Northern Arizona University (NAU) has been an NCSE Member Institution for 13 years.
NAU has built an international reputation for environmental and sustainability research through its world-class programs in ecosystem science, earth sciences, forestry, restoration ecology, land management, and sustainability. From its Flagstaff campus in Northern Arizona at an elevation of 7,000 feet, NAU faculty focus on the unique natural and cultural resources of the region to mentor students as they conduct research on the Colorado Plateau beyond the classroom and lab settings.
Ranked #201 in the U.S. by the National Science Foundation in its latest research rankings—and #93 among universities without a medical school—NAU is home to many multidisciplinary institutes and programs focused on environmental and sustainability research, restoration, and land management, including the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, the Ecological Restoration Institute, the Landscape Conservation Initiative, the Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research, and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals. The university has also formed major partnerships with other institutions to accomplish its goals in these areas, such as the Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention and the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit.
NAU is regularly recognized on the Sierra Club’s Coolest Schools list and maintains a gold rating in the AASHE STARS program. Campus programs in sustainability include student-driven behavior change initiatives such as the 120+ Energy Mentor Program, a Green Office Certification Program, and a Sustainable Citizen Program available for all majors.
Did You Know? The NAU community launched the Ponderosa Project in the 1990s to support an interdisciplinary group of faculty to incorporate environmental sustainability into university curricula. The initiative is still active today as the Environmental Caucus Action Teams, an informal grassroots group of students, faculty, staff, and community members developing and promoting sustainability education, research, operations, and outreach.