The Urbana-Champaign Senate unanimously approved a proposal at its Monday meeting to create a Center for a Sustainable Environment, an umbrella organization that will lead campus environmental groups, academic units and the Office of Sustainability. There was no discussion on the matter.

The center will cost the University $450,000 annually, with additional funding coming from an endowment from the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund. It will have an annual budget of $495,000.

The goal of the center is to bring together campus units geared toward sustainability to develop related initiatives.

Stephanie Lage, assistant to the director of the Office of Sustainability, said the office started discussing the CSE during the Spring 2012 semester and began creating a proposal soon after. Nicholas Burbules, chair of the University General Policy committee, presented the proposal to the senate at the meeting.

“The area of sustainability is something that I think is a major concern,” Burbules said. “Because so many different units on campus are involved in sustainability issues, it makes sense to see a campuswide center for such issues.”

Provost Ilesanmi Adesida said the proposal for the CSE is in line with the Visioning Excellence goals established by Chancellor Phyllis Wise after her “listening and learning tour” last year. The area of sustainability was one of the most common concerns among the campus community.

“Hopefully, from establishing this center, we can grow stronger in areas of energy and the environment,” Adesida said.

The CSE, which will eventually merge with the Office of Sustainability, will be advised by a steering committee. This committee will consist of students, faculty and staff in charge of leading projects and activities within the CSE.

Lage said the next step is to appoint a faculty member as the leader of the project, who will also be in charge of an interim steering committee that will lead the planning of the center.

“We hope to get through a search process and have a director in place by fall 2013,” Lage said. “I am delighted the faculty senate has approved the CSE so we can now officially begin the search.”

Burbules said additional funding will become necessary over time, but there is “hope in participation and donation from additional endowments” once the CSE is further established. The proposal also states that the center will look to raise external funds from sources such as supporting families and foundations.

Although the proposal for the CSE has only recently been approved, Burbules said he thinks it is a great opportunity for the campus.

“Sustainability should be high-priority for us right now,” he said. “The establishment of this center is essential to our campus.”

Lauren can be reached at [email protected].