Northern Michigan University Sustainability Dashboard
Northern Michigan University’s Sustainability Dashboard is a tool to promote transparency and measure the university’s progress over time. The data in this dashboard is contextualized by the strategies outlined in Northern Michigan University’s Builders of a Culture of Sustainability Action Plan.
The Sustainability Hub for Innovation and Environment (SHINE) reports these metrics to the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), a self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure sustainability performance. Read the STARS report here.
Explore this page to see Northern Michigan University's sustainability progress and learn how Northern is working to become a leader in institutional environmental sustainability!
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Academics
NMU offers a variety of academic programs that include elements of sustainability education as part of the core curriculum.
Sustainability course offerings, 2022:
| Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
Total number of courses offered | 994 | 160 |
Sustainability-focused courses | 39 | 11 |
Sustainability-inclusive courses | 157 | 16 |
Academic Programs and Research
Majors
Environmental Studies and Sustainability Major
The Environmental Studies and Sustainability Major at Northern Michigan University provides an introduction to quantitative and qualitative methods of assessing and analyzing humankind’s impact on the environment.
Undergraduate Bulletin Description
Environmental Science Major
The Environmental Science Major at Northern Michigan University provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to applying research methods, assessment techniques, and management strategies to resolve environmental problems. It provides students an opportunity to gain an understanding of how the physical, biological, and social sciences interact with each other in this field of study.
Undergraduate Bulletin Description
Sustainable Business and Enterprise Creation Major
The Sustainable Business and Enterprise Creation Major combines three important areas of education to prepare students for careers in socially responsible enterprises. Sustainable and Enterprise Creation is a way of doing business that makes profits through means that reduce harm to society and the environment. It turns challenges into business opportunities that serve a triple bottom line of profits, society, and the environment.
Undergraduate Bulletin Description
Minors
Sustainability Minor
The Sustainability Minor at Northern Michigan University provides students with a geographic approach to understanding sustainability challenges.
Undergraduate Bulletin Description
Environmental Studies Minor
The Environmental Studies Minor at Northern Michigan University provides students with an introduction to environmental studies and sustainability challenges.
Undergraduate Bulletin Description
Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences Cluster Minor
The Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences Cluster Minor at Northern Michigan University provides students with an opportunity to design a program related to the physical or cultural dimensions of environmental or geographical sciences.
Undergraduate Bulletin Description
Food, Environment, and Society Minor
The Food, Environment, and Society minor allows students to study food and the environment from an interdisciplinary perspective. The program is focused on sustainability and consists of courses analyzing the current food system across multiple disciplines.
Undergraduate Bulletin Description
Graduate Programs
Administration of Outdoor Recreation and Nature-Based Tourism
The Administration of Outdoor Recreation and Nature-Based Tourism degree is designed to create leaders in the field of Outdoor Recreation and Nature-based Tourism. Graduates of this degree will qualify for advancement in current careers or administrative positions in Outdoor Recreation, Recreation, and Private industries.
English MA - Literature and the Environment Concentration
Our newest addition to the English MA program, the Literature and the Environment concentration includes courses in ecocriticism, environmental literature, and nature writing (many of which include outdoor experiences)--as well as courses in fields other than English, such as Business; Communication and Media Studies; Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences; and Native American Studies. If you're interested in merging your love for literature with your concern for the environment--or in pursuing a "green career" in environmental communication, advocacy, or education--this could be the right concentration for you!
Campaigns and Community Partnerships
Northern Climate Network
NMU hosts the Northern Climate Network - provides meeting space and refreshments and supports faculty participation. This partnership is ongoing. It was initiated in 2014 with three founding community partners and has continued with collaborative programming, policy guidance, and community engagement with local sustainability issues of climate resilience, and public health in an era of climate change.
Zero Waste Challenge
The Zero Waste Challenge is an initiative held at a sporting event where students, staff, and community members help divert waste from the landfill. Volunteers discussed how/what to recycle and compost with 4,200+ participants attending the hockey game. The volunteers helped to divert 75% of the concession and event waste from the landfill.
Dead River Community Forest Project
NMU's SHINE partnered with the U.P. Land Conservancy to provide students with experiential learning opportunities and field-based research in a way that also advances the Dead River Community Forest Project. During the 2022 "Day of Giving" the NMU Foundation partnered with the UP Land Conservancy to raise money to support collaborative projects at the Dead River Community Forest.
Climate Adaptation Task Force
The Climate Adaptation Task Force (CATF) is a partnership between Marquette County, the Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), and Northern Michigan University (NMU). Other partners include the Community Foundation of Marquette County and city and county elected officials. The task force has considered the various aspects of sustainability as it relates to climate change, such as robustness, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of electricity generation in Michigan's Upper Peninsula; assisted local governments and businesses in identifying and prioritizing problems related to climate change in their communities; measured how climate change affects lake levels, aquifers, and other aspects of the local environment; and raised public awareness of how local communities and businesses can take proactive action in response to extreme weather events and other consequences of climate change.
Good for U.P.
In the first year of the campaign (2021), 9 businesses worked with students to pursue B Corp status, and in August 2022 another 5 businesses participated. Because of the usefulness and impressiveness of the student's projects, a private donor gave $10,000 in September 2022 to fund student internships to continue B Corp and sustainability audit projects with local businesses. In Fall 2023, 30 students worked with 8 businesses; 6 students continued in internships with those businesses and we received an additional $10,000 in funding from an anonymous donor to continue those projects.
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Operations
Northern Michigan University works to implement sustainability initiatives in its operations to reduce its impact on the environment. These initiatives can be found in Northern's buildings and grounds management, water use, energy use, dining practices, procurement, waste, and transportation. Northern Michigan University measures its performance in these categories to assess its progress toward sustainability.
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Buildings & Grounds
72.84% of newly constructed or renovated building space is certified under a green building rating system for design and construction (LEED).
Northern Michigan University’s physical campus is made up of more than 50 facilities.
LEED Silver Halls at NMU: Van Antwerp Hall, Hunt Hall, The Woods (Birch Hall, Cedar Hall, Maple Hall)
LEED Certified Halls at NMU: John X. Jamrich Hall, Meyland Hall, Magers Hall, Magers-Meyland Lobby, Hunt-Van Antwerp Lobby
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Campus Area
Northern Michigan University's total campus area is 357 acres, including 152 acres of impervious surfaces.
Managed Grounds by Method:
Area (acres) | |
|---|---|
Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides | 98.10 |
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 0 |
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 105.72 |
Total area of managed grounds | 203.82 |
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Biodiversity
1,144 trees were surveyed on Nothern Michigan University's main campus and outlining areas. 7 endangered Ash trees were documented on campus.
The Gray Wolf, Northern Long-eared Bat, Red Knot, Kirtland’s Warbler, Tricolored Bat, and Monarch Butterfly are all endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by Northern Michigan University.
Northern maintains No Mow Zones, a clover lawn, a rain garden, a research apiary, and an Outdoor Learning Area to protect native plant species and pollinators like the Monarch Butterfly. These activities promote biodiversity on campus and several are funded by the Green Fund.
The NMU Grounds department recycles all used oils and antifreeze from campus vehicles and equipment, composts all landscaping waste products, prohibits the use of restricted-use pesticides on campus, and attempts to use primarily native species plantings.
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Water
There was a 5.51% reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user between 2010-2011 and 2021-2022.
There was a 37.57% reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area between 2010-2011 and 2021-2022.
There was a 36.17% reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds between 2010-2011 and 2021-2022.
Hunt and Van Antwerp Halls are equipped with Sloan's Dual-Flush valve toilets which reduce water volume by 30%.
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Energy & Climate
In Fall 2022, Northern Michigan University installed a bi-facial solar panel array that captures light from both sides, increasing year-round efficiency by up to 20%. In 2023, this 15,000-watt (30 panels) solar array produced 17,633 KwH of electricity.
The University also produces electricity on-site through cogeneration at the Ripley Heating Plant, where waste heat is used to energize the turbine that produces electricity for the campus.
NMU is planning to become Carbon Neutral by 2050.
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Food & Dining
Northern Michigan University partners with BSB Farms, Dancing Crane Coffees, Jilbert Dairy, NMU Hoop House, Partridge Creek Farm, Superior Culture, Superior Home Farm, Thill's Fish House, U.P. Food Exchange, Keweenaw Brewing Company, Blackrocks, Fresh Wind Farms, and Vollwerth’s to provide students with a diverse and well-balanced dining experience.
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Local Farms
NMU Dining diverts almost all of its pre-consumer compostable waste by partnering with a local farm, Partridge Creek Farm. Partridge Creek Farm has a network of gardens in Ishpeming, MI that grow and distribute fresh produce to its community. NMU Dining also works with the Upper Peninsula Food Exchange to purchase food from local farms.
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Sundre
Sundre Snack and Supply Co. offers non-GMO, USDA Organic, recycled, fair-trade certified, local, green-packaged, all-natural, clean label, kosher, vegan, and vegetarian products. Many products are sourced locally within the state of Michigan. Sundre also has a unique line of glass jar salads that are healthy, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dining options. The program also allows the glass jars to be returned for a deposit so that they can be reused.
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Vegan Stations
In the dining hall, Parsnip offers a hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner vegan option every day. There are additional vegan options in the dining hall at 16 Greens (the salad bar) and Robin's Nook (the allergen-friendly room). NMU Dining also offers several vegan options on every retail outlet menu and grab-and-go options are available at the convenience stores.
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Waste Prevention
About 200 lbs of waste is diverted from the landfill every time the Compost Crew works in Northern Lights Dining. NMU is exploring ways to scale and extend this effort.
Northern stopped using trays in the dining hall and adjusted portion control to reduce food waste.
NMU Dining collects and donates food to the Warming Center that would otherwise go to compost or trash.
NMU Dining partners with Sanimax to remove and recycle oil used during food preparation.
Northern uses biodegradable paper plates, recycled napkins, cornware utensils, and Pepsi’s compostable cups.