Sustainability Literacy Test
The Sustainability Literacy Test, Sulitest.org, recently launched at the United Nations Environment Assembly in May 2016, is a tool designed to measure and improve sustainability literacy for all students in higher education regardless of the area of study, level of study or country of origin. The basic free version of the Sulitest aims to be a universal test for the academic world. The new premium version enables universities and colleges to add customized questions based on the assessment, research or pedagogical needs of an institution.
Cleveland’s Greater University Circle Initiative: An Anchor-Based Strategy for Change
This case study shows how a multi-stakeholder initiative based in Cleveland achieved coordination among three large, anchor institutions located in the city's University Circle area. Through what is now called the Greater University Circle Initiative, the Cleveland Clinic, university hospitals and Case Western Reserve University network and deploy resources to challenge to the persistent poverty and disinvestment in seven surrounding neighborhoods. The Greater University Circle Initiative seeks to reweave community networks, in part through community engagement, to improve the quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods, and to give residents a greater voice and connection to the resources of the anchor institutions.
Toolkit for Reinvestment Campaigns
The toolkit published by Divestment Student Network aims to provide information to students interested or involved in reinvestment work. It contains information about the structure and goals of reinvestment and resources that will enable students to run successful campaigns.
Liberating Service Learning and the Rest of Higher Education Civic Engagement
The new book released by Temple University Press describes the contradictions, unrealized potential and unrecognized urgency of the causes, risks and rewards of community-engaged scholarship. Author Randy Stoecker, professor in the Department of Community and Environmental Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, questions the prioritization and theoretical/philosophical underpinnings of the core concepts of service learning: 1. learning, 2. service, 3. community, and 4. change. By liberating service learning, he suggests reversing the prioritization of the concepts, starting with change, then community, then service, and then learning. In doing so, he clarifies the benefits and purpose of this work, arguing that it will create greater pedagogical and community impact.
Exploring Energy Efficiency: A Multi-Sector Survey on Energy Efficiency Tracking Platforms
The Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI) report investigates how various organizations track their energy efficiency projects by conducting a multi-sector survey to assess the benefits and weaknesses of energy efficiency platforms. By examining the five different sectors of healthcare, higher education, K-12 school systems, municipalities and corporations, SEI sought to examine the overarching commonalities for organizations appearing to prioritize reducing energy use, reducing operational costs, and more closely aligning with institutional environmental and carbon reduction goals.
Green Revolving Investment Tracking System (GRITS) 1.5
The Sustainable Endowments Institute released its newest version of the project-level, carbon, energy and financial web-based tool, GRITS (the Green Revolving Investment Tracking System). GRITS 1.5 includes more features, customization and access to data that seeks to help institutions across the U.S. and Canada track, manage and share their energy- and resource-efficiency data.
NWEI Course Book: Sustainability Works: Rethinking Business As Usual
This new Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) discussion course book, Sustainability Works: Rethinking Business as Usual, offers sustainability staff a ready-made employee engagement process designed to inspire green teams and employee teams alike in finding solutions to organizational sustainability challenges. For faculty teaching on organizational sustainability, this course book considers the need for systems-level change that benefits both people and the planet, offering a framework for students to identify solutions through dialogue.
CGI U Innovation Fund
Launched through the Clinton Global Initiative University, the CGI U Innovation Fund will provide students will critical seed funding to help launch and scale early-stage projects. The awarded funds will range from approximately $2,000 to $10,000.
ASLE Grants for Projects in Ecocriticism and Environmental Humanities
The Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE) is accepting applications from its membership for grant funding that support projects in ecocriticism and environmental humanities. ASLE is offering funding in three separate grant categories. Deadline to apply is July 1.
AASHE Member Discount: 30% Off Island Press Books
AASHE members can receive 30 percent off all Island Press books through Dec. 31, 2016, including titles about sustainable urban planning and design to environmental conservation and ecosystems management.
Endangered Species Day Toolkit for College Students
In an effort to support Endangered Species Day, honored on May 20, 2016, the Endangered Species Coalition in collaboration with National Wildlife Federation's EcoLeaders Program has aggregated resources for campuses to take action and gain literacy about animals that fall into this category. Learn if your campus mascot is endangered and/or if there are vulnerable and threatened species on campus, and if so, how to use these facts to facilitate conversation and education.
Energy Data Access: Blueprint for Action Toolkit
The U.S. Department of Energy released the informational resources toolkit through its Better Buildings Energy Data Accelerator developed in partnership with 18 cities and utilities across the nation. The Energy Data Access: Blueprint for Action Toolkit is a compilation of case studies, guidance and real-world best practices adopted by cities and utilities to help building owners measure and track energy use and benchmark the energy performance of their buildings.
APPA's Facilities Manager Issue: Special Focus on Sustainability
The theme of the March/April 2016 issue is Sustainability Programming and Investments, and focuses on investment options for energy efficiency projects. The issue provides a compilation of recent sustainability projects conducted at 16 APPA member institutions, a GRITS update, and articles about recycling and energy efficiency.
Compendium of Organics Recovery Programs at Colleges and Universities (EPA Region 4)
The Center for Environmental Policy and Management at the University of Louisville in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 and select southeastern U.S. schools have released a guidance document for organics recovery planning. The guide is intended to introduce readers to the concepts of organics recovery with a special emphasis on composting while encouraging peer-to-peer learning.
AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub
The new Campus Sustainability Hub is designed to help AASHE members quickly and easily find relevant resources through a centralized platform with advanced search and filtering options. This new member resource raises the visibility of institutions’ sustainability programs and materials, and promotes information sharing between campuses and organizations. Non-members can access limited resources.
NUS Students' Green Fund: End of Fund Report
The Students' Green Fund (SGF) has recently concluded a project funding period that distributed over five million pounds ($7,187,500) to develop 25 transformative, student-led projects. With funding provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the initiative sought to advance students’ unions' ability to operate as hubs of sustainability within their institutions and beyond. A sample of significant outcomes include the creation of 42 full-time and 17 part-time staff, the creation of 335 paid student positions, 100 workshops and training courses, over 500 events, and the development of 10 student-led social enterprises.
Funding for Clean Vehicles in Connecticut
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) is seeking proposals from and providing funding to public entities that want to add alternative fuel vehicles, clean fuel vehicles or diesel retrofit technologies to their operations. Deadline to apply for funding is April 29.
The Impact of Environmental Science Research in the UK
The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessed the impact of research undertaken by U.K. universities. Published in the Journal of the Institution of Environmental Sciences, the article showcases the impact of environmental science research from U.K. universities, and explores how researchers develop and demonstrate impact, ensuring that interdisciplinary work is appropriately represented in analyses of societal effects.
The Responsible Business Person: Studies of Business Education for Sustainability
The Södertörn University doctoral dissertation, The Responsible Business Person: Studies of Business Education for Sustainability, by Pernilla Andersson, identifies the roles of a responsible business person that are articulated in business education and discusses how these roles could enable students to address sustainability issues.
Finance 101 for Sustainability Coordinators
Second Nature staff Janna Cohen-Rosenthal and Pallavee Panchal were recently published in Sustainability: The Journal of Record. The article Finance 101 for Sustainability Coordinators is adapted from a presentation given at the 2015 AASHE Conference & Expo and provides a brief introduction to financial terms for sustainability professionals.
New Issue: Environmental Education Research
The new issue from Taylor & Francis Online features articles about life trajectories of youth that commit to climate activism and a description of the inception and growth of a sustainable agriculture program on a university campus.
Guide to a Systematic Approach to Implementation of Principles for Responsible Management Education
The Transformational Model for Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Implementation is a guide on how to systemically approach the implementation of Principles for Responsible Management Education, taking into consideration the complexities and specificities of management-related academic institutions and business schools. The resource is based on the active support and input by the PRME community, and draws on concrete examples from individual PRME schools. Inspired by the Global Compact Management Model, the Transformational Model presents eight stages of PRME implementation. Through this model, institutional transformation is seen as a strategic journey that evolves through a process of continuous improvement.
The Contribution of Social Sciences to Sustainable Development at Universities
This new volume, published by Springer International Publishing, is the first of its kind to present contemporary examples of how social science theories, models and findings can advance all aspects of campus sustainability. The individual chapters reflect the broad diversity of research on sustainable campus development conducted within and across basic and applied social science disciplines, drawing on a range of methods and case studies from around the world.
Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level
This book discusses the role of education for sustainable development (ESD) stakeholders at university level, involving civil society and the private sector and public sectors including local, national and intergovernmental bodies. In particular, it describes practical experiences, partnerships, networks and training schemes for increasing the capacity of ESD and other initiatives aimed at promoting education for sustainable development taking place at institutions of higher education.
New Issue: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
Volume 17 Issue 2 of the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education is a special issue with a focus on sustainable development in higher education in Africa. Article keywords include transdisciplinary, energy, energy efficiency, organizational sustainability, resilience, climate change and purchasing.
AASHE 2015 Annual Report
The newly released report includes AASHE's recently approved strategic goals (2016-17), a STARS year-in-review, education and professional development offerings, a snapshot of AASHE 2015 Conference & Expo and new initiatives in member engagement including the first-ever member elected board positions. In 2015, AASHE divested its 401(k) staff plan from fossil fuels. View the full report to learn about how AASHE supports institutions, organizations and businesses leading the sustainability transformation.
Checklist of Ways Campus Housing Directors Can Improve Campus Sustainability
Published by Academic Impressions and compiled by John Yaun, executive director of the Office of Housing and Residential Life at California State University, San Bernardino, the checklist supports campus housing directors' unique position to work with students, faculty and staff to improve sustainability in construction, education, student leadership, purchasing and waste minimization.
STARS 2.1 Technical Manual
In anticipation of the launch of the new version of STARS, the STARS 2.1 Technical Manual has been published. Although STARS 2.1 will not be available in the online Reporting Tool until later this spring, advance publication of the manual and supporting documents will give participants the opportunity to become acquainted with the new version before it goes live. This resource also includes a summary of substantive changes, tracked changes and the new Exemplary Practice credit catalog.
Campus Divestment Campaign Guide
The guide from Fossil Free USA offers tips and tools needed to run a campus fossil fuel divestment campaign, including information about building a team, developing a campaign strategy, training and taking action.
ISCN Report: Demonstrating Sustainable Development in Higher Education
At the World Economic Forum, the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN), in collaboration with the Global University Leader Forum (GULF), shared exemplary campus sustainability case studies provided by the world’s leading universities. The report is focused on developing skills and building capacities of our future leaders, collaborating to catalyze change and innovating for efficient built environments.
Meal Exchange Campus Garden Network
The Meal Exchange Campus Garden Network is a platform to foster connections and resources for students across Canada and advocate on behalf of an alternative food system that is growing across the country. The Campus Garden Network offers online and social media support, a shared list of resources and volunteer opportunities.
U New Hampshire 2015 The State of Sustainability in Higher Education Report
The new report, 2015 The State of Sustainability in Higher Education, out of the University of New Hampshire is based on a study of a collective 1.5 billion-square-feet of campus facilities operated by 343 colleges and universities spread out across 44 states. The nationally representative sample consisted of both public (60 percent) and private (40 percent) institutions. The report found that emissions per-square-foot declined by 13 percent between 2007 and 2014, and energy usage per-square-foot was down just two percent over the identical eight-year period. The emissions decline is the result of campuses switching from coal and oil to natural gas.
Professional Development of University Educators on Education for Sustainable Development in European Countries
The new Leading Practice Publication is the result of nearly two years of work on the European project University Educators for Sustainable Development (UE4SD). The project coalesces the knowledge and experience of 53 partners from 33 countries active in the area of education for sustainable development (ESD) at European higher education institutions. The publication includes key findings and experiences gained during the two-year project. The aim of this book is to provide an overview of the best practice examples of professional development opportunities for European university educators in the area of ESD and to inspire the reader to engage in supporting further developments in this field.
