MU Campus Facilities will hold the 2014 Master Plan and Climate Action Plan open forum to present the updates made to each plan.
The forum — which will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 17, in Memorial Union’s Stotler Lounge — is open to anyone, including MU students, faculty and staff. All attendees will be given time to ask questions at the end of the presentation, Campus Facilities spokeswoman Karlan Seville said.
“(The forum) is an opportunity for people to hear about how the university is planning for the future,” Seville said. “We seek people’s input on the plans and let people see where the university is headed in terms of spacing planning and (reaching) carbon neutrality.”
Updates to the Master Plan will include addressing an expanding campus as well as the demand for various programs.
“We are addressing the need to expand facilities for different programs and how we can improve upon buildings that already exist,” Seville said. “Both the university and the state are starting to put a focus on science technology, engineering, math and medicine programs … we are beginning to address (those needs) in our facilities.”
For an example, the 2014 Master Plan will include the Trulaske College of Business Center, which is in the planning stages, and the Tiger Welcome Center, which will be located near Memorial Stadium and contain an expanded Tiger Team store, Seville said.
The updated Climate Action Plan will include measures the university will take to reach its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 48 percent by 2018.
According to the plan, MU will install solar panels at the MU Power Plant. Once the solar panels are implemented, Seville said, the power plant will be able to use solar energy to heat the water in the boiler and reduce energy use at the facility.
In addition, MU will look at ways of increasing its use of wind power, Seville said.
“We have increased our wind power purchase last year, and we are looking into increasing that again next year,” she said.
Seville said the university has also created the Energy Strategies Student Advisory Group, which is comprised of members of Sustain Mizzou, Coal Free Mizzou, the Missouri Students Association and the Graduate Professional Council.
“Those students meet with people from the power plants and the Sustainability Office to look at what exists on campus and what direction the university should be (taking), in terms of renewable energy use,” she said.
The presentation of updates to both plans will be made by the Master Plan consultant Linda Eastley from Sasaki Associates. The Climate Action Plan consultant, Meredith Elbaum from the Elbaum Group, will not appear at the forum, but Campus Facilities is looking at ways for Elbaum to speak remotely, Seville said.
To accommodate for interested parties who miss the forum, Campus Facilities and Eastly will answer any questions at a table set up at the MU Student Center between 10 a.m. and noon March 18.
The [new plans](http://www.cf.missouri.edu/masterplan/) will also become available after the presentation.
