White House Mandates Open Access to Government-Funded Research
Any research based on federally funded studies must be made freely available to the public without an embargo under a policy announced Thursday by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The new requirement, which is due to take effect by the end of 2025, updates an existing policy that allowed a 12-month embargo for making research freely available.
U Utah Receive $20M for New Climate Science & Policy Center
With a $20 million gift, the university recently announced the creation of the interdisciplinary Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy to study effective public policies and propose entrepreneurial business solutions to curb and combat the threats that climate change poses to human and environmental health.
Rose Bruford College to Divest From Fossil Fuels
(U.K.) The college recently signed the Fossil Free Declaration, hosted by People & Planet. By signing the declaration, the college affirms its current fossil fuel-free status, and its commitment to remain so in the future.
Raritan Valley CC Purchases Power From 314 KW Solar System
The community college signed a new agreement to purchase for 15 years the power generated from a 313.6 kilowatt, ground-mounted photovoltaic system. The power from the system will meet all of the electricity demand from the college's Workforce Training Center.
Haskell Indian Nations U Receives $20M for Indigenous Science Hub
The National Science Foundation recently announced the $20 million award for the Large Scale CoPe: Rising Voices, Changing Coasts: The National Indigenous and Earth Sciences Convergence Hub. The science hub will be a convergence of disciplines and epistemologies where Indigenous knowledge-holders from diverse coastal regions will work with university-trained social, ecosystem and physical Earth system scientists and students on transformative research to address coastal hazards in the contexts of their communities.
U Northampton Divests From Fossil Fuels
(U.K.) As part of the fossil free declaration, the university has updated its Responsible Investment Portfolio to exclude fossil fuel companies. The policy states that investment managers must consider "protection of the global environment, its climate and its biodiversity including, but not limited to, the reduction and future elimination of fossil fuel exploration and production".
U Notre Dame Announces $25M Compensation Commitment
The university's president recently announced a historic $25 million commitment to increase the base compensation for eligible hourly and salary university staff, faculty and student workers. Eligible faculty and staff will receive a three percent raise while staff hourly wages will be raised to a minimum of $17.50 per hour. Student hourly employees will be paid a starting wage of $15 per hour. About 6,000 employees will benefit from this commitment.
Illinois State U Releases Inaugural Sustainability Strategic Plan
The new plan outlines goals for the university, including creating more sustainability-related courses and research opportunities; prioritizing conservation and innovation for water, energy, and construction efforts; providing sustainable transportation incentives; and nurturing more leadership roles for students through campus and community partnerships.
13 U Health Systems Commit to Reduce GHG Emissions
Over 650 hospitals, 13 of which are university hospital systems, committed to the Biden-Harris Administration Health Sector Climate Pledge, which is a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030. The signatories also pledge to strengthen resilience to climate change, protect public health and lower costs.
Dartmouth College B-School Receives $52M for Endowed Sustainability Summit
The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth recently received a $52.1 million anonymous pledge to endow a recurring summit that convenes global leaders from the private and public sectors, academic researchers and students with the goal of inspiring action to improve the health, wealth and sustainability of people and the planet in the 21st century. Summit topics will explore the intersecting roles of public policy, health care, climate change, politics and finance in addressing global challenges.
U Sherbrooke Achieves Carbon Neutrality
The university's recent carbon neutrality accomplishment was achieved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, then offsetting the remainder through certified carbon credits. The announcement comes eight years ahead of the university's carbon neutral goal.
