ASMSU Sustainability Center

Tel: (406) 994-6873
ASMSUsustain@montana.edu
Location: 175 Strand Union

Interim Director:

Andy "Cotton" Sarjahani
greenasmsu@montana.edu

Values and Goals

The ASMSU Sustainability Center is the student-funded office for sustainability at Montana State University. Focused on engaging students in the process of making the university more environmentally and socially responsible, the office catalyzes student initiative into lasting change and provides a framework for effective administration-student collaboration. The Center offers student employment and internship opportunities developing outreach programs, events, and strategic initiatives in addition to ongoing services, such as recycling.

We agree with the American College and University President's Climate Commitment that

"colleges and universities must exercise leadership in their communities and throughout society by modeling ways to minimize global warming emissions, and by providing the knowledge and the educated graduates to achieve climate neutrality. Campuses that address the climate challenge by reducing global warming emissions and by integrating sustainability into their curriculum will better serve their students and meet their social mandate to help create a thriving, ethical and civil society. These colleges and universities will be providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to address the critical, systemic challenges faced by the world in this new century and enable them to benefit from the economic opportunities that will arise as a result of solutions they develop."

Furthermore, we believe that students should be actively involved in the process of making their institutions more sustainable - and that in many cases it is because of student action that important changes are made.

The goals of the ASMSU Sustainability Center are to: Steward use of the Student Sustainability Fee, ensuring these funds contribute effectively to campus sustainability efforts and engage students in a meaningful way. Provide employment, volunteer, and internship opportunities to students who wish to contribute to sustainability efforts at MSU. Build programs that engage the campus in dialog and action. Link students to information, campus resources, and decision-makers with regard to campus sustainability. Leverage student activism by building partnerships with MSU administration and departments to provide program continuity year-to-year. Advocate for increased institutional commitment to sustainable policies and practices.