International Academic Programs (IAP) received Platinum Certification through the Green Office Certification Program for their commitment to green initiatives. The Green Office Certification Program assists UW–Madison offices in becoming more sustainable workplaces. The program provides employees with resources to implement environmentally savvy practices in the workspace.
International Services (IS), which is comprised of International Student Services (ISS) and International Faculty and Staff Service (IFSS) and IFSS, decided to pursue the certification after relocating to the Pyle Center. In anticipation of the move, staff joined the Green Office Committee and coordinated with an intern from the Office of Sustainability to begin the process of becoming certified. To become certified, IS was given a list of objectives to complete, including reducing waste management and energy use.
To achieve Platinum level certification, the units had to receive a waste and energy audit that gave recommendations on what could be improved. IS also performed a service activity related to environmentalism and sustainability. The department volunteered with the Lakeshore Nature Preserve to cut down an invasive buckthorn species.
IS’s biggest takeaway from this project has been making sustainability a regular part of decision-making, from providing reusable take-home boxes for catered events to primarily sharing documents electronically.
As part of their ongoing efforts, IAP established a sustainability committee within their unit that aligns with the campus’ sustainability priorities to create a conscious environmental footprint. The initiative does this by educating traveling students on sustainable practices and collaborating with faculty to create programs that incorporate sustainability.
“As our office’s Commitment to Sustainability states, our efforts work toward the mutual benefit of program participants and host communities, and the responsible management of finite planetary resources,” said Lindsay Heiser Barger, a member of the IAP Sustainability Committee.
In the initial stages of the certification process, IAP learned more about energy use, recycling, and other sustainability topics through the Green Office. Since becoming green certified, the office has made more sustainable choices, such as adding plants around the office, shutting off devices when not in use, and switching to sustainably sourced T-shirts and recycled cardboard pens for merchandise distribution at events. Last fall, IAP became platinum green certified by completing an all-staff giveback activity eliminating invasive buckthorn in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve and seed sorting led by Allen Centennial Garden staff.
“It was a bonding experience as well as a service experience, and I think this type of activity is something that will be recurring in our office,” said Heiser Barger.