University of Idaho
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

1.) Bee Campus Committee
The Bee Campus Committee was established in 2023 as part of the University's effort to achieve the Bee Campus certification through the Xerces Society. The Bee Campus Committee consists of UI faculty, staff and students and focuses on protecting native pollinators. The committee works to develop plans to create and enhance pollinator habitat on campus, increase native plantings, provide nesting sites, and design informational signage. The committee will also approve the Integrated Pest Management Plan that will outline how to reduce pesticides and expand the use of non-chemical pest management methods.

https://www.uidaho.edu/sustainability/bio-land/bees

2.) Campus Tree Advisory Committee

The Campus Tree Advisory Committee was established in 2023 as part of the University's effort to be recognized as a Tree Campus in Higher Education through the Arbor Day Foundation. The Campus Tree Advisory Committee consists of UI faculty, staff and students as well as members of the Moscow community. The committee works on drafting and approving the Campus Tree Care Plan, coordinating Arbor Day observance events, and provides guidance for future planning, education of the campus population as to the benefits of the campus trees, and development of connectivity to the community.

https://www.uidaho.edu/sustainability/bio-land/trees

3.) Presidential Sustainability Work Group
In 2022, President Scott Green has asked this working group to finalize a white paper for the creation of an entity capable of executing on the university’s strategic desire to be known for sustainability. This may include identifying certificates, degrees and courses we offer, the research that we pursue under this umbrella and how the entity will organize and interface with other university stakeholders. The white paper should answer the question of what separates the University of Idaho from competitors offering similar degrees, certificates and research focus areas. The audit of current offerings would result in recommendations for the early opportunities to market existing degrees and research focused on sustainability, as well as include recommendations for future focus areas in sustainability.

https://www.uidaho.edu/president/university-working-groups/sustainability

1.) Bee Campus Committee Members
Craig Carson, Campus Landscape Manager
Sarah Dawson, Ph.D., University Sustainability Director (chair)
Madison Dougherty, Environmental Science graduate student
Guy Esser, Project Architect
Anna Hawes, Entomology graduate student
Iris Mayes, Ph.D., Small Farms and Horticulture Extension Educator
Raymond Pankopf, Director of Architectural and Engineering Services
David Roon, Ph.D., Natural Resources and Society Faculty
Olivia Wiebe, Sustainability Manager (co-chair)

2.) Campus Tree Advisory Committee
Celine Acord, AES Project Landscape Architect
Randy Brooks, Ph.D., Forestry Program Lead, Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences
Craig Carson, Campus Landscape Manager
Mark Coleman, Ph.D., Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences faculty
Sarah Dawson, Ph.D., University Sustainability Director (chair)
Madison Dougherty, Environmental Science graduate student
Lucy Falcy, Landscaping, Facilities
Charles Goebel, Ph.D., Department Head of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences
Cydnie Gray, Graphic Designer
Grant Harley, Ph.D., Earth and Spatial Sciences faculty
Tara Hudiburg, Ph.D., Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences faculty
Andrew Nelson, Ph.D., Director of Franklin H. Pitkin Forest Nursery
Ray Pankopft, Director of Architectural and Engineering Services
Greg Sarff, Arborist, Arborlife
Steve Shook, Ph.D., Forest and Sustainable Products faculty
Paul Warnick, Arboretum Super/Horticulturist
Olivia Wiebe, Sustainability Manager (co-chair)

3.) Presidential Sustainability Working Group Members
Co-Chairs
Dennis Becker, Dean – CNR
Lee Espey, Division Operations Officer, DFA
Executive Sponsor
Chandra Zenner Ford, President’s Office
External
Victor Borque Castillo, Vice President, Business Development for N. America, Sacyr
Todd Combs, Associate Lab Director, Energy & Environment, INL
Heather Druffel, Policy & Engagement Specialist, Hancock Natural Resource Group
Brett Dumas, Director, Environmental Affairs, Idaho Power
Byron Flynn, College of Engineering Advisory Board & retired GE Executive
Chris Meyer, Director of Education, Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Internal
John Barnhart, Sr. Director, Marketing & Creative Services
Patricia Colberg, Associate Dean, College of Engineering
Matthew Doumit, Associate Dean, Student Affairs, CALS
Erik Elordi, Director of Campus Services, Auxiliary Services
Jerry Fairley, Department Head, Geological Sciences, COS
Jennifer Ladino, Professor, English, CLASS
Tim Link, Professor, Hydrology, CNR
Ben McLuen, Associate Vice President, Development - Advancement
Amin Mirkouei, Assistant Professor, COE, Idaho Falls Campus
Jeremy Mutart, Surplus & Solid Waste Supervisor, Division of Infrastructure
Dylan Hedden Nicely, Associate Professor, Law
Brad Ritts, Sr. Associate Vice President, ORED
Cathy Roheim, Senior Associate Dean, CALS
Yvonne Sertich, Executive Director, Energy Executive Course, CBE
Scott Slovic, Distinguished Professor, Enviro Studies, CLASS
Olivia Wiebe, Sustainability Manager, Office of the President
Damon Woods, Interim Director, CAA Integrated Design Lab, U of I Boise
Students
Clara Abplanalp, Recycling Event Coordinator, Environmental Science
Ian Glasgow, Mechanical Engineering
Kyle Nagy, Superintendent & Sandpoint Orchard Operations Manager, CALS
Olivia Niemi, Director of Sustainability, ASUI

2.) STARS Committee

Lexi Arritt, Program Coordinator; Strategic Enrollment Management
Yolanda Bisbee, Chief Diversity Officer & Executive Director of Tribal Relations; Office of Equity and Diversity
Rebecca Couch, Director; Parking & Transportation Services
Erik Elordi, Director; Campus Services
Lee Espey, Division Operations Officer; Vice President for Finance
Ben Hunter, Dean; University Libraries
Trina Mahoney, Assistant VP of University Budget & Planning; Budget Office
Sara Mahuron, Associate Director of Accreditation and Assessment; Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives
Wes McClintick, IR Director; Institutional Research
Julia McIlroy, Director; Contracts and Purchasing Services
Bradley Ritts, Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Samir Shahat, University Safety Officer & Executive Director; Environmental Health and Safety
Brandi Terwilliger, Director; Human Resources
Rusty Vineyard, Director; Facilities Operations
Olivia Wiebe, Sustainability Coordinator; Sustainability Center-Department of Student Involvement

3.) Sustainability Center Advisory Board

The members of this advisory board often change each year. In 2021, the board members were:

Grace McGreevy, Projects/Grants Coordinator; University of Idaho Sustainability Center
Ian Glasgow, Graduate Student; Mechanical Engineering
Lynsie Clott, Assistant Director; Department of Student Involvement
Olivia Niemi, ASUI Director of Sustainability; Department of Student Involvement
Olivia Wiebe, Sustainability Coordinator; Department of Student Involvement

1.) The Office of Sustainability

In 2023, the University of Idaho established the Office of Sustainability within the President's Office. The University Director of Sustainability leads a team of full time and part time staff that work to advance sustainability, including the Sustainability Manager and student employees. The Office of Sustainability works with numerous partners across campus and the community to work towards emission reduction, native Palouse Prairie restoration, energy and water conservation, waste management, and many other sustainability solutions.

https://www.uidaho.edu/sustainability


The Sustainability Center (UISC) was established as the first student-led Sustainability Center west of the Mississippi in 2006 as part of campus-wide student movement with support from staff, faculty, all three student governments (undergraduate ASUI, graduate student GPSA, and law student SBA), residence hall presidents and many clubs. This effort culminated in the passing of a $5 per semester student fee that continues to support UI Student Sustainability activities. In 2022, the UI Sustainability Center was renamed the Student Sustainability Cooperative to better reflect the focus and function of the organization.

Our Mission: The Student Sustainability Cooperative (SSC) is a student-led and funded organization designed to empower student efforts to create an active culture of sustainability at University of Idaho. The SSC is committed to creating impactful experiences and fostering connections between students and opportunities to engage in campus sustainability.

Student Leadership: The SSC has six student staff positions responsible for coordinating events, volunteers, recycling, marketing, grant projects, and social media accounts. Students receive training, support and guidance from the Sustainability Coordinator, a full-time professional staff position.

The Student Sustainability Cooperative uses the campus as a living laboratory to engage students in addressing real-world problems through service learning. Recent projects include planting 800 native trees for Arbor Day, hosting an interdisciplinary field-science weekend, and a menstrual cup distribution project.

In addition, six student leaders host 30-50 activities annually, most notably: partnering with 52 key constituents including 5 student leadership organizations (ASUI, GPSA, Student Orientation Leaders, clubs), 9 living groups (Greek, Dorms), 14 U of I (colleges, departments), and 34 community organizations (non-profit’s, businesses).

Other contributions:

• Allocating, up to $10,000 annually, for student-led campus sustainability projects through the Sustainability Grants program.

• Working to restructure and reinstate interior and exterior recycling with campus partners

• Hosting 12-18 experiential volunteer programs annually which give students the opportunity to plant trees, grow organic produce, protect water quality, maintain mountain trails, pick-up litter, and support composting.

• Improving campus environmental literacy through instructional events, programming, and marketing materials.

• Hosting events such as Climate Action Simulation Games, Interfaith Climate Discussion, Busy Bee House Building, Upcycle It, Eco-Conscious Art Exhibit, and the Dam Removal Webinars

The Sustainability Center serves thousands of students across campus. For example, Spruce the Palouse engages students in their campus and community through service opportunities that enhance our natural environment. Students get to contribute to the sustainability of the Palouse while meeting community partners and finding new areas to appreciate.


FY21 data*:
-Events and volunteer activities: 23
-Participants attending events and volunteer activities: 635
-Volunteer hours: 49
-Trees, shrubs, and groundcovers planted: 625
-Student-led mini-grants awarded: 3

*The pandemic effected programming significantly in FY2021

Accomplishments:

-Coordinating the university's response to a campus sustainability survey 2022, gathering and interpreting data for environmental literacy, employee and student commuter, and cultural indicators.

-Coordinating the university's response to STARS, Princeton Review, and Sierra Cool Schools.

-Contributing to the greenhouse gas inventory and Climate Action Plan updates (in progress)

-Leading energy efficiency initiatives such as the installation of the university's first solar array

-Supporting a multitude of integrated seminars, professors, and student projects

-Serve as a key partner in reinstating campus recycling collection (in progress)

The University Director of Sustainability leads the development and execution of innovative solutions that have a positive environmental impact and are socially responsible and economically viable. Reporting to the President of the University of Idaho and as a member of the President’s leadership team, the University Director of Sustainability provides institutional vision and leadership in developing and recommending key goals and actions to which the university will commit to advance sustainability practices, educational offerings, research innovation, outreach, and advocacy. The Director works closely with university leaders, faculty, students, and staff to foster a culture of sustainability across campus and to identify, develop, implement, and promote collaborative strategies that advance these core values and strategic priorities. The Director also monitors and evaluates program effectiveness, documents performance and trends, and recommends modifications to improve institutional effectiveness. The Director coordinates sustainability responsibilities assigned to other operational, academic, research, and student functions by leading multi-disciplinary teams and work groups governing and implementing sustainability initiatives, programs, and projects across our campuses, centers, and field sites.

The Sustainability Manager supports the University of Idaho Sustainability Director in the advancement of strategies, initiatives, and goals related to environmental sustainability at the University of Idaho. The Sustainability Manager will aid in the development, implementation, and tracking of programs that advance the university’s sustainability goals as outlined in the Sustainability White Paper, with a special focus on campus operations. The person in this position is responsible for establishing communication and data collection between university entities to assist with the completion of an annual STARS report as well as other sustainability projects as assigned by the Director. This position reports to the University of Idaho Sustainability Director.

Position Overview:

Biodiversity and landscape management are critical pieces of a comprehensive sustainability plan for the University of Idaho. Some endorsed goals involving our campus landscape include becoming both a certified Bee Campus and achieving Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf (ACSP) certification for our golf course. To that end, we are looking to fill this position with someone who can help manage campus plants and native habitat in an environmentally-friendly manner. Duties may include: · Identify, evaluate, and augment the campus’s natural habitat and current plantings

· Determine proper selection, placement, and care of University of Idaho landscape plants with an emphasis on genetically-diverse drought-, heat/smoke-, pest-, fire-resistant and native landscape plants

· Identify horticultural strategies that enhance wildlife habitat and native pollinator populations, native ecosystem biodiversity, abatement of air and water pollutants, carbon sequestration, erosion control, and other critical ecosystem services while maintaining campus beauty

· Assess the water quality of waterways near the campus golf course

· Work with Facilities Operations and golf course staff to create an Integrated Pest Management Plan for campus with a focus on reducing the application of synthetic chemicals and neonicotinoids

· Work with Facilities Operations and Architectural and Engineering Services to create a campus landscaping standard

· Work with the Office of Sustainability to design educational materials related to the campus landscape and golf course

· Serve on the Campus Pollinator Committee

· Assist with landscape maintenance, restoration, and design for campus plantings

· Install, transplant, and prune plants, and weed plant beds

· Identify, evaluate, and treat potential pests and diseased plants

· Create an implementation plan to identify and remove invasive species

· Provide plant care advice to other team members and clients

· Keep records on campus plantings · Other duties as assigned

VACANT Sustainability Coordinator job description:

Job Duties/Responsibilities:
-Supervise and support the Student Sustainability Cooperative student staff
-Advise other Department of Student Involvement areas on integrating sustainability efforts into programming
-Mentor and educate students on sustainable practices on local and global scales
-Support and advocate for sustainability projects across departments on campus
-Supervise student grant projects and internship credit students
-Support other Department of Student Involvement areas and programming
-Assist in STARS reporting


The current part-time student position in the Office of Sustainability work 20 hours a week to support sustainability efforts and initiatives using social science research theory and methodology.