University of Memphis Sustainability Strategic Plan
Mission: The University of Memphis serves as a model for scholarship and practices that supports urban-based ecological sustainability,
preserves the earth’s resources, and promotes a high quality of life for mankind. Its scholarship and practices today will produce a better
environment for the future.
Goal I: Stewardship of the Built Environment: The University will plan, design, construct, maintain and operate facilities and infrastructure in
a manner that enables ecological sustainability.
Strategy
Timeline
Progress
Strategic Plan: Include sustainability as a distinct
Spring 2009
Completed
component of the 2010-2015 University of
Memphis Strategic Plan
Campus Master plan: Include sustainability as a distinct
Distinct component of University of
Ongoing
component of the University of Memphis Master
Memphis Strategic Plan that guides the
Plan
Campus Master plan.
Conservation of open spaces: Maintain and increase the
As determined by the campus master
Spring 2009:
biodiversity of open spaces controlled by the
plan.
 Conversion of mowed spaces to
university.
community gardens
Green architecture: Incorporate green architecture and
ecologically sensitive urban design into the design
and renovations of physical structures
Ongoing
Fall 2009:
 New living learning student housing
built to LEED Silver Standards
Walkability: Diverse planting of trees, shrubs, plants and
flowers along sidewalks and an increase in biking
amenities to increase aesthetic, educational, health
and ecological value of campuses.
Ongoing
Spring 2009
 Number of bike racks across campus
increased by 70%.
Fall 2009
 Marked walking trails established
 Conversion of landscaping materials to
native trees and plants.
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Goal II: Stewardship of the Natural Environment: University will maintain environmentally and biodiversity friendly operations, waste
management and eco-friendly energy systems.
Strategy
Timeline
Progress
Recycling
By 2010, increase collection and
Fall 2008
recycling of waste material by 25%
 Increase collection and recycling of waste materials
 Additional recycling containers placed
in strategic across campus
 Recycle runoff water
 Adopt biodiesel program for recycling cooking fat to
Spring 2009
fuel
 E-cycling event on campus collected
 Provide electronics recycling program
176 tons of electronic waste, the
second largest event to date nationally
 Aluminum, cardboard, glass, paper,
plastics, batteries, pallets, landscape
waste, fluorescent bulbs and ballasts,
and metal are recycled
Maintenance and enhance of biodiversity of plants and
animals
Ongoing
Summer 2008
 University Campus designated as a
Level II Arboretum
Spring 2009
 Organic Community Gardens
established across campus
Promotion of organic – regional agriculture
 Dairy
 Fruits and vegetables
 Seafood
To be determined
Energy conservation and enhancement of renewable
energy
Within 5 years, reduce campus-wide
energy usage to at or below 1989-90
consumption levels
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University food vendors use a local
dairy for all milk products and local
farms for fruits and vegetables, as
appropriate.
University food vendors purchase
seafood that meets Monterey Bay
Aquarium Seafood Watch guidelines.
Fall 2009
 Installation of variable flow HVAC
system
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Increase indoor air quality – reduction of carbon in
buildings
Eliminate, to the extent possible, the use of toxic and biohazardous substances:
 integrated pest management
 cleaning supplies
By Fall 2009, establish a pilot using
tropical plants to maintain air quality in
buildings
Thermostats adjusted to 76º in
summer and 68º in winter.
Change overhead fluorescent lights in
all buildings from T8-32 watt to T8 28
watt
Consolidation of summer academic
and special events into a limited
number of buildings during summer
months
All dining and residence hall
appliances are being replaced with
Energy Star rated appliances
Establishment of a carpool channel to
enable students, faculty and staff to
carpool to campus. Website:
http://www.memphis.edu/acss/carpo
ol.php
The Green Fee Committee at UoM
purchased 8,500 blocks ($34,000) of
green power. Each Block Equals: 150
kWh of green generation making a
total of 1,275,000 kWh of electric
generation (or 1,275 MWh)
Summer/Fall 2009
 Tropical plants placed in buildings
 Baseline and periodic readings of air
quality to determine effectiveness of
program

Approximately 50% of cleaning
products purchased are green seal,
environmental choice certified or biorenewable products
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Established worm farm for use in the
garden
Compost fruit and vegetable waste,
small animal bedding and rabbit pellets
from research labs, and some
shredded paper
Goal III: Build a Campus Culture of Sustainability: Engage members of the university community in practices that foster and promote
ecological sustainability.
Strategy
Communicate and market sustainable practices
o University of Memphis projects, research,
and accomplishments
o Recycling awareness programs
o Sustainability conferences, events,
campaigns and workshops
o website
Offer incentives and provide recognition of
sustainability practices
Integrate sustainable living information into student
programs
o Freshman orientation
o Frosh Camp
o Modular courses for resident hall RA’s
o ACAD and honors sustainability courses
Policies of sustainability
Timeline
Ongoing
Progress
 Promotion of lights-off campaign
throughout campus via employee and
student newsletters, posters, stickers
and door hangers.
 Green tips in weekly newsletter to all
employees
 Annual Sustainability Technologies
Awareness Day established on
Campus
To be determined
n/a
Presentations are made at all new student
and orientation events promoting
sustainability, recycling and ecoconscience behavior
TBD
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Goal IV: Integrate Sustainability into the Curriculum and Research: Integrate principles of ecological sustainability throughout the curriculum
and advance knowledge about sustainability through innovative interdisciplinary research.
Strategy
Foster the integration of sustainability throughout the
curriculum
Establish sustainability focused courses and academic
programs
o Interdisciplinary undergraduate
sustainability degree program
o Environmental policy program
o Concentration and/or degree sustainability
programs
Timeline
To be determined
Progress
n/a
To be determined
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Promote sustainability research
Ongoing
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Architecture:
Sustainable Design
Civil Engineering:
Environmental
Engineering, Water
Resources
Urban Affairs and Public
Policy: City and Regional
Planning
Earth Sciences: Urban
Planning, Earth Sciences
Interdisciplinary Studies:
Environmental Studies
Public Health:
Environmental Health
Agreement between the
University’s Center for
Biofuel Energy and
Sustainable Technology
and Dining Services to
use leftover oil from
dining services in the
production of biofuel for
use in University
vehicles.
Ecological Research
Center’s research in
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Urban Ecology, wildlife
ecology and
conservation biology,
physiological ecology,
and theoretical,
behavioral and
evolutionary ecology
Foster interdisciplinary research addressing community,
regional, national and global sustainability issues
o Partner with community and regional
sustainability initiatives
To be determined
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Goal V: Engage with the Community to Advance Sustainability:
Strategy
Timeline
Connection to national initiatives, such as:
To be determined
 Recyclemania
 Earth Day
 National Teach-In on Global Warming
 Powershift
 Focus the Nation
Regional Economic
Development Center’s
project on
Environmental Systems
Enhancement Plan for
the Mississippi River
Corridor in Tennessee
Partnership with the
Memphis and Shelby
County Division of
Planning and
Development on
adopting a unified
development code
“Sustainable Shelby”
Progress
 President’s Climate
Commitment
 Participation in
sustainability surveys by
Rockefeller Foundation,
Peterson’s, NASULGC,
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etc.
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