes a unique stance on personal health and hygiene and interweaving ways students can do this in an environmentally friendly way.
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University, located in Boone, NC, is also very unique in that sustainability and environmentalism has become such an intrinsic part of their student body culture. In fact, the area of Boone and suburb cities have been recognized by many major media outlets as one of the most innovative area when it comes to sustainability. They were nominated as a finalist for the national Climate Leadership Competition.
As far as their sustainability site goes, ASU offers a very engaging and interactive perspective to the consumer. The University’s mission statement concerning sustainability reads “Appalachian State University leads in creating a world where environmental, societal, and economic qualities exist in balance to meet the resource needs of today and of future generations. Our community of students, faculty and staff continually advance our understanding, capabilities and practices in this vital journey. As an institution of higher learning, we lead and educate by example, inspiring new generations prepared to share this knowledge, ingenuity and passion.” This mission statement sets a high standard for the members of the University to protect the campus and ecosystems around it.
Also, throughout their site, they provide a variety of links to more information and outside resources for consumption by students and staff. Creating a collegiate environment in which sustainability is a priority has taken time, but should and most likely will be replicated by other universities.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has an office dedicated specifically to sustainability, and received a Gold Rating in Sustainability by The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). There are many different resources available online for students to use to become more sustainable, such as a sustainability pledge and an interactive map of campus sustainability features.
Their sustainability mission reads “The Sustainability Office advances the triple bottom line of ecological integrity, economic prosperity and social equity,”. To enact their mission, they have policies enacted for students and faculty to follow. The policies that acknowledge first-hand sustainability efforts include developing practices that preserve natural resources, promoting human health and well-being, and understanding impacts of University activity on the planet. Members of the University are expected to follow these practices in an effort to set an example for other citizens and schools, which is a good way to make people aware that everyone has an environmental footprint.
The rest of the policies call University members to action by suggesting that they monitor progress towards sustainability, promote awareness of sustainability goals, collaborate with off-campus organizations to achieve these goals, advocate for policy change, and promote accomplishments. These high standards make it clear that UNC expects their students and faculty to serve as leaders in sustainable practices both inside and outside of the University.
The school even has a feature on their website that allows students to submit ideas to promote sustainability in an effort to get support from the University. This makes it even easier for everyone to get involved and share the school’s evident passion for protecting resources.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Like Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina at Wilmington is surrounded by a large and unique ecosystem compared to the two schools in the research triangle — in UNCW’s case, this ecosystem is the ocean. UNCW’s goal is to keep the land around them healthy and clean for both members of the community and other organisms that live in and around Wilmington’s beaches.
UNCW has a special Green Seal of Approval, a process created to “promote programs, initiatives, policies and projects that support sustainable values”. After a project or plan is approved by the approval committee, it will be included in UNCW’s green report every year. Like UNC Chapel Hill, UNCW’s sustainability website offers students the opportunity to take their sustainability pledge, and gives suggestions on how to live more sustainability. These suggestions include using natural light, turning off electronics when not in use, buying Energy Star appliances, and educating oneself and others on sustainable practices.
UNCW also includes a list of accomplishments that they have made in their campus sustainability, including creating a sustainability action plan, completing a second greenhouse gas inventory, and building multiple buildings to LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver Certification standards. UNCW’s Chief Sustainability officer said of their progress “I am extremely proud of our accomplishments in sustainability, particularly our endeavors toward student education and engagement, applied learning, recycling and energy and water conservation”.
By examining the sustainability policies and websites of four of North Carolina’s largest universities, it is clear that North Carolina’s education system is making a large effort to preserve and protect natural resources. All of the schools have extensive websites providing mission statements, policies, and suggestions that students and faculty may take advantage of. In a world with limited resources and rapid urbanization, it is important for institutions like colleges to take the lead and set high standards for their students to follow in the hopes that they set an example for others. College students have the opportunity to make a difference in the future of the world, in this starts with schools taking initiative.
