Florida A&M University is embarking on a journey to become a model sustainable campus: one that promotes stewardship of economic, social, and ecological resources while growing a green economy and preparing our students with essential 21st century skills. Campus-wide involvement is essential to achieving goals of saving money and resources, promoting innovations in teaching and research, and positioning FAMU as a best-in-class university engaged with addressing urgent challenges.
An Indaba, is a traditional South African (Zulu and Xhosa) word for a gathering of community members to sort out the problems that affect them all, where everyone has a voice and where there is an attempt to find a common mind or a common story that everyone is able to tell when they go away from it.
In that spirit of collective problem solving and progress, Sustainability Focus Teams have been formed, made up of campus champions charged with helping to chart a path towards sustainability. Guided by the creative and intellectual capital of FAMU faculty, staff and students working in teams, members will develop strategies and recommendations for senior leadership over the course of the year, culminating in the first Sustainability Indaba in February 2016 and a Sustainability Action Plan in April 2016.
Focus Teams include
Better Buildings: designing, constructing and maintaining for energy & water efficiency and financial savings
Curriculum: sustainability literacy and learning outcomes in any discipline
Engagement: peer-to-peer training, awareness campaigns, community outreach and service learning
Food: healthy & secure food systems, sustainable dining operations
People: Community partnerships, wellness, diversity & inclusion, access & opportunity
Purchasing: life cycle business decision making and purchasing environmentally safe products
Research: increased interdisciplinary, solutions-based discovery and knowledge creation
Transportation: environmentally clean & efficient options
Waste: waste minimization & landfill diversion
To get involved with a focus team, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
