History and Vision
The University Committee for a Sustainable Campus (UCSC) began in 1999 as a grassroots effort of faculty, staff, and students to make the university a more environmentally aware and proactive institution by infusing sustainability into its academic, research and operational missions.
In 2000, UCSC applied for a received a prestigious $250,000 US EPA Sustainable Development Challenge grant to create the Office of Campus Sustainability (OSC). This grant allowed for the creation of the director position, held by Mr. Terry Link, to work with the committee to continue MSU’s leadership nationally and internationally in the higher education for sustainability movement. USCS chooses themes and priorities for the year, networks on MSU’s campus to increase scholarship in the area of sustainability, and brings the campus community together for speakers series.
Since the EPA grant has expired in 2004, the Office of Campus Sustainability is jointly sponsored by the Office of the Vice President of Finance and Operations, Office of the Provost, and Office of the Associate Deans of Research. When President Dr. Lou Anna Simon revealed the Boldness By Design in 2006, environmental stewardship was considered a priority and the Office of the Vice President of Finance and Operations, notably Dr. Fred Poston and Kathy Lindahl, have resurged the effort. Since, research and energy in the area has increased. The Environmental Stewardship Systems Team (ESST) formed to discuss innovations and research to pave the path to a more sustainable campus. The group creates recommendations to improve MSU, 26 recommendations were created in 2007 and 28 in 2008.
American Association of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recognized MSU’s efforts through a Campus Sustainability Leadership Award in 2007. National Wildlife Federation gave MSU the distinction of one of the top five campuses in 2008. In fall of 2008, Lauren Olson joined OCS as a project coordinator of the environmental steward and green certification programs. Terry left MSU in 2009, achieving 27 years of service to MSU, to become of greater service to the community at-large as executive director of the Greater Lansing Food Bank. Currently, a task force is forming ideas of how to restructure the office and create a cohesive effort to improve MSU’s environmental stewardship.
