The University of Michigan is demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability, as revealed by the 2024 Sustainability Cultural Indicators Program (SCIP) data. Across Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, students and staff are actively engaging in sustainable practices, showing awareness of climate issues, and believing in their impact. SCIP highlights widespread participation in sustainability efforts, with nearly half of Ann Arbor faculty and a significant portion of students and staff expressing strong commitment.
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Climate change is acknowledged as a pressing issue, and students display a solid understanding of sustainability topics. However, areas needing improvement include transportation choices and awareness of university sustainability programs. John Callewaert, co-principal investigator, stated, “SCIP helps us see where our community is most engaged and where there are opportunities to do more. It shows not only the behaviors and attitudes that are taking hold, but also the areas where we can better support meaningful action.”
The 2024 survey saw nearly 6,000 participants, with robust engagement across campuses. U-M collaborates with Rutgers University, which has adapted the SCIP model for its initiatives, allowing both institutions to explore shared challenges and gain insights from a larger dataset. Robert Marans, co-principal investigator, emphasized, “Collecting this kind of long-term data is rare, and it’s incredibly valuable.”
SCIP data is also utilized in a new sustainability undergraduate course, allowing students to work with the data to evaluate initiatives and research innovative questions. Shana Weber, associate vice president for campus sustainability, highlighted how SCIP findings inform campus operations and community impact, stating, “SCIP shows us what motivates people, what barriers we face, and how we can make programs more effective and engaging.”
At Michigan Medicine, Tony Denton, senior vice president, noted, “Embedding sustainability into the culture of a leading academic medical center takes data, persistence, collaboration and teamwork.” SCIP aids in aligning environmental stewardship with patient care practices. The university’s efforts extend beyond campus, with Shalanda Baker, vice provost for sustainability and climate action, emphasizing the broader community impact: “SCIP gives us insight into how students, faculty and staff are engaging with sustainability in ways that extend beyond the university.”
The 2024 SCIP results underscore the importance of engaging the entire U-M community in sustainability initiatives and demonstrate how consistent measurement can drive progress toward carbon neutrality and climate action.
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