Miami University
PAE-4: Sustainability Plan

In 2008 Miami University's President convened a Task Force for Environmental Sustainability, which produced a report recommending a host of actions to promote sustainability. This process involved a variety of campus stakeholders (students, faculty, staff, community members). In 2009 a new Sustainability Committee was created, including students, faculty, and staff. This committee distilled from the 2008 report a set of measurable "Miami University Goals and Commitments." It recommended these to President Hodge in 2010 and were publicly accepted in 2011.

The plan includes both broad commitments and specific, measurable goals. These are very broadly summarized and excerpted below. * Campuses that emit significantly less carbon in pursuit of carbon neutrality, through energy management, efficiency, awareness, and investments in renewable sources. Includes a goal of an overall goal of 20% reduction in GHG emissions over 2008 baseline, and a shift away from coal burning for steam heat by 2025. * A curriculum that engages students and every faculty member in sustainability issues reaching across all disciplines. Includes the creation of a new sustainability co-major and integration of sustainability into the liberal education curriculum. * A culture in which the entire community shares and coordinates in sustainability-related challenges, opportunities, efforts, and accomplishments. This includes development of consistent messaging, multi-media communication, and inclusion of sustainability into orientation programs. * Planning and growth that emphasize sustainability in our built and natural environments. This includes LEED certification (minimum Silver) for all new construction and major renovation, improved landscape practices. * Miami must reinforce its mission through responsible purchasing, operations, and waste reduction strategies. This includes a goal to divert at least 50% of waste from the landfill by 2017, including through phased implementation of bio-waste composting/digestion by 2014. * A transportation system that prioritizes walking, biking, and public transport for on-campus and short-distance travel, and offers commuters viable alternatives to driving alone. This includes phased implementation of bike lanes and preferential car-pool parking by 2012, and doubling of carpooling by 2020. * An institution whose financial transparency and investing reflect the highest aspirations of our mission as a public university. This includes making managers, mutual funds, and equity holdings available online to all members of the university community by 2012.

Each commitment has particular goals that are measurable in terms of quantity (e.g. GHG reductions) and time (year accomplished). This varies between commitments and goals.