Sustainability Working Groups

Joining a Sustainability Working Group is one of many ways you can get involved with SIU Sustainability!

Currently, we are working on the Fall 2023 working group plan. Keep in touch!

Working groups aimed at identifying collaborative campus-based solutions across academics, operations, research, and campus life are in progress. We welcome voices from outside of campus, as well.

The prioritization of initial working groups was informed by three bodies of work:

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS); SIU’s most recent report
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Drawdown.org

The first 5 working groups are below. Click on the individual name for more information. If you are interested in engaging with one of the working groups, please fill out this form. Responsibilities include: attending committee meetings, staying current on committee conversations and activities, utilizing shared platform (outlook drive) for committee information and communication, volunteering for tasks and following through with committee assignments. Questions can be directed to sustainability@siu.edu.

Working Groups:

Air & Climate

Air & Climate Sustainability Working Group Overall Goal: Assess SIU's current sustainability practices as they relate to Air & Climate and evaluate actions to support meeting the goals of the US Climate Alliance.

The work of this group will be informed by bodies of work including the following:

Energy

The Saluki Energy Focus Group has made efforts to increase awareness of energy issues in the campus and local community, and to increase energy efficiency and conservation at offices on campus. The goal of the Saluki Energy Focus Group is: To help lead a campus-wide effort to reduce SIU energy use and transition toward maximized renewable energy usage.

Among other resources, the work of this group will be informed by the following:

Food

Food Sustainability Working Group Overall Goal: To take steps to position SIU as a leader in the category of food sustainability.

The work of this group will be informed by bodies of work including the following:

Group objectives include the following:

Explore processes and challenges of the food recovery concept at other institutions then identify next steps for SIU.
Test event composting process within University Housing through December 2019 and determine next-steps to develop process for other events.
Connect with University Housing Dining Services leadership to determine feasible steps for promoting plant-based options in dining hall.
Operational: STARS OP7/8
-Complete data collection conversations with key stakeholders.
-Complete data collection by November 2019 to fulfil STARS reporting requirements.
-Identify opportunities for improvement with key stakeholders.

Transportation

Transportation Sustainability Working Group Overall Goal: Take steps to position SIU as a leader in the category of food sustainability.

The work of this group will be informed by bodies of work including the following:

Water

This group has not yet met. Please contact us (glkurtzhals@siu.edu) if you are interested in joining!

The work of this group will be informed by bodies of work including the following:

Sustainability Working Groups | Sustainability | SIU

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