Administration
- College of the Menominee Nation signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in March 2007.
- The college’s sustainability plan focuses on climate change, health and wellness, ways of knowing, sustainable forestry, and sustainable development.
- The Sustainability Advisory Group works toward making the campus climate-neutral and zero-waste.
- Sustainability is a main focus of the campus strategic plan.
- The Sustainable Development Institute, which leads sustainability research and initiatives on campus, has existed since the college was established. It employs five staff members dedicated to sustainable development.
- The college’s purchasing policy requires Energy Star certified appliances.
Green Building
- The college’s library was designed using the LEED Silver rating system for green building specifications.
- Green building practices and technologies, used in the library and other campus construction projects, include: incorporating the use of natural daylight, using low-VOC and locally produced building materials, focusing on building insulation, and reducing construction waste.
- The Computer Data Center, in the planning phase, will also meet LEED-Silver standards.
- Energy-efficiency technologies include lighting sensors, vending machine sensors, heat recovery ventilation systems, variable-speed drives, and timers for temperature control.
- All campus buildings have low flow-faucets and individual water metering.
- Landscaping utilizes drought-resistant native plants, and the campus features bioswales for stormwater management.
Climate Change & Energy
- The campus greenhouse is off the grid and runs on solar power.
- Wind energy generated on campus offsets the lighting used in school parking lots.
- The library and Glen Miller Hall utilize geothermal energy for heating and cooling.
- The college has conducted one greenhouse gas inventory, and another is in progress.
- The school’s computers are set to save energy when not in use.
Recycling
- The campus recycles nearly 70 percent of its waste.
- CMN’s campus recycles aluminum, cardboard, glass, paper, and all plastics.
- The college hosts an annual e-waste drive to collect old electronics. Materials recycled include batteries, cell phones, computers, light bulbs, and printer cartridges.
- Organic waste is composted using vermiculture methods.
Student Involvement
- Two student groups work on sustainability: Strategies for Ecology Educations, Diversity, and Sustainability (SEEDS) and the American Indian Business Leaders.
- Students from the SEEDS group were national champions in the American Indian Renewable Energy Competition in 2010.
- Members of SEEDS help operate a fair-trade coffee shop which composts all of its coffee grounds and teaches students sustainable business practices.
- The college has participated in the national Recyclemania competition for the past five years, to encourage students to reduce their waste and increase recycling rates.
- Students have conducted waste stream analysis both on and off the campus.
- Student interns at the Sustainable Development Institute have researched renewable energy options on campus, implemented sustainability awareness campaigns, and researched the effects of global warming on the Menominee Forest.
- At the annual sustainable living fair, the school promotes sustainable and local foods and provides information about renewable energy. Vendors at the fair are not permitted to use electricity.
- The college hosts a series of brown bag guest lecture lunches to educate the community about environmental issues.
- Students in the critical literacy course researched sustainable food, water, energy, and shelter options for a 100-home community on the Menominee reservation. They presented their findings to campus and tribal leaders.
- Students help out with the on-campus vegetable garden.
- The Sustainable Development Institute gathers ideas for sustainability projects from the campus community during visioning sessions.
- Students can take a pledge to live more sustainably.
- The college offers a major in sustainable development.
- Sustainability concepts are integrated into courses across the curriculum.
Transportation
- Students, staff, and faculty can use Menominee public transit for free.
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