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The University of Michigan advanced measurable progress toward its campus operations and carbon neutrality goals over the past year, according to a new Campus Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality Update, released by the Office of the Associate Vice President for Campus Sustainability.

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The annual update highlights progress across renewable energy, campus energy systems, building efficiency, transportation, waste reduction, and healthy environments, including foundational work to address indirect (Scope 3) emissions, while also reflecting the university’s continued growth in facilities, research and academic activity.

“We are making steady, tangible progress across our campuses while modernizing the systems that support our academic and research mission**,**” said Shana S. Weber, associate vice president for campus sustainability. “These investments fundamentally strengthen our energy resilience, reduce polluting emissions, and advance our campus as a globally-relevant and trusted demonstration site for action and problem-solving.”

Expanding renewable energy; modernizing systems

A signature milestone this year was the launch of Maize Rays, the university’s solar initiative designed to expand renewable electricity both on campus and across Michigan in support of the university’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions from purchased electricity (Scope 2) by 2027.

U-M is pursuing approximately 25 megawatts of on-campus solar capacity across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, including Michigan Medicine and Athletics. The first two solar arrays on North Campus are now commissioned and generating renewable electricity. Maize Rays also pairs campus installations with Michigan-based off-campus renewable energy and includes a community benefit supporting local solar projects on buildings that house community-serving organizations.

In parallel, the university continued advancing heat pump and geoexchange heating and cooling systems, an all-electric and highly efficient technology that leverages stable underground temperatures to reduce fossil fuel use. In 2025, crews drilled a 1,200-foot closed-loop test bore on Central Campus to assess the potential of deeper geoexchange systems.

Additional geoexchange systems are completed or underway at the Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building, Wolverine Village (Central Campus Residential Development), and the Edward and Rosalie Ginsberg Building, and all new building and major renovation projects are designed to be compatible with renewable-energy-driven heating and cooling systems.

Improving efficiency across campus buildings

U-M invested $1.1 million through its central revolving energy fund to support energy-efficiency upgrades across campus in FY ’25. Projects focused primarily on lighting and HVAC improvements, building on earlier LED upgrades spanning more than 13 million square feet of building space.

“These projects make good business sense and reduce energy use today while positioning the university for deeper efficiencies over time,” Weber said.

Advancing low-carbon transportation

The university expanded its low-carbon transportation portfolio by adding four additional battery-electric buses, bringing the total in service to 12 electric vehicles, which have collectively logged more than 52,000 miles and avoided 159,000 pounds of CO₂-equivalent emissions compared to conventional buses.

Campuswide electric vehicle infrastructure also continued to grow, with 230 EV charging stations now available and 56 university-owned electric vehicles in service. U-M also continued exploratory planning for a potential Automated Transit System, which is being considered alongside Campus Plan 2050 goals to expand multimodal transportation, including walking and biking connections across campus.

Reducing waste and strengthening campus environments

Waste reduction efforts expanded in partnership with research, event and student life teams. The Lab Swap Shop, launched with LSA, supported reuse of laboratory equipment and contributed to more than 17,500 pounds of lab diverted from landfills in 2025.

The Office of Campus Sustainability Zero Waste Program supported more than 1,000 events across campus in FY ’25, including major gatherings, and a new partnership with the Campus Farm enabled compostable waste from Michigan Stadium to be processed locally.

Campuswide compost infrastructure grew to 1,300 bins, while student move-out efforts diverted more than 12 tons of reusable materials. During the year, U-M also refreshed its campuswide waste-reduction goals, adopting updated targets and metrics to better reflect the full scope of waste prevention, reuse, composting and diversion efforts underway across campus.

The university also advanced work to strengthen campus ecosystems. U-M maintained its designation as a Bee Campus USA, installed new native landscapes including a 1,500-square-foot urban prairie near the Life Sciences Institute and adopted refreshed Resilient Grounds goals to guide long-term approaches to land management, biodiversity, stormwater and chemical reduction.

Advancing Scope 3 emissions work

The update also highlights continued foundational work to address Scope 3 emissions, which include indirect impacts associated with activities such as purchased goods and services, business travel, commuting, and construction materials.

During FY ’25, the Office of Campus Sustainability worked with external experts and campus partners to strengthen data quality, develop consistent tracking approaches, and synthesize feedback from  more than 350 community members. In collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Systems in the School for Environment and Sustainability, the university advanced targeted analysis in four priority areas: business travel, food, capital goods (construction), and purchased goods and services.

As part of this work, U-M renewed a three-year partnership with Delta Airlines to advance the use of sustainable aviation fuel, a certified alternative jet fuel that can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. The partnership supports efforts to address emissions associated with university-related air travel and complements broader Scope 3 analysis underway.

This phased work established a strong analytical foundation for future goal setting. Following recent senior leadership transitions, the university plans to complete Scope 3 goal-setting work in 2026.

Operations as learning opportunities

The update also reflects how major operational investments support U-M’s commitment to life-changing education. In FY ’25, the associate vice president for campus sustainability, the vice provost for sustainability and climate action, and the Office of the Vice President for Research established cross-functional campus as living learning lab working groups to better align campus energy, infrastructure, and resource-management projects with research priorities and educational opportunities.

“These efforts reinforce Michigan’s long-standing commitment to using the campus as a living-learning lab,” Weber said, “where operational systems are envisioned to intentionally support interdisciplinary research, applied learning, and real-world problem solving.”

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, the university will continue implementing on- and off-campus solar through Maize Rays, advancing geoexchange systems and energy-efficiency projects, expanding low-carbon transportation, and completing Scope 3 goal-setting work.

A more comprehensive update will be released this spring through the Sustainability Leadership Council.

The University of Michigan has consistently ranked as the nation’s top public university for study abroad, reflecting its commitment to international education and historic growth in student participation, according to newly released data.

Recognized during International Education Week 2025, U-M was named the No. 1 public university—and No. 2 overall—in the latest Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education, based on participation during the 2023-24 academic year.

“Maintaining our position as the No. 1 public university for education abroad for the second consecutive year—and ranking No. 2 nationally—reflects the university’s deep commitment to preparing students for a global future,” said Valeria Bertacco, U-M vice provost for engaged learning. “Whether through study abroad, international internships, research collaborations or service programs, we continue to expand pathways for students to engage meaningfully with the world.”

Business in Milan

For Peter Parlagreco, a senior majoring in business, the study abroad experience offered an inside look at the heart of the global luxury industry.

“I traveled to Milan, Italy; an immersive academic experience centered on luxury, culture and brand management. We explored the city’s major cultural and historical sites, visited luxury fashion houses, toured production facilities, engaged with industry speakers and studied how the Italian lifestyle and country-of-origin effects shape global perceptions of craftsmanship and luxury. The trip blended academic learning with firsthand exposure to brands like Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Maserati and Bottega Veneta.”

Parlagreco joined the Milan program through an application process designed to provide students with high-impact experiential learning. With a deep interest in international business, he was eager to connect classroom theory with hands-on exposure to global markets.

“From the moment I landed, Italy immediately expressed its identity through design, beauty and luxury; from advertisements at the airport to the architecture, boutiques and streets of Milan,” Parlagreco said.

The trip also sparked a personal reflection for Parlagreco, providing insight into how luxury connects deeply to individual psychology and global culture.

“Coming from a lower-income background, I was always curious about why people desire luxury. After seeing the industry up close, I realized how deeply luxury is tied to human psychology: status, identity and aspiration. I also learned how much of luxury pricing is driven not by materials but by intangible elements: brand history, storytelling, global cultural awareness and craftsmanship narratives.

“The trip also showed me how global culture shapes design and how Italian identity has been built through centuries of absorbing influences from around the world. It broadened my understanding of globalization and the responsibilities companies have when localizing their brands internationally,” Parlagreco said.

Participation and impact

According to the most recent Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education, 3,966 U.S. students from U-M participated in education-abroad programs during the 2023–24 academic year. Students traveled to 121 countries, with Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy among the top destinations.

The Open Doors survey, funded by the U.S. State Department, is the nation’s most comprehensive measure of study abroad, but does not include all U-M students. Non-U.S. citizens and those participating in noncredit educational activities such as internships and volunteer work are excluded.

When including these groups, U-M’s total rises to 5,462 students abroad in 2023–24—an increase of 1,496 over the Open Doors count. These students participated in 5,827 trips, with many engaging in multiple experiences.

Nearly 19% of these students were from underrepresented racial minority backgrounds and 12% were first-generation college students.

One canvas at a time

As a first-generation college student and art major, Maria Isho had never traveled overseas before her summer in South Korea.

“The biggest reason I wanted to travel abroad was because I had never been abroad before and I wanted to experience a different culture and setting than what I am used to,” Isho said.

Because her class schedule ran from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., she had to use the rest of her days wisely and “often crammed as much as I could, so moments like sitting alone by the river were the best way to sit and take in everything you’ve done,” she said.

Locals made her feel welcome and appreciated; “I did not know much about any Korean prior to the trip, but I did my best to learn before going places and it led to many pleasant interactions,” Isho said.

She had access to art materials and worked with “genuinely brilliant professors who taught me about traditional Korean craft. The skills I learned from them I plan to carry into my work and explore further,” she said.

Grateful for support from U-M’s First-Gen Education Abroad Scholarship, Isho encourages future students.

“Try to learn the language when you can; it is respectful and people will appreciate your effort. Don’t spend all your time in your dorms! There is so much more to do than just attend your classes. Try to explore as much of the culture as you can and make the most of your trip there.”

Finding community in Morocco

Mahmuda Chowdhury from the Ford School of Public Policy saw studying abroad as the chance for a fresh start. “I can read Arabic, but not understand it or speak it so I thought studying abroad would be a good opportunity,” Chowdhury said.

“During my study abroad in Morocco, I met many other first-generation students in my cohort and Moroccan peers. Our discussions flowed naturally because we could easily relate to each other’s experiences, from navigating unfamiliar academic and cultural settings to balancing the expectations of our families. This shared understanding created a strong sense of community and made the experience even more meaningful.”

Chowdhury hadn’t always planned to go to Morocco. “I had intended to go to South Korea, but a friend convinced me to join her for the Morocco program. When she canceled, I decided to go on my own, despite feeling anxious about going to a country where I didn’t speak the language,” she said.

What began as an uncertain journey turned into one of the best experiences of her life. She made new friends, embraced the language and found the program at U-M “so well thought out; everything they do is intentional and considerate of their students and I would recommend it 1,000 times over,” Chowdhury said.

One core memory was an overnight trip to see the Moroccan national football team play Zambia—a journey that summed up the excitement and camaraderie she found abroad. “It was an incredible adventure,” she said.

Chowdhury’s host family and friendships made leaving Morocco difficult, but she treasures the unforgettable experiences, personal growth and lifelong connections she gained. Financial support from the First-Gen Education Abroad Scholarship, she added, made it all possible by allowing her to “fully immerse myself in the experience without constantly worrying about money,” Chowdhury said.

“We look forward to continuing to build on this momentum, amplified by our Global Engagement Strategic Plan,” Bertacco said. “In the first two years of the plan, we have broadened and deepened our global footprint—launching key initiatives that increase and diversify student participation in international experiences. These efforts reflect our unwavering dedication to global engagement across every corner of the university.”

Delivering his State of the University address, President Domenico Grasso celebrated significant organizational victories while underscoring a priority of his presidency: As leaders, the University of Michigan must continue to innovate, invest and educate.

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In front of 200 leaders and invited guests in University Hall — and more than 1,000 Michigan community members watching via a livestream — Grasso acknowledged numerous highlights from 2025 and unveiled several ambitious projects intended to strengthen U-M’s responsibility to serve the public good through research and dialogue.

Grasso focused the address through the lens of U-M’s strategic visioning plan, Look to Michigan, which launched this summer from the foundation of Vision 2034. Following Grasso, teams of faculty, staff and students presented on each of the vision’s five main pillars.

“Our university’s progress is impressive, and our ambitions bold,” he said. “Our legacy of impact and service is not defined by individuals but by the long and devoted line of staff, students and faculty who advance humanity through their intellect, passion and skills.”

Grasso touched on several milestones as evidence of the university’s health:

• Record applications of nearly 116,000 students hoping to become Wolverines this fall.
• Surpassing $2 billion in research expenditures.
• Reaching $4.2 billion toward U-M’s $7 billion comprehensive campaign goal.

He referenced generational facilities coming online, including the state-of-the-art D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, the Central Campus Residential Development, the new College of Pharmacy building and the Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center.

Grasso then introduced a major new investment in biomedical research, announced updates to the civil discourse and dialogue center and reaffirmed the university’s support of ambitious Look to Michigan programs.

Biomedical advancements

A $250 million investment will develop a Michigan-based “Skunk Works” for biomedical research. The biomedical innovation institute will make U-M a global leader in life science innovation by launching companies to accelerate research breakthroughs.

“We are establishing a biomedical innovation institute that will be one of the most ambitious investments in years,” Grasso said. “We will merge our research strengths with entrepreneurial speed to bring discoveries from the laboratory to patients faster than ever before.”

The high-risk, high-reward institute is grounded in bio-AI, clinical trials and commercialization. The result will be serving humanity more effectively with faster and more advanced healthcare.

Grasso cited the recent success of HistoSonics as an example. Twenty years ago, U-M researchers pioneered a non-invasive method to destroy liver cancer tumors using ultrasound pulses. Their technology — histotripsy — grew into the company HistoSonics. Two years ago, it received FDA approval to treat liver tumors and this summer, it sold for $2.25 billion. HistoSonics now plans to apply its technology to other cancers.

“This is a powerful example of how Michigan is saving lives. We aim to replicate this success, but at a significantly faster pace,” he said.

The five-year, $250 million investment will launch the institute and recruit top scientists and entrepreneurial talent from across campus and throughout the world.

Dialogue center next steps

Grasso provided more information on the $50 million civil discourse and dialogue center, first announced in September, to bridge today’s societal differences and strengthen our social fabric.

“Some may find it ironic that a university, already the marketplace of ideas, would establish such a center,” Grasso said. “But at this moment in history, when division too often drowns out discourse, Michigan must lead.”

The university will begin campus town halls in January and February, leading to an April preview event that will showcase what true dialogue can achieve. Grasso said the discourse center will reach out to the broader society and model how to listen, communicate and connect across our differences in a thoughtful manner.

“We may not always succeed. But we will always strive for mutual respect, humility and a commitment to consequential outcomes,” he said.

Looking to Michigan

Grasso concluded by reaffirming U-M’s commitment of $1 billion over 10 years to Look to Michigan initiatives.

“I have been a department chair, a dean and a provost, and some may wonder how we can make this vast investment while also addressing budget challenges,” Grasso said. “The answer is we must think differently. We must not compromise the potential of the future for the exigency of the present.”

Grasso said the university will soon call for proposals from the university community for ideas.

“The world’s brightest minds in the world surround us on all three campuses, and together we can be more strategic and disciplined than ever before,” he said.