Case Western Reserve U to Divest From Fossil Fuels
In a recent announcement, the president confirmed that the public side of the university's endowment portfolio is completely divested from fossil fuels exposure, and that the fossil fuel investments on the private side could take years to fully divest due to contractual obligations. Additionally, the university will not make any future investments in fossil fuel companies and in funds that include fossil fuel-related investments.
Georgia Tech Hires Inaugural VP for Infrastructure & Sustainability
The university recently announced Maria Cimilluca as the inaugural vice president for Infrastructure and Sustainability (I&S). Under Cimilluca’s leadership, the newly created unit will continue to evolve and improve Georgia Tech’s physical environment, which spans more than 400 acres in midtown Atlanta. This role is responsible for leading the institute’s campus sustainability plans as well as the design, planning and operations of the campus infrastructure.
Ohio State U to Create Path for Debt-Free Bachelor Degree
The university recently announced an initiative to offer students a path to graduate debt-free, through scholarships, work opportunities that allow students to gain experience while earning a paycheck, grant assistance, and coaching on financial education, leadership and work skills.
U Sussex to Eliminate Single-Use Plastics
(U.K.) The university recently committed to eliminating avoidable single-use plastics from catering, stationery, laboratories, residence halls, offices and events by 2025. Where the use of plastics is unavoidable, the university has pledged to encourage the use of recycled plastics, and support manufacturers that make products from locally sourced waste plastics.
London School Economics Becomes Carbon Neutral Verified
(U.K.) The London School of Economics and Political Science recently announced carbon neutrality that was independently verified for the academic year 2020/21, for all its measured emissions. This was accomplished by a range of energy efficiency, and by procuring all the electricity from 100 percent renewable sources since 2009.
Iowa State U Approves 900 KW Solar Farm
The Iowa board of regents recently approved a motion to proceed with the development of a 900-kilowatt solar farm. Under the public-private partnership, Iowa State will receive renewable energy credits generated by the solar farm, which will offset a portion of the university’s annual carbon emissions.
Dickinson College Announces $100,000 Prize Winner
Announced during the COP26 U.N. Climate Conference in Glasgow, Dickinson presented the Sam Rose ’58 and Julie Walters Prize at Dickinson College for Global Environmental Activism to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The $100,000 Rose-Walters Prize is bestowed annually on an individual or organization making a defining difference to advance responsible action on behalf of the planet, its resources and people. The 2022 prize honors the IPCC’s work, including producing and communicating scientific knowledge that is the foundation of informed and effective action on climate change.
Yale U Announces Plans to Address Ties to Slavery
The university outlined initial actions it will take in response to what it has learned about its entanglements with slavery and its responsibilities in the present. These will include the creation of permanent memorialization of the enslaved and indigenous people who played vital roles in the community; a meaningful increase in the university’s direct financial support for its home city of New Haven; and collaborations with the Historically Black and Tribal Colleges and Universities.
AASHE Announces Top Performers in 2021 SCI
The 2021 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) recognizes top-performing colleges and universities in 17 sustainability impact areas and overall by institution type as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The report also includes innovative and high-impact institutional highlights. Top performers overall by institution type are Dawson College (Associate), Colby College (Baccalaureate), Thompson Rivers University (Master’s), and Colorado State University (Doctoral/research). Details about the 25 top-performing institutions can be found within the report.
PLAN Announces Inaugural Top 10 Zero Waste Campuses
The Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) released recently the first annual list of Top 10 Zero Waste Campuses in the U.S., as assessed by PLAN’s Atlas Zero Waste Certification Program. Atlas is a holistic assessment framework for measuring waste reduction on college and university campuses.
U Kentucky to Purchase 55 MW of Solar Power
The university recently entered into an agreement with a regional utility company to purchase 44 percent of the power output of a 125-megawatt solar facility. This power purchase is estimated to cover approximately one-third of the electricity consumed by campus.
