Northern Arizona University
Contact Information
Education and Research:
Major/ Programs:
B.S. - Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Forestry, and Parks and Recreation Management; undergraduate majors in biology (ecology emphasis), fish and wildlife management, journalism (environmental communication emphasis), economics (environmental emphasis), physics and astronomy (environmental emphasis), environmental planning, land use planning, environmental geology, humanities (environmental humanities emphasis), public humanities, and liberal studies (emphasis areas in environmental communication and environmental science), Applied indigenous environmental studies certificate.
Graduate - MA in Sustainable Communities, MS in Engineering (environmental engineering emphasis); MA, MPA, and PhD in political science (emphasis in environmental and natural resources policy), MS in Environmental Sciences and Policy, MS and PhD in Forestry.
Upper Level Interdisciplinary courses:
Climate Mitigation, Sustainability in Natural and Built Systems, Research in Campus Sustainability.
Academic Honors:
NAU is one of only four host universities selected for the national Wyss Scholars program scholars. Two Master's student will work as scholars on issues of land conservation and management in the Intermountain West.
NAU is one of eight universities selected for the highly competitive Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship program to identify and support future conservation leaders. The Fellowship supports students enrolled in multidisciplinary master’s programs and who are committed to careers as practicing conservationists.
Key Research organizations at NAU:
Ecological Restoration Institute, Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, The Office of Sustainability.
A complete listing of programs can be found in Navigating the Green Road: A Guide to NAU’s Environmental Resources, at: www.emaprogram.com/emaweb/ema/site/GreenRoad.asp.
Eco House/Sustainability Learning Community - connects approximately 20 freshmen of various majors with other environmentally-minded students in a Residence Hall. Eco House residents strive to promote sustainable and environmentally-sensitive living within the university setting.
Ponderosa Group - The Ponderosa Group consists of NAU faculty members from various disciplines who share a common vision of education for environmental sustainability. The Ponderosa Group meets regularly throughout the academic year in support of this "greening" of the curriculum project.
Global Learning Initiative – The Task Force on Global Education has adopted an initiative to incorporate global learning outcomes, including environmental sustainability as one of three pillars, in all aspects of the curriculum. Given the increasing interdependent and interconnectedness of our world, that the quality of human life on the planet is affected by human actions, and that environmental sustainability is fundamental to the ability of humans to both survive and thrive, higher education has a responsibility to engage students on this important issue as it seeks to facilitate a conception of the self in global terms. Students will understand the scope of environmental sustainability in local and global terms and will know what it means to use natural resources in ethical and responsible ways that will maintain a sustainable environment.
Outreach - The Office of Sustainability presents a myraid of informational sessions on sustainability to different departments, residence halls, and community groups around Flagstaff throughout the year to
Campus Operations:
Campus Master Plan – Oriented toward reduction of parking, increased mass transit/alternative transportation infrastructure.
Dining Services:
- Donate untouched “surplus” prepared food items to local charities.
- Donate $5000 per year to the Hooper Student Fund which awards grants to students for sustainability-related projects on campus and in the community.
- Used cooking oil from the dining halls given to transportation services to convert to biodiesel for campus buses.
- Napkins 100% recycled material. Dish washing detergents are certified “green” by EcoLab. Biodegradable To-Go containers provided in the Salad Bar.
- Pre-consumer food waste in South Dining composted for use in the community garden managed by Students for Sustainable Living and Urban Gardening (SSLUG).
- Purchase local food seasonally through local supplier, Stern. All milk is rBST-free and comes from a local Phoenix dairy, Shamrock Farms.
- The Campus Market and Oasis store features a variety of organic, vegan, vegetarian, allergen-free, and health food options. Salad bars on campus serve organic spring mix and organic fresh spinach.
Green Building Program:
- In 2008, the President of the University, John Haeger, committed to building all new construction projects to a minimum of LEED Silver standard.
- NAU boasts three LEED buildings. The University’s Applied Research and Development building (ARD) is rated LEED Platinum. The Franke College of Business and the Engineering building are both rated LEED Gold.
- NAU is a major sponsor and organizer of the County's Green Building Lecture Series.
- ARD:
- The ARD Building earned 60 points out of a possible 69 to meet the highest rating—Platinum—from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED system. It is the greenest building in Arizona and has the third highest LEED point total in the world. The building uses 60% less water and energy than a conventional building. 90% of the construction materials were recycled and 30% of the materials used in the building were made from recycled content.
Solar PV and Thermal :
- The ARD building uses solar thermal and solar PV technologies. A 160-kilowatt photovoltaic system provides up to 20% of the electricity for the building. A back-up heating system uses roof-mounted solar thermal panels to pre-heat air and water.
- Organic landscaping
- Grounds crew uses “organic” landscaping techniques where possible = hand-pulling of weeds, use of pre-emergent corn gluten, and incorporation of vinegar-based herbicides.
EcoPass:
- NAU covers the cost for all NAU faculty and staff to receive a free annual city bus pass to encourage public transportation use.
Yellow Bike Program:
- Free bike checkout system for faculty, staff, and students to check out a bike, lock and helmet for 7 days at a time with their NAU ID.
Reclaimed water:
- In FY09, NAU saved 23,048,601 gallons of potable water by using reclaimed water for landscaping as well as in select toilets around campus.
Retro fits:
- Across campus, low-flow fixtures and in many buildings waterless urinals have been installed. Central plant recently upgraded for efficiency.
Printing Services:
- Soy-based inks, non-petrol cleaners, recycled paper upon request, cloth vs. paper towels used.
Administration and Finance:
Strategic Plan:
- NAU has placed sustainability at the heart of the university by including a sustainability goal in its latest strategic plan: Further the environmental, economic, social, and cultural vitality of our communities through collaborative stewardship of place.
ACUPCC Leadership Circle:
- As part of the Leadership Circle, NAU is now completing the ACUP CC Action Plan, assisted by work of students in the Climate Mitigation class.
Environmental Membership:
- NAU has membership, an MOU, or closely collaborates with these organizations working on sustainability issues: AASHE, ACUP Climate Challenge, Campus Climate Challenge, International Slow Food Association, Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, U.S. Green Building Council, Wind Powering America (DOE), Coconino County Sustainable Economic Development Initiative, Alliance for Construction Excellence, Governor's Solar Task Force, NACET (Local Green Business Incubator).
Office of Sustainability:
- President Haeger opened an Office of Sustainability in 2008 to help guide the effort to bring NAU to carbon neutrality by 2020.
NAREG:
- The Northern Arizona Renewable Energy Purchasing Group is a group of major private and public energy users in the region who collaborate to advance renewable energy development in Northern Arizona. Part of this goal includes cooperative purchasing of renewable energy from local utility provider, Arizona Public Service.
Distance Learning and 4-year guaranteed tuition:
- NAU boasts a successful and ever-growing distance learning program that specifically serves many of our students in rural and reservation areas. This program helps us to vastly improve our accessibility to underserved populations both in Arizona and across the nation.
- Last year, President Haeger established a 4-year guaranteed tuition program which protects students from tuition increases. Students will pay a fixed rate beginning in their sophomore year that is guaranteed not to change so long as the student continuously enrolls at the University over the course of the 4-year period.
Environmental Caucus:
- The University’s Environmental Caucus formed in October 2009, with 30-40 faculty, student and staff participants at each monthly meeting. The Caucus facilitates creative and strategic communication across campus to advance the institutional commitment to sustainability and to promote education, research, and collaboration on the environment. Caucus action teams actively work on the curriculum, the student experience, advocating for ACUPCC, and forming an NAU environmental identity through development of an environmental communications plan. A Student Environmental Caucus formed in Spring 2009 to bring together all student environmental groups on campus.
Endowed Chair :
- NAU’s endowed chair in Community, Culture, and the Environment brings together students and community organizations in tangible projects seeking interdisciplinary environmental solutions.
The Hooper Student Sustainability Fund :
- Established in 2001, an annual competition for student sustainability project funding of $500 to $2500. Special consideration is given to projects in Native American communities.
AASHE Bulletin
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