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The Sustainability Council met on January 9, 2026, to review progress on key initiatives, discuss communications and outreach plans, and prepare for upcoming proposals and events.

OVCS Website and Vision Updates

The council received an update on the upcoming revamp of the sustainability website (colorado.edu/sustainability). New wireframes and copy are in development to better reflect the campus-wide sustainability vision and mission. The updated site is expected to launch in late February, including a refreshed Vision page and a message from the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Sustainability. Many links on the site will point to topic-specific resources that may also need updating.

OVCS Organizational News

• The Buckley Center for Sustainability Education is hiring for two new roles and will be renamed the SPIKE Center moving forward.
• Council members were reminded of ���������� Boulder’s involvement with the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, with applications launching in March at the Second Nature Conference in Chicago. Members are encouraged to share opportunities to promote the classification through conferences and events.

Micro-Credential/Recognition Badge Update

At the last meeting, members expressed interest in creating a micro-credential for council participation. After consultation with the Office of the Registrar, Recognition Badges were recommended instead. Micro-credentials are intended for short, flexible learning programs (such as courses or modules) that build specific, practical skills and require completion of a verified assessment or set of tasks. In contrast, Recognition Badges have fewer policy requirements while maintaining the same digital badge features, including embedded metadata, skills tags, and the ability to attach evidence. These badges could be awarded based on time served on the council, pending further discussion.

January Proposal Updates

Council members discussed the status of submitted proposals, including Dr. Pete Newton’s resubmitted proposal to phase out beef and lamb from campus dining. Discussion of this proposal will be postponed to the next meeting to allow members time to review it; questions will be submitted in advance. Members also noted tracking of ingredient data in campus dining, increasing purchases of non-animal products, and gaining a clearer understanding of the options currently available

Outreach and Engagement

Plans for tabling and digital promotion were discussed to raise awareness of sustainability proposals and council work. Ideas include tabling in high-traffic areas, creating classroom slides, and exploring digital advertising. A possible Provost Post article for January, additional collaboration with the SPIKE Center, and faculty engagement are under consideration.

Spring Planning

• Reviews of council bylaws, member expectations, and proposal bylaws are underway.
• The council noted ongoing recruiting for the new faculty position (to begin Fall 2026) and reviewed draft application forms, applicant lists, and review metrics.
• Members also discussed timing and format for the upcoming Sustainability Summit on April 15, including the possibility of hosting a Sustainability Town Hall during the event.

Communications and Storytelling

During the open forum, members emphasized improving communications and storytelling across campus:

• More regular sustainability content shared broadly
• Engagement with student groups such as the Sustainable Business Club
• Presentations at department meetings and potential campus “roadshows”
• Simplifying and clarifying sustainability information (e.g., confirming campus composting processes)
• Mapping connections between sustainability efforts to make them easier to understand
• Making information more interactive and accessible

Council members expressed a desire to focus on clarity and coherence in messaging to help campus constituents more easily engage with sustainability initiatives.