University of Michigan
EN-9: Staff Professional Development and Training

Planet Blue Ambassadors - All U-M staff are encouraged to become campus sustainability leaders through the Planet Blue Ambassadors online certification program. The Planet Blue Ambassador training is divided into 5 sections, each focusing on an important sustainability topic: Energy, Water, Food, Waste, and Community. The training can be completed online or in-person and covers why these are topics are important and what an individual can do at home and at the university to reduce their impact. The online training includes interactive learning activities as well as suggestions of ways to get involved, as well as information about U-M’s goals and progress to date. The in-person trainings include time when participants are asked to discuss what they could do to live more-sustainably. Each Ambassador, whether they complete the training online or in-person, is also asked to make at least one sustainability pledge in each of the 5 sustainability topics. The training is formally recognized by the University. University President Mark Schlissel is a Planet Blue Ambassador.

Due to the decentralized nature of the university's organization, there is no central coordination of external professional development; instead, it is coordinated at a unit level. However, all university staff members, with supervisor approval, are strongly encouraged to select career and professional development programs that enhance both current performance and professional growth. These programs include many within the sustainability field such as conferences, presentations, and workshops organized by the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, ASHEE, the Center for Biological Diversity, My Green Lab, College and University Recycling Coalition, Food Solutions New England, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Energy Star/DOE, State of Michigan Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, Campus As Lab group, Sustainability Communicators group, etc.