University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

The president's environmental task force includes faculty, staff, and students. The university has a recycling program strategic plan, a housing sustainability oversight committee, a utilities reduction committee, and a working committee on alternative energy sources. Several full-time employees, including an environmental stewardship coordinator, work on sustainability initiatives.

The University of Michigan conducts an annual greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The campus's cogeneration plant, which supplies 50 percent of the university's energy, currently runs on natural gas. A 35-kilowatt photovoltaic system has been installed on the roof of the Dana Natural Resources Building.

The university's Fresh Michigan program incorporates local food, such as turkey and produce, into the dining menu. All residential operations serve fair trade coffee and offer daily vegan dining options. Since 1991, the university has donated 138 tons of material to charities from the student move-out donation program.

The University of Michigan's Dana building renovation has earned LEED Gold certification. The Ross School of Business and the new Children's and Women's Hospital are currently under construction and will pursue LEED certification.

The student government includes an environmental issues commission that works with the operations department to identify campus sustainability projects. Students are members of the president's task force and contribute to the campus's annual environmental assessment report.

The university operates its own free bus system, facilitates carpool networks, provides a vanpool program for faculty commuters, and offers car-share services on campus. In 2007, UM purchased five hybrid electric vehicles for use on campus. Approximately 87 percent of campus vehicles run on alternative fuels.

The university makes a list of endowment holdings and shareholder voting records primarily available to the school community, but also to the public. This information is sent to individuals upon request.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds. The university uses investment managers who consider environmental and sustainability factors. Some of the gift programs employ managers who consider environmental and sustainability factors, although not exclusively.

The university provides its investment managers with guidelines that determine its proxy votes.