To open lines of communication and initiate a network focused on increasing higher education sustainability efforts in Louisiana, the University Sustainability Coalition was established in 2021, with Dr. Jerrod Penn, Assistant Professor with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at Louisiana State University, as chair and KLB as the lead facilitator.
The group of 15 colleges and universities meets for eight months throughout the academic school year with one goal—to increase higher education sustainability efforts in Louisiana. Monthly meetings consist of a time of presenting and sharing program ideas, successes, and challenges related to campus sustainability. Networking and sharing has led to members replicating successful programs focused on implementing more sustainable campus dining practices and reducing waste during the student move-out process.
The University Sustainability Coalition includes representation from:
Dillard University, Fletcher Technical Community College, Grambling State University, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech, Loyola University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, River Parishes Community College, Tulane University, University of Louisiana Lafayette, University of Louisiana Monroe, University of New Orleans, and Xavier University of Louisiana
The Coalition was created to complement the University Affiliate program—developed in 2021 in response to a growing interest in sustainability, waste reduction, and litter prevention at the university level. University of Louisiana at Lafayette, with KLB as a sub-recipient, secured a $500,000 five-year EPA Gulf of Mexico Trash-Free Waters Grant to create and launch the University Affiliate program, develop a litter assessment app, develop educational training videos for campus communities, and fund grant opportunities for University Affiliates.
