Ryerson U Announces Certificate in Sustainability
Ryerson University (ON) has announced plans to launch a new Certificate in Sustainability in the fall of 2009. The Certificate, which aims to train students to understand sustainability in a broad context, includes six required courses and allows students to specialize in natural environment, urban environment, or socioeconomics of sustainability.
Second Nature to Support Green Building at Under-Resourced Schools
Second Nature has launched Advancing Green Building in Higher Education, a program focused on addressing some of the challenges faced by under-resourced colleges and universities to build green buildings on their campuses. With a $1,242,000 three-year grant from the Kresge Foundation, Second Nature is helping under-resourced schools learn about and use the financial and technical resources available to construct and renovate campus buildings in ways that save money, reduce environmental and health impacts, serve as educational tools, and increase student enrollment. As part of the program, AASHE is offering Title III and Title V schools a 60 percent discount on new membership. Campuses joining as part of this special offer may participate in a welcome webinar about AASHE resources and programs, as well as a series of complimentary teleconferences on campus sustainability topics such as green building, master planning, and energy conservation. Another part of the program will allow Second Nature to award fellowships to 40 university executives who will learn the skills and technical information they need to be effective champions for green building at their own under-resourced campuses. University campus planners, facilities directors, or vice presidents of finance and business will be eligible for the fellowships through which they will take part in learning and networking opportunities. In addition, Second Nature will create a Campus Green Builder Web Portal, to be launched in the fall of 2009. The portal will include case studies of green building at under-resourced schools and other useful resources.
Texas A&M Opens Office of Sustainability
Texas A&M University has opened an Office of Sustainability. The Office hopes to work with university stakeholders to develop, coordinate, and enhance current sustainability initiatives. The Office has specific plans to work to integrate sustainability into the campus' curriculum, expand current recycling initiatives, and improve alternative transportation options on campus.
UC Merced Science Building Receives LEED Gold
The Science and Engineering Building at the University of California, Merced has received LEED Gold certification. The 174,000-square-foot structure features natural lighting and was constructed with locally supplied and/or recycled building materials.
U North Carolina Wilmington Purchases Electric Truck
The University of North Carolina, Wilmington has purchased its first electric truck. The ECOtealmobile is used for delivering products to the new eco-friendly campus store, which is dedicated to selling only environmentally friendly products.
U Tulsa Partners to Advance Research at the Ntl Energy Policy Inst
The George Kaiser Family Foundation and The University of Tulsa (OK) have formalized a partnership to advance scholarship and research for the National Energy Policy Institute, a Tulsa-based organization funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation that is dedicated to developing a national energy policy that produces energy independence and reduces greenhouse gases. The partnership with The University of Tulsa provides NEPI with a headquarters on its campus, while also utilizing TU’s academic and research capabilities to advance the organization’s mission and support economic opportunities related to emerging energy technology.
Vice President Biden Tours Energy Conservation Initiatives at U Penn
Vice President Joe Biden, along with four cabinet secretaries, the Philadelphia Mayor, the Pennsylvania Governor, and three congressmen, recently went on a tour of operations at the University of Pennsylvania. The University, which has cut its energy use by 15 percent, showed the group a small scale model of a former industrial wasteland that is being converted to park land. The park will feature native plant material to conserve water and might contain LED lighting and/or solar panels. The event was part of the White House's Middle Class Task Force, which held its first meeting in Philadelphia, focusing on energy green jobs to benefit middle-income workers.
Yale U Announces Director of Climate and Energy Institute
Yale University (CT) has announced that Rajendra K. Pachauri will lead the newly established Yale Climate and Energy Institute (YCEI). Pachauri has chaired the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 2002 and has been director general of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), since 2001. He will retain these positions while taking up his new half-time position at Yale. Pachauri has been an active leader in the global climate policy debate and played a major role in laying the groundwork for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. YCEI will provide seed grants, support postgraduate study, sponsor conferences and workshops, and foster interdisciplinary research spanning from basic atmospheric science to public policy. Nearly 100 Yale scientists, engineers, physicians, social scientists and policy experts have joined together to launch the enterprise.
12,000 Youth Attend Power Shift
12,000 young leaders, a large portion of which were college students, converged on Washington, D.C. last week to participate in Power Shift 09 to demand that the President and Congress pass bold, just climate and energy policy in 2009 that dramatically reduces emissions, creates millions of green job and powers America with 100 percent clean energy. Despite a snow storm that paralyzed much of the city, the event concluded with a day full of hundreds of lobby visits and a rally with more than 3,000 youth on Capitol Hill. The four-day summit included seminars, panels, and workshops; a green career fair; legislative briefings and activist trainings; and a day of action on Monday where hundreds of youth entered the halls of Congress to lobby their representatives in more than 360 scheduled meetings. Three AASHE staff were present at the event and blogged about their experiences
9 New Institutions Sign Presidents' Climate Commitment
9 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Dr. Jake B. Schrum of Southwestern University (TX), Dr. David R. Smith of the State University of New York Medical Center, Dr. Alan R. Davis of the State University of New York, Empire State College, Dr. William Hartley of Anaheim University (CA), Dr. Paulette Perfumo of Pasadena City College (CA), Richard Berman of Manhattanville College (NY), Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson of Oregon College of Art & Craft, George C. Bradley of Paine College (GA), and Dr. Raul Rodriguez of San Joaquin Delta College (CA). 616 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.
Butte College Unveils 3 Solar Arrays
Butte College (CA) has unveiled three completed solar projects at its main campus. Together, the solar projects, which collectively are rated at 450kW, will power 10 campus buildings and are expected to save the College $40,000 annually in energy costs. Combined with a 1MW solar project completed during the 2004-2005 academic year, these solar panels will supply about 44 percent of the campus' electricity consumption.
Central Michigan U Competes to Save Energy
Central Michigan University has completed a competition to reduce the amount of energy consumed in the residence halls. The competition, which lasted throughout the month of February, took place in 5 dorms. The winners, which still haven't been determined, will receive $15 to spend at food stores around campus.
College of William & Mary Announces Sustainability Website & Grants
The College of William & Mary (VA) Committee on Sustainability has launched a new website that includes up-to-date information for new project proposal and student research grants that will be supported by the College's Green Fee. The site also includes background on current campus projects, information on how members of the William & Mary community can volunteer, and deadlines for upcoming proposals. The grants available through the website include 4 summer research grants in amounts up to $5,000.
Judson U Building Receives LEED Gold
Judson University's (IL) Harm A. Weber Academic Center has received LEED Gold certification. The 88,000-square-foot building, which opened in 2007, features a passive solar design, stack-induced natural ventilation, and on-site storm water management. The site also contains native prairie and habitat restoration.
Lehigh U Offers Grad Certificate in Environmental Law & Policy
Lehigh University (PA) has begun offering a graduate certificate in Environmental Law and Policy. The new program will provide students with instruction on how ethics, politics, and science policy influence the natural environment and shape human relationships to it, at local, national, and international levels of organization. Teaching both theory and practice of environmental law and policy, the certificate will integrate practical and career oriented expertise in the existing law that regulates environmental pollution, planning, and land use with consideration of how different policies might achieve better outcomes.
Lesley U Offers M.A. in Urban Environmental Leadership
Lesley University (MA) has begun offering a Master's of Arts in Urban Environmental Leadership. Students in the program study the urban environment and the human forces that shape it. The program's examination of the urban environment addresses the history of cities and the political, social, and cultural forces that influence the environmental decision-making process.
Louisiana State U Holds Energy Conservation Competition
Louisiana State University has begun a one month energy conservation competition in its residence halls and apartment complexes. The Unplug Residential Life Energy Competition looks to promote an understanding throughout the LSU on-campus community of what energy conservation entails and to empower students to take action in their daily lives to reduce their personal carbon footprint. Nine residence hall communities, which altogether house 4,800 residents and 135 resident assistants, are competing to see which community has the greatest reduction in energy usage between March 6 and April 3. The contest compares the March 2009 electrical meter readings with those from March 2008. The overall competition winners will be announced during LSU’s Earth Day celebration April 24. Residents in the winning halls will each receive a free USB computer flash drive.
Luther College Strategic Plan Features Sustainability
The Luther College (IA) Board of Regents has approved the College's Sesquicentennial Strategic Plan for 2008-2012. One of the three strategic imperatives of the plan is to connect sustainability, stewardship, and global citizenship. One of the goals in the five-year plan is to cut the college's carbon footprint in half. Already, the college has reduced its campus carbon footprint by 15 percent and plans to make further investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy systems to reach the 50 percent goal. The plan also focuses on ways to reach the goals of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment. In addition, $5 million (10 percent) of the Sesquicentennial Fund seeks endowment support for a new Center for Sustainable Communities. The goal of the center is to catalyze change and be an educational resource for businesses, churches, governments and communities in the region. Luther College has already created a new Campus Sustainability Council as a result of the plan.
Luther, Wartburg Colleges Compete to Reduce Energy
Luther College (IA) and Wartburg College (IA) have begun a competition to see which campus can conserve the most energy. The winning campus will receive a hand-carved trophy and bragging rights, and the losing campus will have to hang a sign that says the other school won.
Maharishi U of Mgmt Joins Seed Savers Exchange
The Maharishi University of Management (IA) has joined the Iowa Seed Savers Exchange in an effort to preserve the genetic legacy of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit trees that is rapidly being lost as a result of factors such as industrial agriculture and genetic engineering. Part of the Exchange’s work is maintaining a huge collection of heirloom and open pollinated varieties that are available to the public. MUM will contribute to the Exchange by growing a Colored Butterbean.
Maharishi U of Mgmt Offers Community Supported Agriculture
Maharishi University of Management (IA) has announced plans to offer an organic community supported agriculture program beginning in April. The new program will provide members with a weekly box of vegetables and fruit grown at the farm at Maharishi Vedic City. All fruits and vegetables will be harvested within one day of distribution.
Missouri Western U Begins Recycling Paper
Missouri Western University has begun recycling paper on campus. The campus maintenance crew takes care of the 96-gallon containers located behind all of the buildings on campus, except for residence halls. Members of the campus community can place any form of paper in the recycle containers, as long as it isn’t cardboard.
Mount Holyoke College Res Hall Receives LEED Gold
Mount Holyoke College's (MA) new residence hall, which opened in September 2008, has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The 176-bed, $30 million building features bike racks, solar panels, and an energy monitoring system that allows students in each of the six clusters to track their energy use and compete with the other clusters on energy conservation. The structure also contains highly recyclable content and rapidly renewable materials.
Nebraska State Colleges Offer Free Freshman Tuition
Three Nebraska colleges - Wayne State College, Peru State College, and Chadron State College - will offer free tuition to first-time, in-state freshman who receive a federal Pell Grant. Students will still be responsible for other expenses like books and room and board.
NY Times Article Covers the Greening of Business School Buildings
The New York Times has published an article on the prevalence of green construction initiatives in business school buildings across the United States. The article mentions green features of business school structures at the University of Michigan, Stanford University (CA), Thunderbird School of Global Management (AZ), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and New York University.
Ohio State U Switches to Biodegradable Bags in Dining Halls
Ohio State University dining halls have switched to biodegradable bags for students who take their food to go. In addition, several dining halls are selling reusable cloth bags for $1 each. After nine purchases with the bag, students get an entrée for free.
Purdue U Installs Green Roof
Purdue University (IN) has installed a green roof on its Schleman Hall of Student Services. PU received a $68,000 grant from State Farm Insurance to help fund the new installation.
Queen's U to Host Green Chemistry Commercialization Center
The federal government of Canada has announced that it will provide $9.1 million over five years to help establish GreenCentre Canada at Queen's University (ON). The new commercialization center will focus on green chemistry, aiming to help guide more energy-efficient chemical processes from university labs into factories across the country. At the GreenCentre, new chemical processes developed in university labs across the country will be tested on a larger scale and adapted for practical applications. The Centre will also study catalysts, substances that make chemical transformations more energy efficient to increase yield and decrease the amount of waste byproducts.
Rice U Opens Green Child Care Center
Rice University (TX) has opened the Rice Children's Campus, a building that meets LEED standards. The structure features reused materials, light sensors, programmable thermostats for each of five separate zones, double-paned energy-efficient windows, and overhands that block the sun. Other green elements include water-efficient fixtures, and 8,000 gallon underground rainwater cistern, and local plant landscaping. The building has a capacity of 86 students, who must be the children of Rice faculty, staff, or students to be eligible for admission.
Rice U Opens Green Graduate Housing
Rice University (TX) has opened the Rice Village Apartment complex, a new green graduate housing hall located close to campus. The 237-bed residence features bicycle storage and was built to LEED standards. In addition, the complex offers a free bicycle to residence who agree not to bring a car to the apartments.
Rice U to Go Trayless
Rice University (TX) has announced plans to remove all of its cafeteria trays over its spring break. The Student Association passed a resolution to support the removal of trays from dining halls in an effort to reduce food waste. The new initiative will reduce energy use as well as water and chemical waste since trays no longer have to be washed. Trays will still be available for handicapped and injured students.
U Kentucky Uses Elliptical Machines to Power Generators
The University of Kentucky has retrofitted 14 elliptical machines to put energy back into the building's power system when in use. The Johnson Center, the gym that houses the exercise machines, also features a processor that tells how many watts of energy are being created by the elliptical machines at any moment.
U Minnesota Ends Licensing Deal with Russell Corporation
The University of Minnesota has joined several other colleges and universities ending licensing agreements with the Russell Corporation amid allegations that the clothing maker engages in unfair labor practices. Atlanta-based Russell, maker of the Russell Athletic brand, has made T-shirts and other clothing items with the University of Minnesota’s logo. The agreement with Russell resulted in more than $26,000 revenue in 2007 and will terminate March 31, 2009.
U Oregon Offers Climate Course to Local Businesses
The University of Oregon has begun offering a course to local businesses on how to reduce their carbon footprint. Climate Masters at Work, a spin-off of a previous program focusing on homeowners, is a 10-week course for businesses and nonprofit organizations. The coursework is followed by six months of consultation with the Lane Community College Business Development Center in conjunction with consulting firm Good Company, focusing on environmental issues and solid business practices. The first group of Climate Masters students has finished their seminars, which lasted from mid-October until the end of December, and will continue to work with the Business Center until June.
U Oregon Students Help Community to Increase Gas Mileage
Students at the University of Oregon have begun a project to help members of the Eugene community inflate their car tires to the proper pressure, which improves gas mileage and reduces tailpipe emissions. Students set up compressors at nearby parking garages to help drivers check their tires and pump them up. The first 150 cars to stop receive a free tire gauge.
U Western Ontario Launches Green Process Engineering Prgm
The University of Western Ontario has launched a Green Process Engineering undergraduate program that combines and integrates the fundamental principles of chemical engineering to design commercial products and processes that are safe, economical, and environmentally friendly. The program will educate students to apply process engineering tools to design sustainable and safe chemical processes . The program also explores alternative sources of energy with reduced carbon emissions. Some of the distinguishing features of the program include the emphasis on green chemistry, green power, solar and bio-fuel cells, and conversion of waste (such as agricultural byproducts) to bio-diesel and bio-ethanol products. Engineering students will have the opportunity to apply to the Green Process Engineering program upon completing their first common year.
U Wisconsin Madison Launches Commuter Solutions Website
University of Wisconsin, Madison Transportation Services has launched a new website for its newly named alternative transportation program, UW Commuter Solutions. The website offers resources for alternative transportation options including transit, pedestrian, bicycling, carpooling, and vanpooling. The department has also launched an e-newsletter and implemented an outreach program that offers personalized transportation consulting for those who are interested. The primary goal of the new initiatives is to increase awareness, both of the benefits of alternative transportation and of the options themselves.
U Wisconsin Platteville Installs Rain Garden, Pervious Concrete
The University of Wisconsin, Platteville has installed a rain garden and a new parking lot made of pervious concrete. The rain garden uses vegetation and special soil to capture and absorb suspended solids such as sand, salt, grease, and garbage before they drain into the water shed. Water that is not absorbed by the soil drains into a pipe that filters out harmful pollutants and is transported to Rountree Branch Creek. The pervious concrete also helps to reduce water pollution. Water is absorbed by the concrete or the thick layer of gravel that lies beneath it. Water that is not absorbed is filtered before being transported to the creek.
Webster U Offers Emphasis Certif in Ed for Global Sustainability
Webster University (MO) has begun offering a graduate certificate emphasis in Education for Global Sustainability in its Master's of Teacher Education program. The Education for Global Sustainability program will prepare teachers to model and lead students in becoming informed, analytical, and responsible citizens for a sustainable future.
6 Campuses Honored for Community Service
Six colleges and universities have received top honors among 635 institutions of higher learning that were named to the 2008 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The Honor Roll, launched in 2006, recognizes colleges and universities nationwide that support innovative and effective community service and service-learning programs. The Honor Roll's Presidential Award, given each year to only a handful of institutions, is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. California State University, Fresno, Emory University (GA), and Michigan State University were recognized for the general community service category, which considers the breadth and quality of an institution’s community service, service learning, and civic engagement programs. Brookhaven College (TX), Duke University (NC), and the University of Missouri-Kansas City were selected for their leadership in this year’s special focus area, which was helping youth from disadvantaged circumstances through service programs that lower school dropout rates and prepare students for college.
Binghamton U Offers Parking Discount to Carpoolers
Binghamton University (NY) has begun offering a discounted parking pass to carpoolers. The pilot program offers the discount to vehicles containing three or more passengers and provides five parking coupons to each participant for the days when s/he needs to drive separately. In addition, certain parking spaces on campus have been reserved for the high occupancy permits.
Conservationist Named for Stony Brook Southampton Dean
Stony Brook University, Southampton (NY) has named Mary C. Pearl, PhD, an internationally known and respected conservationist, for the first Dean and Administrative Vice President. Dr. Pearl is President of Wildlife Trust, a global organization dedicated to innovative conservation science, linking ecology and health, and building careers of local scientists and educators in 20 high-biodiversity countries in North America, Asia, Africa and Latin America. She is co-founder of the Center for Conservation Medicine, a consortium of Wildlife Trust with Tufts Veterinary School, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the National Center for Wildlife Health and the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. She is also a co-founder of the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation at Columbia University, where she serves as an adjunct research scientist.
Florida Atlantic U Installs Solar Installation
Florida Atlantic University has installed a solar array on the roof of its Higher Education Complex building. The University expects the 50kW array to supply 20 – 25 percent of the building's electricity consumption.
Indiana U Names First Director of Sustainability
Indiana University has named William M. Brown as its first director of sustainability. Brown is co-chair of the Indianapolis-Marion County Green Commission, chair of the Indiana Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, and secretary of the Indiana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Brown will start the new position March 2, helping create a campus sustainability program under the joint direction of Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson and Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer J. Terry Clapacs.
Jackson State U Engineering Building Receives LEED Certification
Jackson State University's (MS) new School of Engineering building has received LEED certification. The 90,000-square-foot facility features environmentally-friendly materials and reduced waste in construction. It is the first state-funded construction project in Mississippi to receive LEED certification.
Kalamazoo Valley CC Announces Wind Turbine Technician Academy
Kalamazoo Valley Community College (MI) has announced its Wind Turbine Technician Academy. The 26-week academy will be based on a European certification standard and train people to work on the utility-grade turbines that are found on wind farms. The wind-turbine program will run twice a year with 15 students in each class.
Luther College Hosts Energy Campaign
Luther College (IA) has launched its second annual energy conservation campaign titled, "Energy Evolution: Conserving for a Cleaner Planet." The goal of this year's campaign is to help students make a connection between mountaintop mining, coal-fired power plants, and light switches.
Mary Baldwin College Receives $360K Grant
Mary Baldwin College's (VA) Environment Based Learning program has received a three-year, $360,000 grant from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to continue learning and teaching about the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The grant is contingent on the allocation of federal funding.
North Carolina CCs Start Green Curriculum Initiative
The North Carolina Community College System has begun "Code Green," an initiative to expand green job training courses throughout the state. The program is currently working to identify the needs of colleges and of companies to decide exactly which types of courses will be most beneficial. So far, the System has seen a need for green training in the areas of automobiles, construction, and home heating, and it hopes to infuse sustainability into all types of classes.
Ohio State, Pepperdine Start Car Share Programs
The Ohio State University and Pepperdine University (CA) have signed contracts with the Hertz Corporation to offer a car share programs on their campuses. The rentable cars, which are placed at various locations across campus, are available to all students, faculty, and staff age 18 and older
