The iWG met on 12-12-22 and discussed the following agenda. The meeting minutes are attached.
Next meeting:
Following approval by the iCAP Working Group, Jennifer Fraterrigo, iSEE Associate Director for Campus Sustainability, transmitted the LW004 Monarchs Need Milkweed to F&S Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director, Ehab Kamarah, on 12/15/2022.
See the original LW004 Monarchs Need Milkweed recommendation here.
Madhu Khanna, Director of iSEE, responded to the Engagement iCAP Team on 12/12/22:
Dear Engagement Team,
Thank you for submitting the Engagement002 Take Action Weblink recommendation. We agree that clarifying the Campus Sustainability page on the iSEE website to prioritize “taking action” is an important initiative.
While we fully support increasing visibility of sustainability best practices and involvement opportunities, we ask that the Engagement team provides an outlined vision of your suggestions on how to consolidate information on the Campus Sustainability Page. Additionally, please provide examples of what type of actions you would like to see by clicking a “take action” link.
Thank you again for your hard work and we look forward to reviewing your website suggestions!
Sincerely,
Madhu Khanna
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See transmittal and iWG assessment of Engagement002 Take Action Weblink here.
See original submittal of Engagement002 Take Action Weblink recommendation here.
The Engagement iCAP Team submitted the attached Engagement003 Sustainability Ambassador Program recommendation to the iWG on 12/8/22. The recommendation states:
The Illini Sustainability Ambassador program is meant to have an emphasis in housing but can be applicable in any form across campus. The status would last for one year, with a recertification needed year after year. There will be a one-day introductory training session that covers our own campus sustainability goals (the iCAP). The session includes overview of ILO, Greener Campus Programs, SSC project funding, and highlighting the SSLC and iSEE sustainability event calendars. The introductory session will be at the beginning of the school year, and we will have a celebratory event in April to recognize the people who successfully became sustainability ambassadors. To incorporate the program into housing, there is a checklist of how to make your residence more sustainable (i.e., turning lights off when not in use, eating a vegetarian meal once a week, reusable coffee cup, walking to class, etc.). These actions would contribute to the five hours of volunteering or service that are required to become a sustainability ambassador.
The Engagement iCAP Team submitted the attached Engagement005 DIA and Green Sports Alliance recommendation to the iWG on 12/8/22. The recommendation states as follows:
The 2020 Illinois Climate Action Plan calls for the university to increase the visibility of campus sustainability efforts by joining the Green Sports Alliance through the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics by summer 2021. While the DIA has not formally joined the Green Sports Alliance, Facilities & Services became a member of the GSA in June 2021, and GSA presented at the October 2021 Illinois Green Infrastructure & Erosion Control Conference. Other Big Ten Institutions involved in the GSA are Indiana University, Michigan State University, Pennsylvania State University, The Ohio State University, The University of Iowa, The University of Michigan, and The University of Minnesota(Swanson 2022).
University of Illinois Athletics is a role model for college sports. Formally enrolling in the Green Sports Alliance will bridge the gap between organizations/colleges on campus, as well as leading sustainable efforts along with other Big 10 Schools.
The Engagement iCAP Team submitted the attached recommendation Engagement004 ADV498 Sustainability Campaign Partnership to the iWG on 12/8/22. The recommendation states:
The Engagement Team recommends that we implement two sets of campaigns (one designated for students and the other for faculty/staff) that will promote iSEE’s message across campus. Our team has compiled a set of advertising campaigns that were created by this year’s ADV 498 Capstone class to use as advertising materials around the campus. Furthermore, we request that iSEE’s Communication team uses these materials and campaign methods for each term (Spring 2023-Fall 2023 and Spring 2024-Fall 2024). The iCAP Engagement Team can stay involved in this effort if need be. Please see attached documents for Ad Campaign plan.
The Land and Water iCAP Team submitted the attached LW004 Monarchs Need Milkweed recommendation to the iWG on 12/7/22. The team also submitted a supplemental map (attached) of proposed milkweed locations. The recommendation states as follows:
The Land and Water iCAP Team recommends the plantings of milkweed (Asclepias syriaca, A. incarnata, A. tuberosa), across the UIUC campus in order to support migratory Monarch Butterfly populations. Plantings could be introduced into existing landscape beds and/or smaller milkweed specific planting beds, as well as in designated low mow zones and prairies.
The Zero Waste iCAP Team submitted the attached ZW009 Project4Less Expansion recommendation to the iWG on 12/7/22. The recommendations states as follows:
We recommend that University Housing Dining Services works with Project 4 Less to divert wasted food to those in need. Project 4 Less packages pre-consumer food waste (untouched food) from LAR dining hall each week and Housing coordinates the food’s delivery to local food pantries, such as Wesley Food Pantry. Meals are then provided to community members experiencing food insecurity. Project 4 Less is currently only working out of LAR dining hall, and there is much more food to be recovered, such as from Ikenberry, ISR, and PAR dining halls.
Similar to how Project 4 Less currently collaborates with Housing at LAR, we request that:
● Housing stores and sets up materials (cold carts, boxes) before packaging events
● Housing saves and stores the food that needs to be packaged
● Housing arranges the transportation logistics (perhaps stops could be added to existing routes)
Ultimately, we recommend that Housing work with Project 4 Less to expand beyond LAR. Project 4 Less has the capacity to provide volunteers as part of a gradual expansion to other Dining Halls.
The Energy iCAP Team submitted the attached recommendation Energy011 Priority Technologies and Practices for a Clean Energy Plan to the iWG on 12/1/22. The attached recommendation states:
The Energy iCAP Team recommends that F&S and any external consulting group consider the feasibility and overall effectiveness of the following technologies and practices in the development of a clean energy plan for the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign:
The Education iCAP Team submitted the Edu008 Sustainability in Study Abroad recommendation to the iWG on 12/6/22. The recommendation (attached) states:
The Illinois Abroad Council Steering Committee (IACSC) with the Environmental Sustainability and Study Abroad Working Group will charge the Directors of each college’s study abroad program with assigning a member to this study abroad sustainability working group. Further, each Director should be charged to meet with the Environmental Sustainability and Study Abroad Working Group once per semester, at minimum. Through involvement in this working group, these representatives will gain the background needed to develop a collaborative effort to address climate-related impacts associated with study abroad. This would elicit a set of best practices and policy for all college-based international programs office in the areas of program orientation, re-entry programming, program policies regarding travel, community engagement, short term faculty led programming, environmental awareness and education. Continued support from iSEE and ongoing consultation with iSEE will be appreciated. As the program evolves, public updates on the iCAP portal will be of benefit to all stakeholders.
The Resilience iCAP Team submitted the attached recommendation Res004 Student Support for Coordinated Rainwater Management Plan to the iWG on 12/2/22. The recommendation states:
Provide internship funding support for developing a coordinated rainwater management plan, focusing on the local urbanized areas of Urbana, Champaign, Savoy, and campus communities. This plan should contribute to the green infrastructure on campus as student interns research and use campus resources as a model for the stormwater management systems for the cities. Lisa Merrifield at U of I Extension will recruit, work with, and advise the student intern for this project. Ideal candidates will be in a master’s degree program and have an interest in community green infrastructure and stormwater management planning.
The Energy iCAP Team submitted the Energy010 Establishment of a Clean Energy Plan Conference Committee recommendation on 11/30/22. The recommendation is as follows:
Establish a committee of faculty, staff, and students charged with the following responsibilities:
The recommendation document is attached.
The PWR010 Ethics Video recommendation is supplanted by PWR014 Sustainability Ethics Training.
See the submittal of PWR010 Ethics Video.
See the transmittal and iWG assessment of PWR010 Ethics Video.
For future updates, see Sustainability Training Best Practices Video.
The LW003 Certified Green Building Certification was declined and returned to the team on April 16, 2022 with the following message.
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Hello Land and Water iCAP Team,
Thank you for your continued efforts toward making our campus more sustainable and advocating for the iCAP 2020 objectives for Land and Water! The attached recommendation (LW003 Certified Green Building Certification) has been declined by the iCAP Working Group (iWG). The iWG reviewed this recommendation in the April 2021 and May 2021 meetings and determined it would be better to consider an awards program, preferably for individual efforts rather than buildings.
As your team suggested, I’ll share this information with the Engagement iCAP Team, so they can consider a related recommendation for an awards program.
Thanks,
Morgan
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See the submittal of LW003 Certified Green Building Certification here.
The Energy009 MMR Safety and Security recommendation was declined on 11/14/22 with the following email:
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Good afternoon Energy iCAP Team,
This fall, there were discussions revisiting the Energy009 MMR Safety and Security which the team submitted in the spring semester.
The iWG had robust discussions and representatives from the College of Engineering talked with their team; from our group perspective, addressing safety is something that will happen but does not warrant a recommendation until the project can move forward. Safety is inherently a part of the process.
This will be updated on the iCAP Portal accordingly, and please reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Meredith
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See the submittal of Energy009 MMR Safety and Security here.
The Engagement002 iCAP Portal Redesign was renamed to Engagement002 Take Action Weblink. On 11/11/22, the recommendation was transmitted to Madhu Khanna, Director of iSEE, with the following email. The iWG assessment is attached.
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Hello Dr. Khanna,
The Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) Working Group (iWG) reviewed recommendation Engagement002 from the Engagement iCAP Team about the iCAP Portal. The iWG discussed this and rather than changes to the database repository site of the iCAP Portal, the iWG recommends that iSEE’s communications team, in collaboration with the iCAP teams, take the steps recorded in the attached word document and listed here:
1) For immediate action - Highlight a Student Action button to access the related “Action” page. Make it consistent throughout the various websites, so the students/users know it is the same link.
2) Look carefully at the iSEE campus sustainability page/site to streamline it and make it a lot more accessible for students, so they know how to take action and understand the progress we’ve made in this area.
3) Develop an image-based site for campus sustainability engagement, with appropriate campus professionals and a student focus group that includes students with visual background and students with sustainability knowledge. Include time-based suggestions (if you have five minutes, if you have 30 minutes, if you have an hour, if you have an hour each week, etc.). Include suggestions for iSEE website, iCAP Portal, and related sites, as well as development of new landing page website.
4) Reassess and renew the message and graphics of the iCAP web-presence on a regular basis (at least every five years).
The Formal iCAP Procedures includes a section on campus unit responsibilities upon receipt of a recommendation, and we respectfully request your initial response to this recommendation by November 30, if possible. If you have any questions regarding this recommendation, we are happy to discuss this with you further.
Sincerely,
Morgan, Jen, and Meredith
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See submittal of Engagement002 iCAP Portal Redesign --> Engagement002 Take Action Weblink recommendation here.
See attached iWG assessment.
The iCAP Working Group met on 10-10-22 and discussed the Engagement002 recommendation, campus sustainability month activities, and the clean energy plan. The meeting minutes are attached.
The 2022 Campus Sustainability Celebration was a huge success! Thank you to all who participated! The PowerPoint presentation is attached, and the agenda for the event was as follows:
The Engagement iCAP Team submitted Engagement002 iCAP Portal Redesign recommendation, outlined as follows:
"Hire a graphic/web design student intern to develop a simple and more organized website to increase university community engagement on the iCAP Portal."
The recommendation is attached.
Following the completion of the iWG assessment of Edu007 Big Ten Career Fair, the recommendation and assessment were transmitted to Jim Hintz, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Inclusion, and Belonging.
The iWG assessment is attached.
See the submission and recommendation of Edu007 Big Ten Career Fair.
