Appalachian State University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Measurable objective: Expand the integration of sustainability throughout the curriculum and through co-curricular experiences beyond the classroom. From the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.

Measurable objective: Identify and support resilience and sustainability initiatives that complement the university's strategic priorities. Facilitate curricular, operations and engagement activities that prioritize collaboration and integrate campus health, safety, diversity, equity, inclusion, wellbeing and career advancement goals across university divisions and units. Continue active community partnerships in identifying and implementing university-related solutions to address food and housing access for students, faculty and staff. From the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.

The 2020-2021 Strategic Energy and Water Management Plan has the following goals:
In order to measure our progress towards meeting the UNC and State goals of Climate Neutrality by 2050, the following KPI’s and their requirements for 2020-21 are:
Reduce facility greenhouse gas emissions by 4.7% from 2019/20 levels.
Reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 5% from 2018/19 levels.
Reduce energy use intensity by 11% from 2019/20 levels.
Reduce water use intensity by 5% from 2018/19 levels
Reduce energy expenses by 2.5% from 2018/19 levels.
Reduce water expense by 2.5% from 2018/19 levels.
Reduce sewer expenses by 6% from 2018/19 levels.

Link to document: https://sustain.appstate.edu/_documents/Strategic-Energy-and-Water-Management-Plan-2020-21.pdf

From App State Strategic Plan 2022-2027
(https://www.appstate.edu/_documents/app-state-strategic-plan-2022-27.pdf)
Strategic Priority 4: Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Cultivate and support a welcoming university community and an academic culture of collaboration and respect through education and inclusive practices:
Identify and remove barriers to the success of historically underrepresented faculty, staff and students. Advance multicultural competencies and strengthen dedicated networks to successfully attract, retain and support historically underrepresented faculty, staff and students to learn and work at App State by removing identified barriers to the learning and career success of historically underrepresented communities.

https://diversity.appstate.edu/strategic-initiatives/planning/

In response to the above:
Four Faculty Directors of Communities (FDC) roles were established in the summer of 2022. The FDCs work with the Chief Diversity Officer to co-create community partnerships serving within Western North Carolina. They advise and support the work of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion through the lens of their respective community identities by leading and developing professional development experiences, fostering conversation around campus, and managing campus climate issues and special projects.
Dr. Ashley Han, Faculty Director of LGBTQ+ Communities
Dr. Allen Bryant, Faculty Director of Indigenous Communities
Dr. Claudia Cartaya Marin, Faculty Director of Hispanic/Latine Communities
Dr. Shawn Ricks, Faculty Director of The Junaluska Project
Also, in 2021–22, the Office of Admissions hired an assistant director of Hispanic/Latinx recruitment; redesigned the position of assistant director of admissions for special populations so that it focuses on rural and first-generation populations; and created an assistant director position for Black/African American student recruitment. The office also expanded tour offerings and activities for Black, first-generation and Spanish-speaking students.
https://diversity.appstate.edu/strategic-initiatives/milestones/

App State was a signatory of the Talloires Declaration in 1997.

In 2008, App State became a signatory of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment. The university also signed on in 2016 when it was rebranded as the Second Nature Climate Commitment, emphasizing its commitment to pursue climate neutrality and resiliency planning.

In addition, App State signed the "We Are Still In" pledge in 2018, which is an open letter to the international community and the parties of the Paris Agreement. It states the following: “We, the undersigned mayors, county executives, governors, tribal leaders, college and university leaders, businesses, faith groups, cultural institutions, healthcare organizations, and investors are joining forces for the first time to declare that we will continue to support climate action to meet the Paris Agreement target of cutting overall greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.”