Sustainability Council

Faculty, staff, and students formed the Sustainability Council when USU joined the President's Climate Commitment in 2007 to ensure present and future Aggies have the means to thrive. The Sustianability Council is governed by the Sustainability Council charter, adopted in May 2023. Programs and collaborations include the Sustainability Corps, Green Office Program, Energy Wars, active transportation, Planetary Thinking in the Curriculum, Open Streets Festival, and Earth Day. The Council also coordinates with the Christensen Office for Social Action and Sustainability, which implements Student Sustainability Grants, USU Farmers Market, True Blue Reuse, and other programs. USU is also a contributing member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

Working Groups

Planetary Thinking Committee
Mission: Develop and administer the Planetary Thinking Workshop, the ETE 10 Sustainability Teaching Pathway, and support faculty in integrating sustainability into their current syllabi.

Working Group Members: 
  • Jennifer Givens, Associate Professor, Sociology - CANRI 
  • Shannon Peterson, Director of Global Programming, Institute of Government and Politics at USU
  • Mark Koven, Associate Professor, Technology, Development & Technical Education, OPDD
  • John Ferguson, Senior Lecturer, Management, Huntsman School of Business
Curriculum Committee
Mission: Integrate sustainability into USU curriculum and administer a pre- and post- sustainability literacy assessment.

Current/Future projects:
  • Integrate sustainability into USU certificate programs across colleges.
  • Develop sustainability connections presentation for new student orientation.
Working Group Members
  • Amber Williams, Professional Practice Assistant Professor, OPDD
  • Dave Anderson, Professional Practice Professor, Landscape and Environmental Planning
  • Stacy Bevan, Professional Practice Associate Professor, Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences

Mission:  Investigate opportunities for USU to reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality through active and electrified transportation planning. Ensure USU is a safe and efficient place to bus, walk, or bike (or drive and EV!).

Past Efforts:

Current/Future projects:

  • Conduct a pilot study on integrating EVs in USU's fleet. 
  • Investigate opportunities to integrate electric bicycles into Aggie Blue Bikes fleet. 
  • Advocate for increased EV charging across USU campuses.

Working Group Members:

  • Patrick Singleton, USU Faculty
  • Avery Cronyn, Aggie Blue Bikes Coordinator & Sustainable Transportation Demand Manager
  • Roslynn McCann, Sustainable Communities Specialist, USU Extension Sustainability & USU Environment and Society Department 

Mission: Create, maintain, and operate an environmentally responsible campus built environment that will minimize energy and water consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote the development and use of renewable energy sources

Past Efforts:
 Current/Future projects:
  • Procuring at least 50% renewable energy for USU campuses by 2030. 
  • Promoting and pursuing actions laid out in the Central Energy Plant Decarbonization Master Plan
Working Group Members:
  • Zac Cook, USU Energy Manager
  • Glynn Hadley, USU HVAC Commissioner 
  • Patrick Belmont, Department Head and Professor, Watershed Sciences, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station

Mission: Facilitate active participation in sustainability for students, faculty, and staff. This includes planning events for Earth Week, engaging with the COSAS on collaborative initiatives, and planning other annual sustainability-related events.

Current/Future projects:
  • Energy Wars
  • Recyclemania
  • Annual Sustainability Awards
Working Group Members:
  • Kate Stephens, Director of Community-Engaged Learning 
  • Giselle Bandley, Coordinator of COSAS 
  • Crystal Giordano, Assistant Vice President, Office of the Executive Vice President

Mission: Investigate and implement programs for USU Dining Services to reduce environmental and human health impacts associated with food purchasing and waste. Promote economic vitality through local food procurement and GHG reduction initiatives related to the food system.

Past Efforts:
  • "Meatless Mondays" at USU Dining 
Current/Future projects:
  • Eliminate single-use to-go ware in favor of reusables - pilot at 2 Dining locations in Fall 2023
  • Launch Zero Waste Catering kit, available to all USU Departments 
  • Work to procure increased local and organic food products
Working Group Members:
  • Jayne Anderson, USU Dining 
  • Allyson Petty, USU Dining 

Mission: To support USU's zero waste to landfill goal, ensuring equitable and ambitious waste recovery and circular economy on USU campuses whenever possible.

Current/Future projects:
  • Increasing recycling infrastructure in Housing and Athletics Facilities 
  • Increase waste diversion by 10% each year.
Working Group Members:
  • Nathan Schwartz, USU Resource Recovery and Recycling Manager 
  • Bobby Nash, USU Athletics Associate AD - Marketing and Fan Engagement 

Join the Council

Email the Sustainability Program Manager with your info to join the council.