2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
American Indian Hall 159

Attending: Kristin Blackler, Paul Edlund, EJ Hook, Tracy Dougher, Brent Gunnink, Colter Ellis, Ryan Knutson, Paul Lachappelle

  1. Welcome and Announcements
    1. Hiring new recycling coordinator
    2. Upcoming event on Sept. 27 from 5-6:30 pm in Jabs 111. The event is a forum on Impact Investing cosponsored by Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Blackstone Launchpad, and the Office of Sustainability.   
    3. Approval of Minutes from the May 4th, 2023 meeting
    1. Minutes approved
  1. Opportunity for Working Groups to report to the committee
  • Zero Waste à The Zero-Waste working group focuses on procurement, athletics, special events, auxiliary, and waste operations. The working group is partnering closely with data collection to ensure that the perceived issues are issues. The recycling program is extremely successful and is moved to centralized waste based on the data. Priority is to look at reducing what we bring onto campus and understanding the impacts of recycling on durable goods. How do we take a complex business model and make it more sustainable over time?
  • Data Collectionà Data collection is very broad with varying levels of complexity. This summer focused on the procurement tool reducing p-card use, and understanding vendor locations
    • The tool we use to measure GHG is SIMAP. Categorize these by Scope 3 emissions.
    • It will be easier to look through expenses and ask vendors to promote more sustainable options.
    • Going from estimates to facts on data and procurement.
    • Attention on procurement and processes to eliminate downstream issues.
  • Energyà trying to identify a common message about carbon neutrality at MSU and what it means. The intent of this working group is to share the message of carbon neutrality with the campus community.
  • Curriculumà Faculty self-assessment on sustainable courses in curriculum. Historically this has been a difficult thing for us to track. Colter and Tracy will begin working leading this working group.
    • We believe sustainability-related courses are under-reported in Activity Insight
    • Assume there is a way to work with OPA to make Activity Insight a better way to track sustainability in the curriculum. Kristin and Paul can help coordinate meetings regarding this.
    • Paul will set up meeting with Tracy Paul and Colter with information and background on curriculum assessment.
  • STARS Update
    • Took a very long time to audit
    • Waiting for the final score, and to make that public.

 

  • Brooke Lahneman is leading Education and Outreach and Sustainability Summit group but has a teaching conflict during the CSAC meetings.

 

  • Discussion
    1. What goals would CSAC like to accomplish for FY24

 

  • Proposed CSAC Presentation Schedule
  • Dedicated portion of each upcoming meeting to deep dive into each of the working groups
    • Campus Energy October
    • Zero Waste November
    • STARS December
    • Curriculum February
    • Data and Procurement March
    • April Sustainability Summit!

 

  • Public Comment
    1. Public Comment was given by Paul LaChapelle

 

Next meeting: October 5th, 2023, 2-3 pm in AIH 159