The Environmental Caucus:

nau.edu/green

Breaking Down Silos to

Create a Culture of Sustainability

Breaking Down Silos: The Environmental Caucus

Mission Statement:

The Environmental Caucus facilitates creative and strategic communication across campus to advance the institutional commitment to sustainability and to promote education, research, and collaboration on the environment.

nau.edu/green

History and Organization• Self-organized, not appointed

• Began with conversations with key faculty leaders, then an electronic poll to determine priority roles and initiatives

• Non-hierarchical – faculty, staff, students

• Cross-disciplinary – Everyone welcome, even community partners

• 30-40 people participate in monthly meetings, plus action teams and Steering Committee; 400 on listserv

• 1/3 time staff support through Research Division; currently 2 paid student interns at 10 hours/week

nau.edu/green

Greatest strengths• Forum for cross-campus networking

• Unexpected partners

• Incredible catalyst for student engagement

• We are all equals and involved in decision making

• Viral energy – leading to creative, solutions-oriented approach to implement the Climate Action Plan

Synergy -- the whole is greater than the sum of its parts

Current Action Teams

•Advocacy for the ACUP Climate Commitment

•Ponderosa 2.0/Curriculum and the Environment

•Student Environmental Caucus

•Action Group for Water Advocacy (AGWA)

•Transportation

•Sustainable Environmental Practices

•NAU's Environmental Identity

Accomplishments in 2009-2010• Launched Green NAU website – www.nau.edu/green

• Sparked completion of ACUP Climate Action Plan

• Supported significant student action (Green Fund, ARTs, etc.)

• Reactivated the Ponderosa Group

• Advanced the Global Learning Initiative

• Developed sustainability as NAU Marketing theme

• Connected faculty, staff, students in cross-boundary initiatives

• Gave first annual Sustainability Leadership Awards

• Linked student energy to operations and academic programs.

nau.edu/green

Perhaps the most sustainable of all practices is building relationships, networking, and sharing

information and resources.

RESULTS…

BUY-IN: Ownership by multiple groups (staying power)

HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS: Creativity/diverse perspectives

RELATIONSHIPS: Network for future initiatives

EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS: Purposeful use of resources

FULFILLMENT AND FUN: Building a positive community!

Shelley Silbert, Chair Environmental CaucusShelley.Silbert@nau.edu(928) 523-7635

www.nau.edu/envcaucus

www.nau.edu/green