Article I: Title

This policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff across academic practices, facilities, and operations at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. This shall also cover outsourced service providers operating on behalf of MSU-IIT within or outside its campuses; and external parties and service providers operating within MSU-IIT premises such as canteen concessionaires and other concessionaires during special events such as, but not limited to, Tabo sa IIT, Palakasan, etc.

Article II: Scope

This policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff across academic practices, facilities, and operations at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. This shall also cover outsourced service providers operating on behalf of MSU-IIT within or outside its campuses.

Article III: Purpose

This policy aims to:

• 1.1 Reaffirm MSU-IIT’s commitment to advancing sustainability principles and practices across all areas of the University; and Serve as a guide that directs the University’s actions, decisions, and initiatives towards fostering a holistic culture of sustainability.
• 1.2 Serve as a guide that directs the University's actions, decisions, and initiatives towards fostering a holistic culture of sustainability.

Article IV: Definition

Sustainability is defined as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" and recognizes the indigenous knowledge systems as a resource for sustainable practices and development.

Article V: Sustainability Principles

The Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology is committed to providing quality education for the sustainable development of the nation and the global community. It envisions a sustainable campus that fosters a culture of social responsibility, environmental stewardship, gender sensitivity, economic resilience, and the promotion of peace and development, inspiring positive and sustainable change within the university community and the broader society. Hence, it shall strive to integrate sustainability principles into all aspects of its operations, academics, research, and community engagement, cultivating a sustainable future for both present and upcoming generations.

The University shall observe the following principles as it strives to contribute to the SDGs.

Section 1. Local-Global Perspective

MSU-IIT is conscious that its activities have an impact beyond the borders of the University because of its innate connections to the local, national, and international communities. The University is dedicated to changing all aspects of the take-make-waste system, including resource management, product creation and consumption, and material disposal. It recognizes that through this, the MSU-IIT community can create a thriving circular economy that extends natural resource use as opposed to a throw-away linear economy that can cause environmental degradation and social imbalance.

Section 2. Whole Systems Approach

Long-term economic, social, and environmental factors are considered during the University's strategic decision-making processes to improve sustainability outcomes. The University recognizes that the land, climate, oceans, and water are all part of one Earth life-support system in which humans are intimately embedded. Changes in one affect changes in all. The University understands that a thorough grasp of cultural context and respect for cultures that affect local, national, and regional contexts are inherently necessary to achieve the SDGs. This necessitates consideration of what success in achieving a certain SDG implies in a local or regional context before deciding on an implementation approach. The University also seeks to capture synergies across goals to boost overall impact and effective resource use. It is likewise imperative to understand that the goals to achieve and their synergies are set within the backdrop of what the University can do and cannot do. It can start small and build up as our resources and expertise expand.

Section 3. Shared Accountability

The sustainability performance and results of the university community are the responsibility of all its members. This ensures that all university stakeholders operate under common standards of performance, fostering appreciation and satisfaction, and elevates respect for team commitments to meeting deadlines and delivering on expectations. This also includes establishing the means for team members to challenge and support one another when individual performance falters. The MSU-IIT community also embraces dialogue within the organization, and cross-functionally, to overcome obstacles and accelerate the implementation of our sustainability initiatives.

Section 4. Inclusion and Participation

To enable all stakeholders to actively participate in the entire process of achieving sustainability, MSU-IIT ensures comprehensive and effective inclusion and involvement. This includes creating safe spaces, removing obstacles to enable all stakeholders, regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, status, gender, or other factors, to meaningfully engage in all opportunities on an equal footing, fostering a culture of respect and a sense of belonging within the university community. This acknowledges that participation infrastructures that bring agencies and community members together for developing cooperative action and lasting trustworthy relationships between and within communities, professionals, and organizations, are essential for ongoing engagement, co-creation, and participative decision-making for sustainability.

Section 5. Transparency

MSU-IIT openly communicates actions and progress and involves students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community in decision-making processes relating to the sustainability outcomes of its activities.

Section 6. Commitment to Continuous Improvement

MSU-IIT works to improve sustainable performance over time in terms of the integrity of the environment, financial viability, social equity, and diversity. It engages with stakeholders in the move toward more sustainable practices. It also encourages the entire Institute community to challenge the status quo, experiment, and leverage their initiative and experience, driving continuous improvements and innovations in attaining sustainability goals.

Section 7. Innovation

The multiplicity of expertise that the University engenders lends credence for innovation to develop to make it more responsive to the problems and challenges of the rapidly changing times. Climate change continues to exert tremendous pressure on our natural resources, infrastructures, livelihoods, and our way of life so proactive measures and strategies become necessary. Interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate the impacts of climate change are way more forward than any singular discipline can ever conceive or imagine. It is time to rise up beyond the borders of our own discipline and come harmoniously together to achieve our common goals.

Article VI: Sustainability Goals

As a distinguished academic institution in the Philippines, MSU-IIT is committed to its responsibility of leading by example by committing to:

Section 1. Sustainable Infrastructure and Operations

• Goal 1: Protecting the environment and promoting the aggressive reduction of the university's ecological footprint in relation to transport, waste, energy, water, procurement, and construction.
• Goal 2: Providing a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment with equal access to opportunities for faculty, staff, and students regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, status, or gender.

Section 2. Education and Advocacy on Sustainability

• Goal 3: Incorporating sustainability core principles in all relevant fields of instruction, research, extension, and production opportunities, leveraging campus as a living laboratory for sustainability, and integrating it into the depth and breadth of every student, faculty, and staff life and experience.
• Goal 4: Promoting active engagement and awareness of sustainability to members of the university and the local community.

Section 3. Sustainable Community Partnerships and Engagement

• Goal 5: Developing a collaborative approach and inclusive growth to all sustainable management operations by adopting sustainable policies and practices.
• Goal 6: Understanding, employing, and improving social justice in our engagements and activities that impact the local, national, and international communities.

Article VII: Guidelines on Sustainable Infrastructure and Operations

Andres Bonifacio Avenue, Tibanga, Iligan City, 9200
Telefax: (063) 221-4056 (DL)
Email: chancellor@g.msuiit.edu.ph

Section 1. Waste Management and Recycling (SDG 12 and 17)

• a. Minimize resource and material demands of university activities at source.
• b. Adopt and/or continue to implement a comprehensive solid waste management program that reduces the volume of waste produced and sent to landfills.
• c. Restrict and eventually prohibit the use of tarpaulins.
• d. Develop and implement a university-wide waste education campaign, including bin labeling and placement.
• e. Adopt and/or continue to implement guidelines on managing and handling e-waste, chemicals, chemical waste, and biohazardous waste.
• f. Reduce food and plastic waste from the campus food system.
• g. Promote reusable packaging, and/or renewable and recyclable packaging materials for food.
• h. Ban the use of Styrofoam and single-use plastic bags, and food accessories.
• i. Promote the practice of "Bring your own tumbler/container/utensil" and "Clean as you go."
• j. Require cafeteria operators, food establishments, and caterers to minimize and dispose their food waste and use eco-friendly food packaging.
• k. Require each unit- concessionaires and University offices to have their own reusable utensils.
• l. Require all units and food concessionaires to practice segregation-at-source and to provide an appropriate container for its wastes.
• m. Provide for the installation of water fountains in all its buildings.
• n. Ban the sale of water and other beverages in small polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles (i.e., less than 2 liters).

Section 2. Water (SDG 6, 9, 14, 17)

• a. Reduce water consumption, implement water conservation measures where possible, and establish programs that promote the efficient use of water.
• b. Regularly check water sources for heavy metals and other contaminants.

Section 3. Energy, Transport and Carbon (SDG 7, 9, 11, 13, 17)

• a. Adopt energy-efficient renovation and green building designs (i.e., design buildings to generate their own electricity, lessen its heat absorption, lessening the need for energy consumption).
• b. Implement a comprehensive energy conservation program.
• c. Divest investments from carbon-intensive energy industries notably coal and oil.
• d. Pursue a 100% renewable energy pledge.
• e. Monitor energy usage of appliances.
• f. Implement greenhouse gas emission reduction programs.
• g. Reduce the number of vehicles in the University and set up a transport module shift for staff and students.
• h. Promote non-motorized transport on the campus and enhance pedestrian movement.
• i. Adopt and implement zero-emission vehicles policy.
• j. Prohibit the idling of vehicles on the campus while the ignition is turned on.
• k. Conduct periodic carbon audits.

Section 4. Procurement (SDG 8, 9, 12, 17)

• a. Prioritize environmentally and socially responsible products and services in procurement decisions.
• b. Purchase products and services that use less energy or produce less waste.
• c. Support and prefer suppliers adhering to fair trade when purchasing goods.
• d. Support local and sustainable businesses whenever possible.

Section 5. Biodiversity and Green Spaces (SDG 14, 15)

• a. Incorporate sustainable use, conservation, and restoration of land in its Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan.
• b. Craft a green campus map.
• c. Establish in-house nurseries to raise native seedlings for in-campus planting and tree growing and for seedling dispersal to local communities.
• d. Engage students under the National Service Training Program (NSTP) in biodiversity conservation and sustainable landscaping initiatives.
• e. Establish safeguards against pests and vectors of diseases.
• f. Support and implement initiatives to reduce marine pollution.

Section 6. Building Design and Facilities (SDG 9, 11, 12, 13, 17)

• a. Provide childcare facilities for students, staff, and faculty (e.g., Day Care Center, Breastfeeding stations).
• b. Adopt smart building designs that consider the elements of a green building on all construction and renovation projects.
• c. Include sustainable elements in the design and use of both new and old buildings.
• d. Use sustainable and energy-efficient practices in the construction and renovation of buildings.

Section 7. Food Security and Overall Well Being (SDG 2, 3)

• a. Provide for affordable, healthy, and safe food options in canteens and cafes in the campus that have minimal impact on the environment.
• b. Reduce food waste on campus.
• c. Strive to provide mental health support facilities and services to university constituents, mainstream existing Psychosocial Online Hub which provides psychological first aid.
• d. Provide sexual and reproductive healthcare services to university constituents.
• e. Implement health-related outreach programs in the community.
• f. Promote the consumption of local and sustainably harvested food.
• g. Support initiatives towards sustainable agriculture.

Article VIII: Guidelines on Education and Advocacy on Sustainability

Section 1. Instruction and Advocacy (SDG 1, 4, 5, 10)

• a. Incorporate the principles of sustainability and environmental literacy in all academic programs to prepare students for responsible citizenship and leadership.
• b. Empower students to become sustainability advocates through extracurricular activities, clubs, and projects.
• c. Provide students with opportunities for experiential learning and community engagement focused on sustainability.
• d. Adopt and implement mentoring programs for teaching and non-teaching personnel on sustainability and initiatives that lead to the attainment of the SDGs.
• e. Continually provide capacity-building initiatives for teachers in engaging with students with special needs.
• f. Develop programs that organize and build a network of sustainability-focused individuals across the University.
• g. Implement a lifelong learning access policy following the ethical guidelines for sharing resources.
• h. Provide access to the public resources for lifelong learning (e.g., Institute Library and other facilities).
• i. Provide opportunities for skills development and resources for lifelong learning.
• j. Promote interdisciplinary research that addresses sustainable development challenges.
• k. Conduct awareness campaigns on responsible resource consumption and conservation in the University.
• l. Integrate sustainability principles across academic programs to prepare students for responsible citizenship and leadership.

Section 2. Inclusion and Non-discrimination (SDG 1, 4, 5, 16)

• a. Implement University anti-poverty programs (e.g. low-income student support, bottom financial quintile student support).
• b. Enhance and strengthen the mandate and role of the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) to ensure non-discriminatory provisions.
• c. Adopt and implement policies on non-discrimination of transgenders, protecting those reporting discrimination, non-discriminatory admission of students, and recruitment and employment discrimination.
• d. Provide disaggregated data on the university community by marginalized group, sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, cultural beliefs, and socio-economic status to help ensure meaningful inclusion of vulnerable groups in the whole process of policymaking; all reports of the university must have disaggregated data.
• e. Make available on the website the University Demographic Profile in accordance with the Data Privacy Law.
• f. Ensure representation and active participation of stakeholders who are underrepresented and with disabilities and special needs in relevant University steering committees, associations, and organizations to promote awareness of sustainability issues and determine how these can be addressed.

Section 3. Heritage and Indigenous Knowledge (SDG 4, 8, 11)

• a. Incorporate Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) in DRRM-related research undertaking.
• b. Include the University expenditure report on arts and heritage in the University Sustainability Report.

Article IX: Guidelines on Sustainable Community Partnership and Engagement

Section 1. Partnerships (SDG 10, 17)

• a. Integrate SDGs in the Internationalization Framework for the University.
• b. Engage in international networks and partnerships to contribute to global sustainability initiatives.
• c. Raise awareness about sustainability issues and solutions through campaigns, workshops, and events.
• d. Share knowledge and best practices with the broader community to inspire positive change.

Section 2. Communication (SDG 17)

• a. Maintain an updated Sustainability Website Page.
• b. Strengthen social media strategies in promoting sustainability and utilize popular social media platforms to share information about the SDGs.
• c. Create a Centralized Data Tracker of Existing Research and Extension Projects for Sustainability.

Section 3. Research and Extension Services (SDG 4, 10, 16, 17)

• a. Support the efforts of integrating sustainability into the community, and research initiatives that expand the understanding and practice of sustainability.
• b. Promote interdisciplinary research that addresses sustainable development challenges.
• c. Encourage involvement of key stakeholders such as, but not limited to, employees, customers, suppliers, and local communities, in the sustainability planning process.
• d. Organize workshops, webinars, and community events to foster discussions about the SDGs.
• e. Abide by policies and legislations that adequately protect indigenous communities from misappropriation of indigenous traditional knowledge and recognition of indigenous peoples as equal stakeholders and the legitimate holders of their knowledge.
• f. Adhere to ethical principles when doing research and community work.

Article X: Sustainability Committee

Section 1. Composition

There shall be a Sustainability Committee responsible for implementing this policy and monitoring the progress of the implementation. The members composing the Sustainability Committee shall be designated by the Chancellor.

Section 2. Functions

The Sustainability Committee shall regularly report on sustainability initiatives, progress, and outcomes to stakeholders and the public. Specifically, it shall perform the following functions:

a. Sustainability Committee

• a.1 Oversee the overall implementation of this policy.
• a.2 Recommend to the Chancellor programs, activities, and projects that will enable the University to achieve its sustainability goals and targets.
• a.3 Recommend implementing rules and guidelines on provisions in this policy that do not specifically outline the corresponding implementation mechanism; otherwise, provisions of this policy shall be implemented as stipulated; provided, that any implementing rules and guidelines shall be covered by a memorandum.
• a.4 Ensure that sustainability indicators are established to enable accountability, to communicate specific goals, and to monitor and report progress.
• a.5 Establish systems to monitor and measure our environmental performance.
• a.6 Ensure that the University reports annually to its community on progress toward achieving its sustainability goals through a University Sustainability Report.

b. Secretariat

• b.1 In coordination with the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Development and/or the Office of Institutional Planning and Development Services, facilitate the crafting of and any activity to update the MSU-IIT Sustainability Roadmap and corresponding action plans in support of this policy.
• b.2 Ensure that all relevant stakeholders are involved in any university-wide Sustainability-related planning activity.
• b.3 Ensure periodic monitoring and reporting of and regularly update a sustainability plan with specific goals and objectives.
• b.4 Gather and submit data needed for the University's participation in any sustainability-related university ranking bodies (e.g., THE Impact Rankings, QS Sustainability Rankings, UI GreenMetrics).
• b.5 Craft and endorse guidelines and mechanisms to ensure efficient and effective compilation of data to determine achievement of sustainability performance indicators set in the MSU-IIT Sustainability Roadmap.
• b.6 In coordination with the Office of Public Information, maintain and update the MSU-IIT Sustainability website.

Article XI: Monitoring and Reporting

Section 1

There shall be a semi-annual monitoring and assessment of the achievement of sustainability targets for the periods January to June and July to December of every year, following the principle of continuous improvement.

Section 2

The MSU-IIT Sustainability Report shall be published annually, to be made available to the public through the University website.

Section 3

The MSU-IIT Sustainability website shall be maintained and updated to continually provide the community with information on MSU-IIT's sustainability initiatives.

Article XII: Policy Review and Updates

Section 1

A review of this Policy shall be conducted by the MSU-IIT Sustainability Committee every five (5) years or may be initiated sooner by the Committee or the Office of the Chancellor when necessary to ensure legislative or statutory compliance, to ensure alignment with evolving sustainability goals and emerging challenges, or when deemed necessary to do so in the best interests of the University.

Article XIII: Final Provisions

Section 1. Interpretation

Any doubt in the interpretation of any provision of this policy shall be liberally interpreted in a manner that would uphold the rights and interests of university constituents and members of the community.

Section 2. Separability Clause

If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder provisions of this policy or the provisions not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 3. Repealing Clause

Any provision from previous BOR Resolutions inconsistent with this policy is repealed.

Section 4. Effectivity Clause

This Policy shall take effect immediately and remains in force unless revoked by competent authority.