2022 Sustainability Report

Making an Impact: How MSU is helping advance the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

MSU has made long-standing commitments and progress in sustainability as a global leader by investing in sustainable research innovation and education, embracing sustainable operations, and engaging communities in sustainable action. Despite the challenges and transformational changes occuring around the world, MSU has made significant progress in advancing sustainability locally, regionally and globally. This report reflects the university's sustainability accomplishments and activities over the 2021 academic year.

SDG 1: No Poverty

By the Numbers

• Over $15 million was awarded to 16,729 students through MSU's Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Read more.
• 2,170 students received aid through the MSU Spartan Advantage program, which covers the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, and books for students from low-income households.

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU formalized the "Envision Green" partnership with Lansing Community College to create a seamless transition from LCC to MSU, improving access to a four-year degree and helping build a pipeline of talent to meet the needs of the Mid-Michigan economy. The initiative will support student success and enhance access and opportunities for first generation students and students from low income households. Read more.

Researcher Spotlight

• Dr. Deyanira Nevárez Martínez was one of five national scholars selected to receive the Emerging Poverty Scholar Fellowship from the Institute of Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Read more.

Student Spotlight

• The Spartan Global Development Fund, a registered student organization at MSU, aims to educate, inspire, and enable tomorrow’s agents of global change by raising funds locally in order to offer interest-free microloans to aspiring entrepreneurs throughout developing regions of world. To date, SGDF has made more than $117,000 in mircoloans to over 3,000 individuals in 69 countries. This year, Spartan Global gained a new field partner in Guatemala, Vilma Garcia. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Student Success Strategic Theme
• STARS Sustainability Report
   
  • PA-8: Affordability and Access

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

By the Numbers

• Roughly 13% of MSU's food purchases come from disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises or local small-medium enterprises.
• Nearly 20% of MSU's food and beverage expenditures are spent on plant-based foods.

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU Health Care partnered with the Greater Lansing Food Bank to mitigate food insecurity in the Mid-Michigan area. Read more.
• Through the MSU Extension Master Gardeners Program, the Giving Garden is provided fresh produce to Kalamazoo residents that are food insecure. Read more.
• The Center for Regional Food Systems received a $500,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to help Michigan communities address food insecurity.

Researcher Spotlights

• Dr. Thomas Jayne, a Michigan State University Foundation Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics has been named an Honorary Life Member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE), the highest honor awarded by IAAE. Read more.
• The My Soil Organic Carbon (MySoc) project, co-led by Dr. Bruno Basso, a Michigan State University Foundation Professor, with Dr. Kristofer Covery of Skidmore College, received the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Solutions Collaborative award. Read more.

Student Spotlight

• James Madison College students formed the Spartan Food Security Council in 2021 to achieve greater food security on campus and in the greater East Lansing area by means of advocacy, education, lobbyism, research and philanthropy. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Stewardship and Sustainability Strategic Theme
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • OP-7: Food and Beverage Purchasing
  • OP-8: Sustainable Dining
• MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension Legislative Report 2020-2021
• MSU Sustainable Food Procurement Guide

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

By the Numbers

• MSU Extension’s nutrition and physical activity programming helped Michigan adults, families and children gain crucial knowledge about nutrition and healthy foods, increase their daily physical activity and reduce their food insecurity. In 2021:
  • 342,121 adults and youth were reached through MSU Extension's in-person and virtual nutrition education programming. 
  • 299,437 individuals were reached through indirect outreach by MSU Extension's nutrition and physical activity education, including educational videos, social media postings, podcasts, articles and fact sheets.
  • 17,574 adults and youth reached at 83 sites through policy, systems and environmental (PSE) change coaching, resulting in 253 nutrition and physical activity changes.
• MSU Extension's social-emotional health programming helped adults across Michigan learn how to reduce stress, practice mindfulness, and strengthen their families’ and communities’ understanding of and response to mental health crises. In 2021:
  • 1,018 individuals received MSU Extension mental health resources tailored to veterans either online or at community events for veterans. 
  • 7,309 essential workers participated in online workshops to learn ways to manage stress.
  • 336 people completed online Mental Health First Aid trainings offered by MSU Extension.

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU and Henry Ford Health System finalized a 30-year partnership to achieve critical health care and educational goals, while addressing social issues that impact health outcomes for patients in Michigan and beyond. Read more.

Researcher Spotlight

• Dr. Felicia Wu, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in the Michigan State University departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, has been appointed to the World Health Organization Foodborne Disease Epidemiology Reference Group. Read more.

Student Spotlight

• Exercise is Medicine on Campus student organization strives to improve the well-being of our campus through promotion & education of physical activity in everyday life. This year, they brought back in-person activities, including the Healthy Homecoming Walk held at Dem Hall Field.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Sustainable Health Strategic Theme
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • PA-14: Wellness Program
  • PA-15: Workplace Health and Safety
• MSU Extension 2021 Impact Reports:
  • Helping Reduce Stress and Manage Mental Health
  • Empowering Michiganders to Lead Healthier Lives through Nutrition and Physical Activity Education
  • Managing Chronic Conditions and Preventing Falls
  • Using Evidence-based Outreach and Education to Prevent Opiod Misuse

SDG 4: Quality Education

By the Numbers

• In 2021, 20,205 students engaged in community-engaged learning as reported in the MSU Community Engaged Learning Index.
• MSU offers a vast array of sustainability learning opportunities with three flagship degree programs in sustainability and over 20 undergraduate minors rooted in sustainability. 
• Undergraduate and graduate students can enrich their studies by taking advantage of over 800 sustainability course offerings across 75 academic departments.

Programs and Initiatives

• The 2021 Virtual Summer of Service centered around providing students with community-engaged learning experiences related to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Read more. 
• The MSU Science Festival celebrated its 9th year, but with a twist. Converting to an-all virtual format because of the global pandemic, the festival engaged thousands of community members across 283 cities, 24 states and nine countries in celebrating science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Read more.
• MSU joined a statewide collaboration to provide free, online professional development learning modules for Michigan teachers centered around best practices for educators that teach remotely. Read more. 

Researcher Spotlights

• Dr. Carrie Symons, assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education, co-directed, co-produced and wrote “The Stories Project,” which follows 11 mentors in the GLOBE Camp at Lansing’s Refugee Development Center. They discuss their experiences and how the community and country can move forward. GLOBE, or Gaining Learning Opportunities through Better English, is a long-running program that includes lessons and field trips for refugees based around growing English skills while maintaining roots to their cultures. Read more.
• Dr. Kenneth Frank, MSU Foundation Professor of Sociometrics with appointments in Measurement and Quantitative Methods, Sociology, and Fisheries and Wildlife, has been elected to the National Academy of Education. Read more.

Student Spotlight

• Read to Succeed gives students the opportunity to volunteer as tutors for local children who are struggling with reading and writing. As part of the MSU Student Literacy Corps, the program serves elementary school students in East Lansing and Lansing before and after school, plus an evening option for K-12 students from other school districts. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Student Success Strategic Theme
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • AC-1: Academic Courses
  • AC-2: Learning Outcomes
  • AC-3: Undergraduate Program
  • AC-4: Graduate Program
  • AC-5: Immersive Experience
  • AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
• Community-Engaged Learning Index Report

SDG 5: Gender Equality

By the Numbers

• Enrollment of female students increased by 0.6% in fall 2021 from the previous year, with women making up 52.9% of all students. Since 2011, the enrollment of female students has increased by 6.5%.

Global Impact

• The Alliance for African Partnership welcomed its second cohort of African Futures Scholars in 2021. This program is designed to address the gender gap of researchers in Africa. On average, women only make up 30% of all active researchers across the continent. The program aims to train early career African women researchers who, upon return to their home institutions at the end of the program, become scientific leaders in their community, help solve Africa's challenges, and become trainers of the next generation. Read more. 
• In 2021, the Alliance for African Partnership also concluded training its fouth cohort of East African leaders participating in the Advancing Young Women Agribusiness Entrepreneurs and Innovators Professional Fellows Program, funded by the US Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. MSU administers this program in collaboration with University of Rwanda (Rwanda), University of Pretoria (South Africa), University of Zambia (Zambia) and Chinhoyi University of Technology (Zimbabwe). The goal of the program is to build Fellows’ capacity and skills in agro-entrepreneurship and agri-food system innovation and advance their ability to support women’s economic empowerment. Read more.

Programs and Initiatives

• The MSU Women's Leadership Institute launched the first of its kind student cohort for the 2021-2022 academic year. Participating students will be able to engage in meaningful conversations with experienced and successful women leaders from diverse backgrounds and participate in other valuable professional development opportunities. Read more. 
• MSU created the Short-Term Work Group on Names and Pronouns to propose a set of university-wide standards regarding the collection and use of name, gender and pronoun data of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. Read more.
• The All-Gender Restroom Design Study is a stakeholder initiative to support equitable and inclusive restroom access at Michigan State University. The study will identify parameters for the initial scope and serve as a guide for future improvement projects. Read more.
• The Lesbian Bisexual Gay and Transgender Resource Center was renamed the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center as a means to be more inclusive of the diversity of sexual and gender identities on campus. Read more.
• This was the first year students were able to request gender inclusive housing if living on campus. Read more.

Researcher and Student Spotlights

• Women faculty, staff and students contribute to the excellence and vitality of the university. Discover 10 Spartan women who are making history today. Read more.

Student Group Spotlight

• The MSU Women*s Council is a voice and advocate for all women and non-binary identifying students on campus and will work to educate our peers on issues that arise at MSU regarding gender, sexuality, and diversity. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Theme
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report Academic Years 2020-21 and 2021-22
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination
  • PA-6: Assessing Diversity and Equity
  • PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

By the Numbers

• MSU’s water system uses more than a dozen groundwater wells, each with pumping
  capacities ranging from 400 to 850 gallons per minute. MSU closely monitors the
  source water and the treated drinking water to ensure a high level of quality and
  safety is maintained. Once treated, the water is distributed to campus through a
  network of water mains, consisting of about 74 miles of pipes that range from 6 to
  16 inches in diameter.

Programs and Initiatives

• Through a partnership with the City of East Lansing, MSU is piloting the next generation of wastewater treatment technologies at a new facility, which aims to turn wastewater into both potable water through an energy-positive process. Read more.
• MSU, under the leadership of Dr. Joan Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research, is helping develop the Wastewater SARS Public Health Environmental Response, or W-SPHERE. This will serve as a global center for data and public health use cases on SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. Read more.
• A team of researchers led by Dr. Hui Li, a professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, has received nearly $2 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Great Lakes Water Authority and Colorado-based organizations Brown and Caldwell, Progressive Farms and South Platte Renew to investigate the impact of current biosolid treatment methods used by wastewater treatment facilities on a variety of pollutants in soil, water and plants. Read more.

Researcher Spotlight

• Dr. Susan Masten, professor of civil and environmental engineering at MSU, is one of seven experts appointed to the Corrosion Control Advisory Panel by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Read more.

Student Spotlight

• Angela Yuan, a senior majoring in environmental studies and sustainability, reflects on her time at MSU and her dedication to water resource protection. She interned with a law firm working on state and federal litigation related to the Flint water crisis and PFAS contaminaton and was part of a winning student team that submitted a master plan through the EPA RainWorks Challenge. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Innovation in Global Impact Theme
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • OP-21: Water Use
• MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension Legislative Report 2020-2021
• Water Quality Report

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

By the Numbers

• MSU's solar carport array, the largest in North America, is constructed on five of the university's largest commuter parking lots and covers 5,000 parking spaces. The solar carports are designed to deliver energy equivalent to powering 1,800 Michigan homes.
• MSU has approved a new 100-acre 20 megawatt solar farm on south campus (equivalent to powering 4,400 homes), which will triple the campus’s use of renewable energy.

Programs and Initiatives

• The Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building on the campus of Michigan State University received a first-of-its-kind upgrade with the installation of transparent solar glass panels. Read more.
• MSU Extension, in partnership with the MSU School of Planning, Design and Construction, and the University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute, released the Planning & Zoning for Solar Energy Systems: A Guide for Michigan Local Governments. This new, truly unique resource will help Michigan communities meet the challenge of becoming solar-ready by offering best practice guidance for addressing solar energy systems within their planning policies and zoning regulations. Read more.

Researcher Spotlight

• The National Science Foundation awarded Dr. Annick Anctil, an associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering, a Faculty Early Career Development grant. Dr. Anctil specializes in renewable energy. Her current research is analyzing the lifecycle of solar cells: how we make, implement and dispose of solar cells. Read more.

Student Spotlight

• The MSU Solar Racing Team, established in 2000, is a student group that designs and competitively races solar-powered vehicles. Over 24 teams of MSU students are involved in the design and production of msu solar-powered cars. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Stewardship and Sustainability Strategic Theme
  • Innovation in Global Impact Theme
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency
  • OP-6: Clean and Renewable Energy

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

By the Numbers

• MSU is the largest economic driver and second largest employe in the Mid-Michigan region. MSU contributes over $3.3B in economic impact and $157M in local spending to the region, where 66,352 alumni live. The total economic impact of the university in the state of Michigan is $5,883,673,968, according to MI Spartan Impact.
• In 2021, the MSU Foundation provided $10.3M in support for the Michigan State University enterprise

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU and the Michigan State University Foundation are partnering to develop a 62,500 square-foot, two-story office building in the south portion of Spartan Village for TechSmith, the company behind Camtasia software. Read more.
• MSU students competed for a chance to win a share of up to $40,000 through the Burgess New Venture Challenge, an annual competition that celebrates MSU's growing venture creation ecosystem. Students pitched innovations including sustainable clothing and electric bikes. Read more.
• The MSU Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) is administering a $300,000 grant from the federal Economic Development Administration to advance ongoing work that contributes to Michigan's longterm economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CCED's Comprehensive Economic Recovery Initiative provides education, technical assistance, research, and public-private partnerships in Michigan that foster vibrant economic ecosystems in four strategic areas: resilience planning, financial resilience, circular economy, and 21st century communications infrastructure. Read more.
• The MSU-EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation celebrated 10 years of hosting the Innovate Michigan! Summit, which brings together economic experts and enthusiasts alike to share, learn, and create unique and innovative approaches to economic development and revitalization in the State of Michigan. Read more.
• Apple and Michigan State University welcomed the inaugural class of developers and entrepreneurs to its Apple Developer Academy in Detroit in fall 2021. The academy, which is Apple’s first in the United States, will help prepare its students for jobs in the thriving iOS app economy. The academy is part of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, an effort to address systemic racism and expand opportunities for communities of color across the country. Read more.

Researcher Spotlight

• President Biden announced Dr. Lisa Cook as one of three nominees to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Dr. Cook is a professor of economics and international relations at Michigan State University. If confirmed by the Senate Banking Committee, she could become the first black woman to serve on the Fed Board. Read more.

Student Spotlight

• The MSU Black Chamber of Commerce is the first colleagiate chapter of the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce. The group strives to cultivate and grow the entrepreneurial spirit of MSU students and is a sub chapter of the Lansing Chamber of Commerce. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Innovation in Global Impact Theme
• MSU Foundation 2021 Annual Report
• STARS Sustainability Report
  •  PA-12: Employee Compensation

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

By the Numbers

• The Innovation Center is Michigan State University’s hub for creating partnerships that develop economic value from the research and creativity happening across our campus every day. In 2021, the MSU Innovation Center helped steward ideas from concept to product, resulting in:
  • 37 US patents issued
  • 68 new patent applications
  • 120 new inventions disclosed
  • $20.9M in corporate support for research projects
  • $4M in royalties from licenses
  • 3 new startup companies created

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU established the MSU Mobility Advisory Council to help guide the university’s vision for the future of mobility. With experts from eight respected mobility-oriented organizations taking part in the council, MSU is well positioned to gain valuable insight and perspectives of future industry and societal needs and the types of research and projects that MSU could support. Read more. 
• MSU researchers are working with Ford Motor Co. to create new polymers and composites for the automotive industry using sustainable materials derived from plants. Read more.
• MSU introduced an electric autonomous bus at event on November 5, 2021, that will serve students, staff and faculty beginning early 2022 as part of the campus’ smart mobility ecosystem. The bus represents one of the largest electric autonomous transit vehicles to be deployed on U.S. roadways to date. Read more.
• At MSU, researchers are accelerating the future of driving by making autonomous vehicles safer under any road or weather conditions. Integrating different technologies and using multimodal sensor fusion, they are leading innovation that allows autonomous vehicles to perceive the environment in challenging conditions like snow, heavy rain and fog and react appropriately. Read more.

Researcher Spotlight

• The National Science Foundation awarded a Faculty Early Career Development Program grant to Dr. Zhaojian Li, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Li's research is working to improve safety by using the power of the cloud and the data cars are already collecting. Read more. 

Student Spotlight

• Spartan Hackers participates in hackathons, including the annual SpartaHack coding competition, using ingenuity and leadership skills to complete real world projects in less than 48 hours. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Stewardship and Sustainability Strategic Theme
  • Innovation in Global Impact Theme
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • AC-9: Research and Scholarship
• MSU Innovation Center Annual Report

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

By the Numbers

• The MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) celebrated its 50th anniversary. According to the latest university DEI report, RCPD provided more than 2,111 hours of course-related interpreting and real-time writing for deaf students and increased use of auto captioning. RCPD recorded 14,721 service hours with students and 617 hours with employees. 
• The fall 2021 semester total enrollment included 11,784 domestic students of color, a 3.2% increase from fall 2020. These students represent 25.9% of the domestic student population. The fall 2021 first-time entering undergraduate class totaled 9,064 students, which included 2,328 students of color, a historic high. Students of color represented 26.9% of the total first-time entering student population.

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU launched DEI Foundations, a mandatory online education program, to help foster and promote a culture of inclusion at MSU. Read more.
• MSU held the first campus-wide celebration of Juneteenth "From Freedom to Liberty" on June, 19, 2021. Read more.
• MSU hosted the Building Inclusive Futures: A Summit on Asian Pacific Islander Desi American and Asian Communities on October 9, 2021. The summit sought to create a blueprint of building an anti-racist culture and climate and raise the visiblity of the unique role the APIDA/A panethnic community has in the broader civil rights coalition. A white paper was released following the summit. Read more. 

Researcher Spotlights

• Dr. Julie Libarkin, professor of environmental science with the College of Natural Science, investigates how people perceive, understand and make decisions about the planet and human impacts. Currently, her research focuses on model-driven research design, community-engaged research and mentoring to address access, inclusion, equity and justice in STEM and academia. Read more.
• Dr. Stephen Gasteyer, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and MSU AgBioResearch, reflects on participation in the MSU Dialogus program that brings together people from different identity groups and aims to equip participants with the tools to engage in conversation and facilitate understanding regarding commonalities and differences by examing impact of inequalities. Read more.

Student Spotlight

• The Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience and Intercultural Aide program (MRULE-ICA) within the Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions unites MSU students across their differences, supporting a campus climate in which intercultural engagement and developing meaningful relationships is valued and practiced. The MRULE-ICA celebrated its 25th anniversary. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Theme
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report Academic Years 2020-21 and 2021-22
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination
  • PA-6: Assessing Diversity and Equity
  • PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups
  • PA-8: Affordability and Access

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

By the Numbers

• Since 1999, when the MSU Public Art on Campus program was initiated by Board of Trustees action, a percentage of the construction cost of every new major facility or renovation project has been earmarked toward an art component. That decree has resulted in over 145 works of public art sprinkled across campus. Read more.

Programs and Initiatives

• Michigan State University is expanding its academic and research landscape on campus and beyond with new buildings and renovated spaces that point toward the MSU of the future. These facilities not only accommodate a growing student population and research enterprise, but they also provide spaces that put collaboration and innovation first. This includes the new STEM Teaching and Learning Facility, built from MSU's decommissioned power plant and the first building in the state of Michigan to use mass timber construction, as well as Minskoff Pavilion, the first academic building on campus to have a LEED gold certification. Read more. 
• The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University presented the “Seeds of Resistance,” exhibition from Jan. 15–July 18, 2021. The exhibition drew attention to the long history of plant and human interdependence by exploring the ways in which seeds encode and preserve not only genetic information, but also cultural heritage and knowledge. Read more.
• An interdisciplinary team of researchers aim to make cities more sustainable and inclusive  through research projects within eMotional Cities, a global consortium backed by $5.8 million from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. Read more. 

Researcher Spotlight

• The American Folklore Society, the country’s professional society for folklorists, named Professor Marsha MacDowell a receipient of the society’s Benjamin A. Botkin Prize for significant lifetime achievement in the field of public folklore. MacDowell is a professor in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design and also serves as the curator of folk arts and quilt studies at the MSU Museum. Read more.

Student Spotlight

• Rachel Drobnak, an undergraduate, honors college student studying crop and soil sciences in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, reflects on her experience playing the  Beaumont Tower carillon. Since 1928, the sounds of the Beaumont Tower bells have welcomed students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors to MSU. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Stewardship and Sustainability Strategic Theme
  • Innovation in Global Impact Theme
• Campus Facilities and Land Use Plan
• MSU Mobility Plan
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • OP-3: Building Design and Construction
  • OP-9: Landscape Management
  • OP-10: Biodiversity
  • OP-16: Commute Modal Split
  • OP-17: Support for Sustainable Transportation

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

By the Numbers

• Since students petitioned for recycling access over 30 years ago, MSU has decreased its yearly landfill totals by 55% and the annual amount of landfill produced per student by 66%!

Programs and Initiatives

• The Michigan State University Surplus Store and Recycling Center added a new robotic sorter to more efficiently and safely handle recyclables as part of its efforts to divert campus’ waste from landfills. The automated sorter was purchased thanks to a $180,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy that recycling center staff applied for last year plus a $52,000 contribution from the Surplus Store and Recycling Center. Read more.
• A team of MSU researchers received a $2M grant from the National Science Foundation to reduce plastic waste by studying how commonly disposed plastics such as grocery bags can be repurposed into higher uses. The team is targeting polyethylene, a widely-used plastic that’s found in single-use grocery bags, for example. The project’s goal is to break down the polyethylene, then chemically resurrect it as a more valuable material, such as nylon used in carpets, sporting goods and even automotive parts. Read more.

Researcher Spotlight

• The National Science Foundation awarded Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, with a Faculty Early Career Development Program grant. His research focuses on how to best simplify plastics recycling. His team is working to create a handful of plastic materials that capture the best features of all the polymers that manufacturers currently use while minimizing the drawbacks. Read more. 

Student Spotlight

• Dr. Noleen Chikowore studied the culture of can collectors at home football games as part of her doctoral research at MSU. An age old tailgating ritual, fans leave cans and bottles out for can recyclers to collect. In Michigan, each can or bottle they return to a store will net them 10 cents. According to Chikowore's research, canners may come from low income households and find that collecting cans at football games is destigmatized. Read more. 

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Stewardship and Sustainability Strategic Theme
  • Innovation in Global Impact Theme
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
  • OP-19: Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion
  • OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

SDG 13: Climate Action

By the Numbers

• MSU is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 from our 2010 baseline and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. With the elimination of coal as a fuel source, incorporation of additional upgrades to the micro-grid system, installation of the anaerobic digester and the solar carport arrays, and implementation of energy conservation measures, MSU has reduced its scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by over 40% since 2010. 

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU is one of nine partner institutions working to advance climate science across the Midwest through the newly established U.S. Geological Survey Climate Adaptation Science Center. Read more.
• The Forest Carbon and Climate Program in the Department of Forestry at Michigan State University is a central partner in a new $5.3 million USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program grant. The grant is focused on reforestation of over 16,400 acres in 27 counties in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan. Read more.
• MSU researchers within the College of Communication Arts and Sciences are studying how attitudes can shape policies, programs and behaviors that may mitigate climate change as well as practices that promote or stand in the way of solutions. Read more. 

Researcher Spotlights

• Dr. Jeff Andresen, geography professor and state climatologist, joined Russ White on MSU Today to discuss climate change, climate changes in Michigan, impacts on the Great Lakes region, and the latest assessment from the IPCC. Read more.
• Dr. Jason Rowntree, C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at MSU, studies regenerative agriculture, a new approach to livestock farming that emphasizes the reduction of farming inputs and restoring ecosystem services such as soil carbon sequestration and improved water cycling. Read more. 

Student Spotlight

• Lindsey Hassel, a junior studying biosystems engineering, reflects on how her degree is preparing her for a career in combating climate change. Read more.

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Stewardship and Sustainability Strategic Theme
  • Innovation in Global Impact Theme
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
  • OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

SDG 14: Life Below Water

By the Numbers

• Roughly two miles of the Red Cedar River run through MSU's campus. In total, the river is 51 miles long, originating in Livingston County and feeding into the Grand River in Lansing. Over 30 types of fish are found in the river, including bluegill, green sunfish, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU researchers completed the largest census of freshwater insects ever undertaken in the U.S. The study is the first of its kind, producing a database that includes over 2 million occurrence records for 932 genera of major freshwater insect orders at more than 51,000 streams and rivers. This effort tripled the number of geographic locations where freshwater insects are observed. Read more.
• MSU researchers partnered with the University of Hawaii to investigate climate change and its impact on coral bleaching. They found that some corals are resistant to bleaching. Read more.  

Researcher Spotlight

• Dr. William Taylor, University Distinguished Professor in Global Fisheries Systems, received the Award of Excellence from the American Fisheries Society (AFS) for original and outstanding contributions to fisheries and aquatic biology. It is the Society's highest award for scientific achievement. Read more. 

Student Spotlight

• Fisheries and wildlife student Kailee Pearson reflects on her time working as a field technician in the Upper Peninsula with the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians’ wildlife program over the summer. Read more. 

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Innovation in Global Impact Theme
• Michigan Sea Grant Strategic Plan
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • OP-22: Rainwater Management 
• MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension Legislative Report 2020-2021
• MSU Phase II NPDES Stormwater Progress Report

SDG 15: Life on Land

By the Numbers

• MSU is home to over 20,000 tress on campus. The oldest trees on campus are between 350-400 years old. 
• MSU has a diversity of woodlands and wetlands located on campus properties, totaling more than 700 acres across 25 distinct sites. These sites are designated as campus natural areas. 

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU celebrated the legacy of the campus arboretum through the "Semester of the Trees". Read more. 
• In collaboration with the College of Natural Science’s Plant Biology Department and the student Fisheries and Wildlife Club, IPF Landscape Services is helping reclaim an area of campus just off Trowbridge Road through a Project Wingspan grant from the Pollinator Partnership. Project Wingspan is designed to increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of pollinator habitat across the Midwest and Great Lakes region. Read more. 
• MSU and partner organizations have established a new on-campus Pollinator Performance Center which will expand opportunities for pollinator research, outreach and teaching. Read more. 
• A recent study led by MSU researchers found that better data archiving is needed to assess impacts of global conservation efforts on biodiversity. The team audited the largest global repository for storing genetic sequence data to see if the entries included basic metadata needed to make them useful for monitoring genetic diversity. More than half of the datasets they examined were missing that metadata, such as when and where a sample was collected. Read more. 

Researcher Spotlight

• Dr. Meghan Milbrath, an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology, coordinates the Michigan Pollinator Initiative shares her reflections on her research and outreach work. The Michigan Pollinator Initiative started at MSU to address concerns related to pollinators and pollination, and to work on understanding the threats and solutions for bees in Michigan. Read more. 

Student Spotlight

• A team of students from the club Sustainable Spartans brought the first outdoor green walls to campus in collaboration with IPF Landscape Services and the Office of Sustainability. Read more. 

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Stewardship and Sustainability Strategic Theme
  • Innovation in Global Impact Theme
• Campus Tree Management Plan
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • OP-9: Landscape Management
  • OP-10: Biodiversity
• MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension Legislative Report 2020-2021

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

By the Numbers

• The 2020 National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE) Campus Report for MSU showed a significant increase in student voting rates; rising to 76.6% in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, representing a 24.4% increase from the 2016 election. In addition, the voter registration rate of MSU students reached 91% in the 2020 election, up from 80% in the 2016 election. For its increase in student voting rates in 2020, the State of Michigan recognized MSU through its Michigan Collegiate Voting Challenge for its Most Improved Voter Turnout, 4-year institution award .

Programs and Initiatives

• MSU is working toward establishing an Ethics Institute to catalyze research in ethical theory and its applied practice, facilitate transformative classroom experiences for students to discover the norms and values that will guide their careers and lives, and advance community-engaged outreach activities. A long-term aim is to facilitate development of deep transdisciplinary expertise in related to global ethics and social justice and contribute to MSU’s mission of advancing knowledge and transforming lives. In fall 2021, an Ethics Symposium was held to explore moving this work forward. Read more. 
• MSU has been a recognized Voter Friendly Campus since 2016. MSU became a Gold-level  ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge in the 2020 election. Read more.

Researcher Spotlight

• Three Deans at MSU share their thoughts about the need for higher education institutions to put ethics at the forefront. Read more. 
• Professor Nancy Costello director of the First Amendment Law Clinic and supervisor of the McLellan Free Speech Online Library in the Michigan State University College of Law discusses the First Amendment and freedom of speech. The First Amendment Law Clinic is the only program in the country solely dedicated to the protection of student speech and press rights. Read more. 
• Kristine Bowman, a Michigan State University expert in education law and policy, is the editor of a comprehensive new handbook for K-12 educators, policymakers and scholars. The first-edition of the “Oxford Handbook on U.S. Education Law” includes foundational overviews, deep-rooted insights on various topics and a look toward the future. Read more. 

Student Spotlight

• Janet Ibarra is an honors college senior double majoring in social relations and policy in the James Madison College and political science (pre-law) in the College of Social Science with a minor in Chicano/Latino Studies. She reflected on how her identity and the 2016 election informed her career interests in immigration law. Read more. 

Related Plans and Reports

• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Plan Development Process
• STARS Sustainability Report
  • PA-2: Inclusive and Participatory Governance
  • IN-42: Voter Education and Support
• 2020 National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement Campus Report (published October 2021)