Net Impact's Business as UNusual Guide to Graduate Programs
With information compiled from a written questionnaire by Net Impact chapter leaders and a online student survey, the newly released 2014 Business as UNusual Guide for students by students highlights the social and environmental impact of graduate programs.
Council of Undergraduate Research Quarterly Publication
The most recent issue of the Council of Undergraduate Research's Quarterly publication is themed Undergraduate Research in Support of Sustainability and features articles about action research and campus learning laboratories.
New Issue of Sustainable Business Magazine
The latest issue, featuring a forward from AASHE's Executive Director Stephanie A. Herrera, spotlights the American University, Portland State University, University of Calgary, University of California at San Francisco, University of Maryland, University of Northern British Columbia and University of Saskatchewan.
STARS New Integrated Resources Tab
To better support STARS participants, the new Resources tab on each credit in the online Reporting Tool will provide shareable credit language in PDF format to help guide responsible parties with data collection, tools like template spreadsheets and calculators, and best practice reporting examples from other STARS participants. Log-in to the Reporting Tool https://stars.aashe.org/accounts/login/?next=/tool/ to check it out and suggest a new resource (or two)!
Sustainability and Economics by NJ Arts News [VIDEO]
This recently released video features experts from the University of Western Ontario, University of British Columbia and the Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education and discusses the intersection of economics and sustainability, its current impact on the higher education community, and living more in harmony with the planet.
AASHE Member Discount: LittleFootprint Lighting
LittleFootprint Lighting manufactures the HeronLED Personal Task Light made in the U.S. from recycled electronic waste. AASHE members will receive an additional 10 percent off special web pricing and with each sale, donating 15 percent of proceeds to Fight for Light.
Stewardship News Now Published
The summer edition of Audubon International's publication features a partnership with AASHE with campus models for sustainability.
SEI Green Revolving Investment Tracking System (GRITS 1.0)
The Sustainable Endowments Institute recently released the 1.0 version of its energy and resource efficiency tracking system. GRITS is a web-based tool that can calculate project-level energy, financial and carbon data, access a project library with data from other schools, and create graphs and visuals. Any school can subscribe to GRITS through the GRITS Affiliates program, even those without a revolving fund. A 30-day free trial is available.
2014 Conference & Expo Full Schedule
Themed Innovation for Sustainable Economies & Communities, the 2014 Conference & Expo now offers its full schedule of workshops, sessions, expo hours and more to assist participants in creating their personalized plan.
Green and Sustainability Jobs Poster
Presented by Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium fellows, the free downloadable posters can be used in office and career centers to promote sustainability jobs.
2014 California Higher Ed Sustainability Conf Presentations
Presentations from the 13th Annual 2014 California Higher Education Sustainability Conference are now online. Hosted by the Associated Students of San Diego State University, attendees of the conference shared information about innovative best practices and policy achievements made in California in the past year. 750 faculty, staff, students and administrators were in attendance from 53 campuses, across four systems of higher education and included 222 speakers.
Water Efficiency Toolkit by Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Defense Fund and AT&T have developed a set of tools and resources that can help organizations build their own program to reduce water and energy use in buildings and save money in the process. Tools include an Excel-based water performance assessment and calculator, cooling system efficiency guide and videos, and sample water audit forms.
Intentionally Designed Endowment Conference Proceedings
In April, Second Nature and Hampshire College convened a group of high-level stakeholders to explore approaches to aligning higher education and foundation endowment investment portfolios with their institutional mission and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. This report from the Intentionally Designed Endowment Conference captures event outcomes and opportunities for moving forward.
NRDC Greening Advisor for Collegiate Sports Guide
The Natural Resources Defense Council recently released the NRDC Greening Advisor for Collegiate Sports guide, a free tool to promote sustainability in collegiate sports. Using the Greening Advisor, colleges and universities have the opportunity to identify the greening initiatives that can help advance institutional efforts to attain or improve a STARS rating.
Sustainable Purchasing Toolkit
With support from the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, AASHE is pleased to provide a toolkit highlighting AASHE's sustainable purchasing resources.
Second Nature's Alliance for Resilient Campuses
Founded by Second Nature and closely partnered with the U.S. National Climate Assessment, the Alliance for Resilient Campuses (ARC) is an initiative that will evaluate risk and vulnerability of climate change, offer tools for collaborative assessment and implementation, and evaluate progress and fill research and knowledge gaps.
Green Energy Survey Toolkit
This new resource allows students to conduct a one to three hour green energy audit with local organizations and then make recommendations for change, offering students valuable sustainability consulting experience and a valuable skills-based learning opportunity.
Tradepal Now Available in All U.S. Colleges
Founded in 2009, Tradepal, a university and college marketplace to barter, buy and sell items, is now available to all college students nationwide with a simplified signup process to propel collaboration. With each transaction, the marketplace quantifies the environmental impact from reuse through a carbon savings score for both students and networks.
ACUPCC On Air Series Archive
The four archived discussions held in April on behalf of the ACUPCC are An Interview with Dr. Mitchell Thomashow, author of The Nine Elements of a Sustainable Campus; Reflection on the 2014 Intentionally Designed Endowment Conference; New Directions for Clean Air-Cool Planet and University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute; and Accounting for Campus Forest in Carbon Calculations.
Intentionally Designed Endowment
This newly released document from Hampshire College and Second Nature was a primer to a stakeholder engagement event in April that was organized to begin a conversation among educational institutions about aligning their investments with their missions. The document provides a background and overview of integrating sustainability factors, higher education trends in investment for sustainability, and a sampling of reports, resources and organizations pertaining to sustainability investing.
International Sustainability Literacy Test Pilot
Brought to the higher education community by AASHE, the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability (DANS) and the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC), the International Sustainability Literacy Test is a free, online multiple choice question assessment, with customized versions for different countries and regions of the world. It attempts to assess a student’s basic level of knowledge about sustainability, including social and environmental responsibility, and can be administered in any college-level course, undergraduate or graduate.
Track and Manage Energy Investments Application
On April 22, the Sustainable Endowments Institute launched the new Green Revolving Investment Tracking System (GRITS) 1.0, an online tool that offers a bridge between management and performance reporting of energy and resource efficiency investments. GRITS is a space for institutions to track, analyze and share data on specific sustainability projects or groups of projects, offering more capabilities than traditional spreadsheet tracking.
Elevating Sustainability Through Academic Leadership by ARAMARK
Released this month, the last of 10 chapter essays by David Hales, president of Second Nature, discusses the role and responsibility of presidential leadership in higher education to promote and integrate sustainability across the curriculum using a variety of measures.
SEI Case Study: Denison University: Green Hill Fund
Published by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, the recently released case study is on Denison University's Green Hill Fund, which was created in the summer of 2011. The $1 million dollar fund posts an average return on investment for projects of 17.7 percent and to date has saved the campus 3,346 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
Educational Series: Years of Living Dangerously
National Wildlife Federation is the education partner for the new series, Years of Living Dangerously (YEARS). The NWF YEARS website provides free access to the first episode of the YEARS series, and provides tools and resources to support the episode for campuses to take action on their campus to address climate change.
Incorporating Sustainability into Campus Strategic Planning
The newly archived webinar discusses Spelman College's integration of sustainability in strategic planning and all campus operations, a focus on personal impact and accountability on the environment and the pursuit of a LEED Gold Standard for all new construction and renovation projects.
Princeton Review's Guide to 332 Green Colleges
The Princeton Review, in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, has released its fifth annual guide to the greenest institutions in North America. The resource profiles 332 higher education institutions that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. The free publication includes statistics and facts on each institution's use of renewable energy sources, recycling and conservation programs, availability of environmental studies programs and green jobs career guidance.
NWEI Course Book: Seeing Systems: Peace, Justice & Sustainability
This new Northwest Earth Institute discussion course book addresses the need for a holistic approach to the planet's challenges through global context and the influence of human daily actions. Each course book includes tips and guidelines to help facilitators organize a course.
2014 AASHE Webinar Schedule
The 2014 AASHE Webinar schedule will provide the higher education sustainability community with tools and support in the areas of energy, social equity, purchasing, behavior change, certification and much more. New this year, AASHE webinars are free for AASHE members and $50 for non-AASHE members.
ACUPCC Progress Report Video
As part of its ACUPCC 101 Video Series, the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment recently released a video on creating and submitting your institution's Climate Action Plan progress report, which details the progression of carbon neutrality.
National Action Plan for Educating for Sustainability
Center for Green Schools, together with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, released a National Action Plan for Educating for Sustainability, a call for action to ensure that Education for Sustainability (EfS) is accessible to all students across the United States. The plan outlines a robust goal for all 50 states to adopt a comprehensive green schools policy that includes a graduation requirement around sustainability literacy by 2040. While this resource focuses on K-12, there are chapters that have a relationship with higher education including Collaboration, Economic Drivers, Pre-Service Teacher Preparation and Research.
NRDC Guide to Composting at Sports Venues
The newly released guide by the Natural Resources Defense Council has been produced to assist stadiums and arenas in increasing their diversion of food and yard wastes for beneficial use.
2013 EAUC Green Gown Awards Case Studies
In an effort to promote dissemination of good practice, the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges Sustainability Exchange now houses a brochure of case studies from all the 2013 Green Gown winners, highly commended entries and finalists.
Education for Sustainability Listserv
The new listserv is available to anyone interested in sustainability in teaching and learning in tertiary education. This new communication forum has been organized by the Action Group for Education for Sustainability, which is part of the Educational Developers Caucus. http://www.stlhe.ca/constituencies/educational-developers-caucus/edc-spe...
Southeastern EcoReps Conference Presentations
After the recent eco-reps conference held by the University of South Carolina, the school has made all the presentations available from the 2014 conference as well as the 2013 and 2012 events. Presentations from 2014 include communicating sustainability, bike sharing, investments, eco-reps training and waste diversion.
USGBC 2013 Report Card
The recently released infographic from the U.S. Green Building Council provides a snapshot of green building involvement from the higher education community. It catalogs the number of students who attend institutions with green building policies and the amount of people-hours dedicated in support of green building.
CURC Zero Waste Campus Toolkit
Recently released by the College and University Recycling Coalition and University of Oregon, the toolkit provides information about business principles, how to start a campus zero waste program, and policy and implementation strategies.
Full 2014 AASHE Workshop Line-Up
We are pleased to offer the full schedule of 2014 AASHE Workshops, allowing you to plan ahead by viewing the full list of workshops for the year. The 2014 Workshops were chosen from those submitted on behalf of the AASHE Professional Development request for proposals. This year's event topics include campus-as-living-lab, behavior change, sustainability curriculum and sustainability on community colleges.
Toolkit for Academic Libraries: Educating for Sustainability
Recently released by Library Juice Press, this edited collection captures the current status and future direction of libraries’ commitment to advance the focus of educating for sustainability. It is designed as a toolkit offering a wide range of best practices, case studies, and activities ready for implementation within academic libraries.
