UNM's greenest program saved

New funding will sustain UNM's "greenest" program

By Denise Tessier 04/24/2008

The University of New Mexico (UNM), which has adopted “leadership in sustainability” as one of its core values, has corrected what the director of the Sustainability Studies Program described to New Mexico Independent as an “awkward situation.”

The Sustainability Studies Program, officially recognized in the UNM course catalog in May 2007, was funded by the Legislature for 2006, 2007 and 2008. But during the last session, the program wasn't authorized to request funding for next fall or 2009. “Basically we didn’t make it onto the list," Program Director Bruce Milne said. "(The university) changed a lot of administrators this year” and personnel changes were “all the way up the chain. They just didn’t know who we were.”

They know now. Petitions of support attracted 300 signers, including students, faculty, staff and others who had heard about the oversight. “(UNM) President (David) Schmidly found a way to make up our deficit for ’08 and ’09 and we’re very happy about that,” Milne said.

The new infusion of $181,000 covers the basics -- and sustains the program. It “allows us to have a staff and teach our courses,” Milne said.

Sustainability can be defined as meeting the needs of the present, while ensuring needs will also be met in the future.

Milne, a professor of biology, helped write a draft policy, released March 6, that describes how the "holistic" principles of sustainability can be applied in any situation or decision at UNM. Comments are being solicited on the draft through May 10.

When using sustainability principles, "ecologically ethical practices that may entail relatively long payback periods are favored over decisions based solely on up-front costs alone," the draft states.

Sustainability seeks creative solutions that promote environmental health and restoration, social equity and economic vitality. The goal is to meet the needs of the present (such as health, energy, food, shelter, and transportation) while ensuring the satisfaction of future generations.

-- UNM Sustainabilty Studies Program Web site

Recently, sustainability has been a recurrent theme at UNM. Last fall, it was the subject of the fifth UNM International Studies Institute public lecture series. The nonprofit Sustainable Endowments Institute recently gave the UNM transportation system an “A” on its 2008 College Sustainability Report Card for its commitment to sustainable transportation initiatives, citing the use of E85 ethanol fuel and compressed natural gas by UNM vehicles as one reason for the grade. Sustainability also will be the theme of Parents Weekend this coming fall.

“Leadership in sustainability” is one of the key goals in UNM’s Strategic Framework and Community Engagement Initiative released by UNM this month, a document described by the university as one that “puts forth UNM’s mission, vision, core values and institution-wide strategies as keys to aligning the campus toward future success."

The Sustainability Studies Program started as a seminar course in the Biology Department, where Milne says he was “basically developing the curriculum” for sustainability studies. “It was a real milestone to be listed (in the catalog),” Milne says. Sustainability is offered as a minor course of study, with four classes offered, two each semester. Since fall 2007, the program has had 80 students. Milne says the goal is 100 a year, with 400 students in four years. ‘We’re ramping up at this stage.”

Milne said the petition drive showed support for the program. "We’re really grateful that people want our Sustainability Studies Program to work.”

Among program benefits that “work” for the community is Thursday's UNM Lobo Growers' Market and Sustainability Fair, the project of Rose Chavez, a nutrition/premed student minoring in sustainability studies. Chavez organized the market and has written a handbook on how to do it so that it can continue –- be sustained –- after she graduates. The April 24 market will feature 55 vendors, including farmers, food producers and non-government organizations. “We’re really excited about that,” Milne says. “It’s creating an opportunity for the UNM community to have access to local and organic products.”

The program’s Web site is also a resource for the UNM community and the public, offering free download of a 182-page guide to residential remodeling using energy-efficient “green” guidelines.

The UNM Lobo Growers' Market and Sustainability Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today on the UNM campus at the Cornell Plaza (between the Student Health Center and the Student Union Building).