NAU’s Environmental Caucus
Keeping NAU green
By promoting conservation education, innovative research, and sustainable operations, we’re keeping our commitment to a green campus.
Our initiatives
We are proud to take a proactive stance on creating a sustainable future for NAU and the Flagstaff community. The Environmental Caucus also has seven Action Teams, each with a different focus, that function as an advisory team for sustainability on campus. We are currently rebuilding and restructuring our Action Teams, while we continue to make an impact on campus.
Caucus Meetings
The Environmental Caucus is representative of the Office of Sustainability and is the primary avenue for public input and engagement around campus sustainability initiatives. The Caucus is committed to connecting the NAU and Flagstaff communities through sharing information between NAU and the Flagstaff community to discuss sustainability strategies. The Caucus is open to the community and meets monthly on the 3rd Friday of the Month, from 12:00-1:15 pm. More information can be found in the events tab below. Spring 2023 meeting dates are as follows:
- Friday, March 24th
- Friday, April 21st
Sustainability Leadership Awards
Each year, the Environmental Caucus awards outstanding efforts of students and community members for their work on green initiatives. We are proud to have a positive impact on the environment in and around Flagstaff, and enjoy recognizing those who make a difference! For more information or to submit a nomination, visit the Sustainability Leadership Awards website.
Action Teams Accordion Closed
Our seven Action Teams – Communications, Energy, Sustainable Landscaping, Transportation, Academics, Justice, and Waste Minimization – engage the entire community, spreading awareness and understanding about the structure and purpose of sustainability-related organizations and initiatives on campus. They:
- create a way to market new and existing sustainability initiatives
- evaluate, support, promote, and improve sustainable transportation alternatives at NAU
- investigate opportunities and engage key stakeholders across campus in an effort to decrease NAU’s climate impact
- implement diverse initiatives to decrease chemical use in our campus landscapes and promote pollinator habitats
- develop strategies for waste minimization
Be the guest speaker Accordion Closed
Each month, we feature a guest speaker to share a topic related to our mission. If you would like to be a guest speaker at one of our upcoming meetings, please send us an email.
Mission and values Accordion Closed
We are a grassroots, volunteer group – our informal structure allows flexibility in producing effective and creative results. Our Steering Committee guides our work, approving recommendations that are brought before the Caucus at monthly meetings. The Action Teams advance the institutional commitment to sustainability and help promote education, research, and projects that positively impact the environment.
Steering Committee Accordion Closed
Our Steering Committee serves two-year rotating terms as our official operational body. Members come from diverse backgrounds and represent various university departments. The Steering Committee meets one week before the monthly Caucus meeting to plan upcoming meetings and discuss ways to incorporate sustainable initiatives at NAU.
- Erik Nielsen: Chair, Chief Sustainability Officer; Professor, School of Earth and Sustainability
If you’re interested in applying to be a member of the Steering Committee, please send us an application for consideration. Email the Steering Committee for more information.
Events Accordion Closed
The Caucus is open to the community and meets monthly on the 3rd Friday of the Month, from 12:00-1:15pm. Spring 2023 meeting dates are as follows:
- Friday, March 24th
- Friday, April 21st
Meetings are held in a dual format both in the Applied Research and Development (ARD) – Building 56, Large Pod, or virtually via the zoom information below. Attendees are encouraged to attend in person when possible!
https://nau.zoom.us/j/82067352179?pwd=dHByNzNJb0VFZkZrUEpxUDZWT1g0UT09
Meeting ID: 820 6735 2179 Password: EC
If you have an event we should include on our calendar, please contact us.
Find upcoming events on the NAU Events Calendar (keyword GreenNAU).
Connect to Green NAU Accordion Closed
The Environmental Caucus works in concert with Green NAU, and we invite you to explore their mission and interests as well. Together, we can all make a difference! Join the Green NAU community:
- Share ideas on initiatives that promote a more sustainable future
- discuss nominations for NAU Sustainable Leadership Awards
- plan upcoming community events to promote sustainability
Support the Environmental Caucus Accordion Closed
As a strictly volunteer association, the Environmental Caucus is one of the few, if not the only, group on campus where students, faculty, and staff interact as peers and work actively to brainstorm, share information, and put ideas into action. Financial donations are appreciated and will help us further our work and support green causes across campus.
Join us
The Environmental Caucus is supporting the Climate Action Planning efforts. Please check the website for upcoming events and join a public feedback session. If you’d like more information or to become part of the Environmental Caucus, please email us. If you are interested in more information on joining specific Environmental Caucus Action Teams, please reach out to the contacts listed under each Action Team.