Sustainability Strategic Plan
The newly established UNM Office of Sustainability has launched a strategic planning effort in Fall 2024 that will engage the campus community to derive 5–7 priority areas for the university’s sustainability efforts. Input from students, staff, faculty, and UNM leadership will be critical in the development of a UNM Sustainability Plan that will guide our approach for future sustainability efforts.
This page provides updates about the UNM Sustainability Strategic Plan process and provides information about how you can get involved:
| Why is a Strategic Plan Needed? | Implementation & Engagement |
| Baseline Data | How to Participate |
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Why is a Sustainabilty Strategic Plan Needed?
Universities play significant roles in their communities and serve as leaders on key issues. A focus on sustainability for a university is important not only for reducing the institution’s impact on the planet but also for reducing operating costs, supporting the local economy, providing a healthy environment for students, staff, and faculty, and educating and inspiring future leaders.
A university sustainability plan serves as a roadmap that outlines a university’s sustainability goals and how it will achieve them. Sustainability plans can cover a wide range of topics, including environmental health, human health and wellbeing, equity and social justice, and economic integrity. T he Office of Sustainability will focus on creating a five -year roadmap that aligns with UNM 2040 Goal 4: Sustainability and identifies actions that will reduce the institution’s impact on the environment, are financially sustainable, and reflect best practices in key areas such as energy use, water use, and waste management.
Implementation & Engagement
This planning effort started in Fall 2024 and is intended to be completed in late Fall 2025. Input from students, staff, faculty, and UNM leadership will be gathered through one-on-one interviews, focus groups, a community survey, and public meetings. A steering committee will guide the process.
Phases of UNM Sustainability Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Engagement
Baseline Data
Participants in the strategic planning process can refer to baseline data contained in UNM’s first-ever Sustainability, Assessment and Rating System Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS®) submission—a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. Another important reference document is the UNM Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which covers Scope 1 and 2 emissions from Fiscal Year 2006 through Fiscal Year 2024.
How to Participate
Check back here as we update this website and provide information on public events, surveys, and comment periods for this strategic planning process. We welcome the full UNM community to be part of this important process. Your input is crucial in shaping directions for sustainability at UNM. Have questions or want to receive updates on the strategic planning process?
