Help make it a greener year

With the new academic year now in full swing, the UMass Chan Sustainability Committee is looking for new people, and new ideas, to help the campus community increase its efforts on a wide range of initiatives. Is it your turn to take part? 

“We are gearing up for an active year, and invite more people to get involved,” said Melissa Lucas, sustainability and energy manager, who leads the Sustainability Committee. 

The committee is open to the entire UMass Chan and UMass Memorial Medical Center community. Students, faculty and staff are welcomed to join the committee and work together to develop and implement Growing Green programs. 

From planning and facilitating the annual Earth Day celebration on campus, to advocating for energy efficiency, increased recycling, and more sustainable practices in all departments, the committee has an active agenda. 

The work of the committee is designed to support the goals articulated by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s challenge for public institutions to “lead by example” and by the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

 “There are many people, across many departments of this campus, who are dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable practices, both at work and at home,” Lucas said. “We’ve had great participation on the committee in recent years, and as a volunteer group we always need new people and new ideas to keep up our momentum. So I encourage people to think about getting involved.” 

For more information, contact the committee at :growing.green@umassmed.edu.