Letter from President Crawford
¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ 2040 Climate Action Plan
Thank you to our faculty, staff, students, and alumni for their commitment to creating a more sustainable future.
From ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ President Gregory Crawford
A commitment to carbon neutrality and our ongoing efforts toward a more sustainable campus are among the greatest gifts we can give future generations. Higher education institutions are essential in leading the charge for climate action and a more sustainable future. At ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ, we are dedicated to educating our community and fostering meaningful conversations that shape attitudes and progress toward our goals for carbon neutrality.
¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ is deeply committed to preparing our students to be tomorrow's leaders and innovators. We foster an environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, including those who will develop new solutions to address the challenges of climate change.
On our Oxford campus, we have invested in the innovative and long-range planning necessary for campus energy systems infrastructure transitions. Since implementing our Utility Master Plan for the Oxford campus in 2012, we’ve already reduced our utility-based carbon emissions by more than 50% and have achieved remarkable accumulated savings of $100 million (2008-2023) from building improvements, conservation efforts, and energy systems conversions. One of our next steps in decarbonizing our energy systems is considering proposals for a potential 1-megawatt solar installation on our campus — underscoring our commitment to investing in clean energy solutions.
We must all be vested in this ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ 2040 Climate Action Plan. Thank you to our faculty, staff, students, and alumni for their commitment to creating a more sustainable future. I encourage the entire ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ community to join our pledge for carbon neutrality.
Love and Honor,
Gregory P. Crawford, President
May 2024