The development process for the Sustainability Master Plan 2025 was led by the Office of Sustainability and centered around stakeholder engagement. It included listening sessions open to the entire campus community as well as working groups and small groups focused on specific topics. The draft plan was shared with the campus community for review and feedback. Over 300 students, faculty and staff participated.

Process

In September 2023, the university started the plan development process, which brought stakeholders from across campus together to define shared goals, draft a strategy for meeting them and implement them over time.

 

Learn more about the listening sessions held in fall of 2023.

Learn more about the working groups.

Learn more about the feedback received on the draft plan.

Listening Sessions

In September 2023, three listening sessions were held to provide campus community members with an opportunity to contribute ideas toward a more sustainable Elon.

In total, 93 campus community members attended a listening session or completed an online input form. The below graphs represent about 80 of those who answered the questions posed.

Participant Responses

 

Working Groups

Working groups of staff, faculty and students were formed in fall of 2023 to develop draft goals and strategies for the plan on the following topics:

  • Academics: curriculum, research
  • Administrative Services: e.g., purchasing, technology, dining services, print services, mail services
  • Engagement: co-curricular activities (e.g., student organizations, on-campus employment, service learning, cultural events, intramurals), employee engagement
  • Facilities: energy management, operations + maintenance (including water use and custodial services), construction, landscaping + grounds
  • Transportation: campus fleet, commuting, business travel, global engagement travel
  • Waste Reduction: reducing + reusing waste, recycling, composting

The working groups met a total of six times, starting in late October 2023 through early May 2024.

Working Group Members

Academics

  • Chair: Scott Morrison, Faculty Fellow for Sustainability, Associate Professor of Education  
  • Katy Bales, Physical Therapy Clinical Education Specialist
  • Caroleen Dineen, Assistant Professor of Law, Interim Director of Legal Method and Communication Program
  • Raj Gupta, Professor of Finance
  • Young Do Kim, Associate Professor of Sport Management
  • Becky Kloepfer, Instructional Technologist
  • Marena Long, law student
  • Jessica Merricks, Assistant Professor of Biology
  • Hannah Miller, student
  • Jessie Moore, Director of the Center for Engaged Learning + Professor of English
  • Ellie Olivier, student
  • Peyton Shetler, student
  • Michael Strickland, Lecturer in Environmental Studies and English
  • Ifeoma Udeh, Associate Professor of Accounting
  • Facilitator: Elaine Durr, Senior Director of Sustainability 

Administrative Services

  • Chair: Robin Straka, Senior Associate Registrar 
  • Pat Donohue, Assistant CIO, Director of Campus Technology Support
  • Elaine Durr, Senior Director of Sustainability
  • Jae Evans, Director of Operations, EU Dining
  • Missy Mellinger, Associate Director of Auxiliary Services
  • Ryan Moore, Regional District Manager, EU Dining
  • Carrie Ryan, AVP for Auxiliary Services
  • Patrick Schwartz, Senior Buyer Purchasing
  • Facilitator: Kelly Harer, Associate Director of Sustainability 

Engagement

  • Chair: Nicholas Bussberg, Assistant Professor of Statistics
  • Akani Bey, student
  • Sarah Beth Hardy, Assistant Director for Community Partnerships
  • Kelly Harer, Associate Director of Sustainability
  • Caroline Ketcham, Professor of Exercise Science
  • Merissa Lawson, Senior Director of Development Research
  • Jonathan McElderry, Dean of Student Inclusive Excellence
  • Lauryn Polo, Social Media Manager
  • Molly Ruiz, student
  • Tumi Shadreck, Counselor
  • Quintin Tucker, Associate Director of Student Involvement
  • Facilitator: Elaine Durr, Senior Director of Sustainability  

Facilities

  • Chair: Brad Moore, AVP of Facilities
  • Matt Banks, Engineering Lab Manager
  • Bethany Brinkman, Associate Professor of Engineering
  • Brian Chandler, HVACR Supervisor
  • Elaine Durr, Senior Director of Sustainability
  • Matthew Flacksenburg, student
  • Raymond Fletcher, Senior Director of Facilities Management
  • Jenny Gonzalez, Interior Designer, Planning, Design, & Construction Management
  • Jacob Rutz, Lecturer in Environmental Studies
  • Deb Shaw, Facility Engineer
  • Scott Stevens, Director of Landscaping and Transportation Services
  • Robert Stewart, Assistant Athletics Director for Events, Facilities, and Capital Projects
  • Todd Stucker, Director of Utilities
  • Jason Tripp, Project Manager, Planning, Design, & Construction Management
  • Facilitator: Kelly Harer, Associate Director of Sustainability

Transportation

  • Chair: Brad Moore, AVP of Facilities 
  • Elaine Durr, Senior Director of Sustainability
  • Dave Gammon, Professor of Biology
  • Nick Gozik, Dean of Global Education
  • Mandi Jaffe, student
  • Ryan Johnson, Associate Professor of Philosophy
  • Ryan Kirk, Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies
  • Jodean Schmiederer, Dean of Student Development, Assistant Professor
  • Scott Stevens, Director of Landscaping and Transportation Services
  • Blake Tillotson, Captain, Campus Safety & Police
  • Facilitator: Kelly Harer, Associate Director of Sustainability 

Waste Reduction

  • Chair: Kendra Harrison, Waste Reduction and Recycling Manager  
  • Leslie Bosse, EU Dining Sustainability Coordinator
  • Amanda Chunco, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
  • Kelly Harer, Associate Director of Sustainability
  • Lauren Hill, student
  • Jeff Marvin, Assistant Director of Environmental Services
  • Facilitator: Elaine Durr, Senior Director of Sustainability 

Small Groups

Several small groups consisting of working group chairs, campus subject matter experts and implementers met during the summer of 2024 to refine and prioritize the draft goals and strategies to develop the draft plan. They also discussed budget needs, phasing and implementation structures.

Small Group Members

Academics

Kim Fath, staff
Jessie Moore, faculty
Michael Strickland, faculty
Scott Morrison, faculty

Dining

Carry Ryan, staff
Brandon Rudisill, staff
Ryan Moore, staff

Engagement

Nicholas Bussberg, faculty
Kelly Harer, staff
Lauryn Polo, staff
Sara Beth Hardy, staff

Facilities – Construction

Brad Moore, staff
David Haught, staff
Raymond Fletcher, staff

Facilities – Energy & Water

Brad Moore, staff
Greg Lischke, staff
Raymond Fletcher, staff
Todd Stucker, staff

Facilities – Landscaping

Brad Moore, staff
Jacob Rutz, staff
Raymond Fletcher, staff
Scott Stevens, staff

Purchasing

Elaine Durr, staff
Patrick Schwartz, staff

Technology

Becky Kloepfer, staff
Dan Reis, staff
Jason Dinges, staff
Pat Donohue, staff

Transportation – Business & Global Travel

Elaine Durr, staff
Ginny Dudiak, staff
Nick Gozik, staff

Transportation – Commuting

Blake Tillotson, staff
Elaine Durr, staff
Jodean Schmiederer, staff
Scott Stevens, staff

Transportation – Fleet

Brad Moore, staff
Raymond Fletcher, staff
Scott Stevens, staff

Waste

Kelly Harer, staff
Kendra Harrison, staff
Leslie Bosse, staff
Raymond Fletcher, staff

Draft Plan Feedback

In the fall of 2024, a Draft Sustainability Master Plan 2025 was shared with the campus community for review and feedback. There were several in-person sessions and an online survey for collecting feedback on the plan.

Click here to view responses to the frequently asked questions received in the feedback.