Category

Four-year and Graduate Institutions over 7,500 FTE

Main Hall in Montana Photographer: Todd Goodrich

Contact

Erica Bloom
ASUM Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Services
University of Montana
(406) 243-4856
asum.sustain@mso.umt.edu

Governance & Administration

The mission statement for the University of Montana focuses on integrating Montana's unique community and landscape into the learning and preparation of students to become informed, ethical, and engaged citizens of both local and global communities.

As a liberal arts school in a historically conservative state, the educational tone has a pragmatic yet progressive spirit.  The energy and idealism of youth, coupled with the industrious sensibilities of Montana character, create a culture that embodies Montana values and dissolves political lines. 

The UM community has a long tradition of working for environmental stewardship and democracy, and has joined the nation in unified efforts.  On Earth Day 2002, UM President George Dennison signed the Talloires Declaration and was one of the initial one hundred signatories of the American University Presidents Climate Commitment, (AUPCC).

President Dennison appointed a Sustainable Campus Committee to guide and document UM's efforts in meeting the goals of the Talloires and ACUPCC.  The inventory of sustainability efforts on campus also became a benchmark to weigh-in against other universities.  As we hustled to gather the University's achievements, it became apparent that this new term of "sustainability" which we were working to embrace was actually defining our existing philosophies, goals, and practices.  We were on the right track, but also realized that we could do more. The fundamental work and conservation ethic of the majority of UM faculty, staff, and students is that of Montanans: simple, efficient, effective, and durable- echoing much of the intrinsic structure of sustainability.     

In 2006, the University employed a part-time graduate student to work as the Sustainability Coordinator, who was charged with organizing a student internship program, the Sustainability Initiatives Team, and also with providing research and coordination support to the University's sustainability pursuits.  The job description had outgrown the position before that student began.  Over the next two years, Associated Students of UM hired a sustainability coordinator of their own.  A recycling coordinator was also hired to increase recycling efforts on campus, shifting the mindset to valuable material and from salvaged garbage.    In the spring of 2008, the Administration announced the funding of a full-time Sustainability Coordinator and an Office of Sustainability, the latter of which will unify sustainability staff and act as a clearing house for those interested in UM's Sustainability innovations and action. 

An AASHE member since 2005, UM hosted a "Step it Up" event at a University football tailgate to inform participants about climate change, and also participated in "Focus the Nation," an action focused teach-in event which encouraged all faculty to incorporate climate change into their curriculum.

UM established an Environmental Ethics Institute in 2005, which hosts an annual seminar which explore the ethics of current environmental issues.

Founded in 1990, the Environmental Writing Institute was one of the first writing conferences in the country to focus entirely on nature and environmental writing.

UM understands that sustainability concepts work not only to negate environmental costs and improve social conditions but also make ongoing operations more economical.   

Operations

As a state school, facilities staff is tasked with the challenge of balancing work loads and minimal resources but continues to incorporate sustainability into daily custodial, purchasing, and building operation and maintenance practices.

Buildings are heated with a natural gas fired boiler co-generation plant and distribute heat efficiently through a steam tunnel system. Geothermal cooling has been used since 1980, and reduced energy consumption for cooling in the Curry Health Center by 85%!  Our Governor's 20 x 10 Energy Reduction Initiative has spurred a campus-wide energy audit, brainstorming and educational events, and a legislative budget proposal to fund infrastructure upgrades that will drastically reduce UM energy consumption and carbon emissions.

To maintain a "green, clean, and collegiate" campus environment in a responsible way we minimize water use and test drought-tolerant species.

UM is retiring the golf course to build a new facility for the College of Technology which houses the Alternative Energy Program.  The facility will be carbon neutral and employ a heat pump, geothermal cooling, and attain LEED certification. 

Initially, the Administration developed a green building certification, Green Griz, which focused on regional design and energy efficiency.  After reviewing the 2009 LEED standards, the Administration has committed to LEED certification for all new construction.

Facilities Services installed a waterless urinal in their office restroom to test apprehension. So far so good!

UM converted to Green Seal general purpose peroxide-based cleaner, no-zinc floor finishes, and hand soap for campus dispensers, and are testing sustainable bamboo and recycled mops.

Paper products (towels and tissue) are made from 100% recycled paper.

IT staff have implemented default double-sided printing in computer labs and determine the most socially and environmentally friendly e-waste recycling methods. 

UM only purchases Energy Star certified products; recycled, low-emission, low-input, and environmentally safe products are preferred.  Water conserving fixtures are purchased for replacements.  Purchasing agents attend State sustainable purchasing workshops. 

In 2008, Coca-Cola Distributors turned lights off in vending machines campus-wide.

The UM "Farm to College" program's emphasis on buying locally, seasonally, and organically helps reduce fossil fuels for food transport while supporting regional businesses. They also went "trayless" a campaign to reduce food waste. They use biodegradable carry-out containers, offer reusable container incentives, recycle, and compost.    

ASUM Transportation is a student-fee funded public transportation system, offering interest-free bike loans, a cruiser loan program, alternative transportation rewards, uses bio-fuel and natural gas for buses, and provides TONS of information for commuters like maps, bus schedules, carpool info., and winter riding tips.  WINNERS of the 2008 National Wildlife Federation's "Chill Out" Award!!!

Public Safety uses segues, and gives officers incentives for patrolling by bike or foot.

The UM fleet includes several hybrids, an electric vehicle, and electric golf carts from the retiring golf course. 

The student-fee funded recycling program recycles office paper, newspaper, cardboard, light bulbs, aluminum cans, tin cans, plastic bottles, phonebooks, bound books, cell phones, printer cartridges, and spiral binders.  

Curriculum & Research

Achieving a sustainable society is a central part of UM's mission, and every discipline and program on campus has something to teach about sustainability. The "Green Thread" program is being developed, so that every student and faculty member can participate in learning about sustainability.

The Green Thread is a curricular initiative, modeled after successful projects at Northern Arizona University (The Ponderosa Project) and Emory University (The Piedmont Project) that will infuse ecological, social, and economic sustainability into courses across UM. This initiative is in response to the ACUP Climate Commitment's action item requiring UM to develop an institutional plan to "make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum...." 

The Law school, Environmental Studies Program, and College of Forestry and Conservation are a few examples of the existing disciplines on campus which are founded with sustainability and environmental conservation in mind.

Because the world of environmental law is inherently interdisciplinary, the environmental lawyer of the 21st century will benefit from an education that reaches beyond the bounds of traditional law school. Environmental legal problems invariably involve scientific, policy or ethical issues.  We have combined a strong environmental and natural resources law curriculum with an established graduate program in environmental studies to provide the Joint Program in Law and Environmental Studies.

The Environmental Studies Program was established as an interdisciplinary graduate program at UM in 1970 and has a reputation of depth and quality.  They are involved with community groups in symbiosis; the relationship provides students with real experience, while offering the community access to research, and the energy and creativity of student collaboration.  They also update a community calendar which displays environmental and conservation events. 

The College of Forestry and Conservation (originally School of Forestry) was founded in 1913 and stresses hands-on experience to supplement an academic understanding of smart resource management. This is accomplished with well-equipped laboratories, extensive computer technology, and access to four outstanding field stations -- the 28,000-acre Lubrecht Experimental Forest , the Flathead Lake Biological Station on the shores of 184 square mile Flathead Lake, the 3500-acre Bandy Ranch, and the Boone and Crocket Club's Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch of 6000 acres along the east face of the Rockies.

The Wilderness and Civilization Program offered a Climate Change Lecture Series in the spring semester of 2008 titled, "Climate Change: Moving From Science to Solutions". The Series included speakers from varied disciplines and fields, each with practical experience working in innovative ways to understand and effectively respond to climate change.

"Cycle the Rockies: Energy and Climate Change in Montana" is a summer course offered through UM and Wild Rockies Field Institute. Students spend four weeks cycling 725 miles from Billings to Whitefish to study our regional energy choices and the impacts of climate change.

The UM Center for Riverine Science and Stream Renaturalization is an interdisciplinary fluvial and hydrogeologic research group advancing our knowledge of natural stream function and developing methods and procedures to mitigate impacted stream systems.

Campus Culture

Student Initiatives

Students have teamed up with Missoula's municipal water company, Mountain Water, to organize a bottled-water campaign.  They aim to educate students about the benefits of tap water with recyclable paper cups and stickers that have the slogan "Kick the Bottle, Hit the Tap." Nalgene bottles are available for purchase at cost and printed with facts about the negative impacts of bottled water. 

Residents in Jesse and Aber dorms were challenged to reduce energy and water consumption in a green dorm competition.  Jesse reduced their total electricity consumption by 12.8% and Aber reduced their total electricity consumption by 9.1%, based on the previous three year average. Total water consumption was reduced by 8.8% and 14.7%, respectively.

Students for Economic and Social Justice was formed in January 2006, and has since concentrated on institutional policies, specifically business policies on campus that perpetuate cycles of injustice, inequality, and exploitation.  They are very active in a Sweatshop-Free campaign which encourages the purchase ethically manufactured Grizwear clothing.

The Environmental Law Group (ELG) is a recognized student group founded for the purpose of raising environmental consciousness within the legal community. The ELG is committed to a platform founded on the preservation and protection of Montana's waters, lands, and animals.  

The Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology, UM FLAT, is a student initiated live-in demonstration home that functions as a residential, community, and classroom resource to communicate about sustainable living.  Three co-directors will live in the house and manage work-study, volunteer, and internship projects that help to achieve the mission and objectives of the UM FLAT.

Campus Culture

The Greening UM Website and blog, http://www.umt.edu/greeningum/, are ways for interested students and community members to discover information about UM sustainability efforts. 

WelcomeFeast is an annual fall all campus "social" that offers a free meal to students and provides a venue for student groups and organizations reach students.  The event is going to be green this year and will recycle, compost, reduce food and utensil waste, encourage attendees to bring their own beverage containers, and will be powered by renewable electricity generation. 

The UC Market offers Fair Trade/ shade grown coffee, organic chocolate, and local food options, and give reduced pricing for using your own coffee mugs.  The Bookstore has been collaborating with UM sustainability efforts and has also been proactive in incorporating sustainable purchasing options into their inventory.  Their bags are 100% recycled plastic, and sell compact florescent light bulbs, reusable tote bags, recycled binders and notebooks, and more. 

In 2008 UM's first Greenhouse Gas Inventory was completed. This inventory will give us a baseline to determine where UM needs to go to reduce carbon emissions in compliance with the AUPCC.

Student sustainability brochures were created and included in all freshman orientation packets to inform incoming students about the opportunities to get involved with sustainability.  Faculty sustainability brochures were also created and emailed which included information about sustainable classrooms and curriculum, and also include links to organizations pertaining to energy, food, purchasing, environmental stewardship, etc. 

 

Community Service and Outreach

Since its inception in 1997, the Program in Ecological Agriculture and Society, PEAS Farm, has combined traditional academics with hands-on work at an urban, organic farm which produces tens of thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables each season for low-income Missoulians. The internship - available for both undergraduate and graduate credit - is offered fall, summer, and spring. Although the course number remains the same, the internship changes with the seasons. Consequently, the internship is repeatable up to 10 credits.

PEAS works closely with two Missoula non-profits who specialize in hunger prevention and food security respectively: The Missoula Food Bank and Garden City Harvest. In the 2001 growing season the PEAS farm grew more than 52,000 pounds of produce for distribution to low-income families. The diesel tractor has been retrofitted to run on vegetable oil.

Montech, an alternative energy research organization and UM teamed up to implement a campus teaching site that includes a 10-kilowatt wind turbine, a hydrogen fuel cell and solar panels.

The duo also helped create UM's COT Alternative Energy Technology Degree Program, which prepares students for careers in traditional, emerging and alternative energy programs. Kerns said the two-year COT program is fairly unique because it is offered completely online. UM partners in the effort include community colleges in Butte, Glendive and Miles City.  The program prepares students for a future that involves climate change.

Students have worked with local high schools and senior centers to support their efforts to increase recycling and incorporate sustainability into their institutions. 

Earth Day events are an annual opportunity for UM to team with the Missoula community to throw a celebration. Along with the Missoula Urban Demonstration Project, students organized a festival in Caras Park, riverside downtown Missoula, which featured sustainable food venders, environmental nonprofit groups, and a solar generated concert.

The University of Montana gets to share a piece of the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. That's because UM ecologist and forestry Professor Steve Running, one of the nation's foremost experts on climate change, was a lead author of the 2007 United Nations IPCC report, which presents strong evidence that humanity is artificially warming our world.  Dr. Running has given many presentations to educate the community of Missoula about climate change and what action we can take in this region.

UM has teamed with Missoula City and County, Montana DOT, and the Missoula Water Quality District, for storm water protection of the Clark Fork River.  Pollution is minimized through: storm-drain and street cleaning, used-oil recycling program, spill response personnel, hazardous material disposal program, stenciling storm drains, and campus and community education.

UM organizes an annual community rummage sale to encourage re-use of materials, especially for dorm move-out.

Sustainability personnel from our state rival, Montana State U (MSU), teamed up with our UM sustainability staff to debrief one another about sustainability successes and challenges, and is specifically working to implement a student recycling fee at MSU.