The university says in a news release that the school will focus on global sustainability challenges at the intersection of environment and society.
It is expected to open in fall 2017. It will include faculty from the existing School of Natural Resources and Environment, build on that school's strengths, have a broader mission and be structured to engage faculty from across the university.
"Now, more than ever, the world's increasingly complex and dynamic environment and sustainability challenges call for the breadth of expertise that our university can provide," says U of M President Mark Schlissel. "We have to adapt our programs to best meet these challenges."
The creation of the new school comes as the university pursues major changes to its sustainability education and research structure.
The school will educate and train students on environment and sustainability concerns at all levels — including undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels — using the campus and local communities as living laboratories.
It also will have porous boundaries so it can provide leadership and work collaboratively with other schools, institutes and programs at the university.
The new school will be housed in the Dana Building, now home to the School of Natural Resources and Environment.