Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives
The Rocky Mountain Institute, in partnership with AASHE, has released, "Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives: Breaking through Barriers." The new book is a practical guide for anyone working in a college or university setting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their campus. It explores the challenges, both real and perceived, to significant reductions, and provides successful examples, and resources necessary to address the challenges. The book is the culmination of numerous RMI activities including staff visits to twelve campuses to understand specific campus climate initiatives and challenges. Chosen for the diversity of their conditions, the participating institutions were: Colorado State University; Furman University (SC); Harford Community College (MD); Lakeshore Technical College (WI); Luther College (IA); Richland College (TX); Tufts University (MA); Unity College (ME); University of Minnesota, Morris; University of Missouri; University of Vermont; and Yale University (CT).
Green Classroom Website
Intellidemia has launched a new campaign, "Green Classroom," to target the reduction of resource waste and the introduction of computer-based learning platforms in the classroom. The initiative seeks to raise awareness surrounding course delivery and identify paper waste in the classroom through a new section on the company's website. In the areas of handouts, textbooks, syllabi, assignments, and examinations, the website explores technology platforms and tools to help instructors teach and students learn while protecting the environment.
Report on Growing the Green Economy through Green Chemistry and Design
The Green Chemistry and Commerce Council, National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell have released a report as a resource to assist states and higher education institutions in developing a green chemistry (GC) and design for environment (DfE) framework. "Growing the Green Economy through Green Chemistry and Design for Environment" defines a vision and an approach to use creative green chemistry and design for environment policy approaches as key economic tools. The report notes the roles of educational institutions in furthering GC and DfE as: educating the future workforce of the green economy; discovering new green chemistry and product options; supporting efforts to overcome application challenges; analyzing policy options; and serving as the host for needed dialogues between researchers and businesses and communities. The new publication also provides a GC and DfE information toolbox.
Publication: Financing Sustainability on Campus
The National Association of College and University Business Officers, in partnership with Second Nature, has published Financing Sustainability on Campus . In the new publication, the authors provide a guide to financing sustainability with real world examples, creative strategies, and clear explanations of a variety of financial tools and programs. The resource is available printed or as an e-book.
AASHE Interview Series: Food Systems Ed & Research Prgm Specialist
AASHE has posted a new installment of its Interview Series with campus sustainability professionals. In the most recent interview, Tim Galarneau, the Food Systems Education and Research Program Specialist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, discusses how he became involved in working to develop sustainable food systems, what he finds most challenging about incorporating local and/or organic food into campus dining, and how students are involved in his work.
Campus Green Builder Website for Under-Resourced Institutions
Second Nature, a national nonprofit that works to accelerate movement towards a sustainable future by helping senior college and university leaders in making sustainability the foundation of all learning and practice in higher education, has launched the Campus Green Builder, a new website that aims to help universities and colleges build and renovate sustainably on campus. The web portal is the first of its kind in the higher education sector, providing hundreds of links to green building-related web sites, directories of experts, and resources for training and funding opportunities. The site is relevant to all higher education institutions but is particularly geared towards community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, tribal colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, religiously-affiliated institutions, and other schools that in many cases have fewer resources and growing interest in 'green building.' The site presents case studies to serve as models. Additionally, under-resourced schools that visit the Campus Green Builder site will learn about special discounted offers to access BuildingGreen Suite and for membership in AASHE. They will also be able to take part in "Campus Green Building 101 for Building Contractors," where they can apply for technical assistance grants that offer training opportunities for the building professionals who work at their schools.
Green College Directory
Duke University (NC) has launched a free directory of environmental information at nearly 2,000 U.S. colleges and universities. The directory provides listings of environmental degree programs as well as environmental opportunities and organizations at campuses around the country. The directory was created by student volunteers at 40 campuses nationwide, including undergraduate and graduate students at Duke. It offers information on undergraduate, masters, and PhD degree programs and includes links to campus carbon inventories and recycling opportunities, environmentally focused student clubs and organizations, and environmental opportunities in the local community.
New Issue of Sustainability: The Journal of Record
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc Publishers has published a new issue of Sustainability: The Journal of Record . Volume 2, Number 5 contains an editorial entitled, "A New Era in Higher Education?" by Peter Bardaglio and Andrea Putman; an interview with Ciannat Howett, Director of Sustainability Initiatives at Emory University (GA); a roundtable on student engagement; a sustainability program profile of Green Mountain College (VT); the abstract of the winning project of AASHE's student research award; and profiles of AASHE's 2009 Campus Sustainability Leadership Award winners and Student Sustainability Leadership Award winner.
List of Campus Commuter Surveys
AASHE has published a new resource on campus commuter surveys. The new page lists institutions that have collected and calculated greenhouse gas emissions from faculty, staff, and student commuting through questionnaires. The resource is only available to AASHE members.
Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums
AASHE has launched a suite of campus sustainability discussion forums covering topics in education and research; campus operations; and campus planning, engagement, and administration. Anyone with an interest in learning about or contributing to the growing body of knowledge on campus sustainability may participate in the forums. The aim is to provide a central place for sharing ideas and best practices and asking and answering questions. Contributors are expected to be largely North American, but the forums are open to all. The forum topics parallel the 17 sub-categories in AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), released in September (STARS v.1.0 Early Release). The 17 topics are: co-curricular education, curriculum, research, buildings, climate, dining services, energy, grounds, purchasing, transportation, water, waste, coordination and planning, diversity and affordability, human resources, investment, and public engagement.
New Resource on Campus Hybrid Vehicle Fleets
AASHE has released a new resource on campus hybrid vehicle fleets. The resource, which is only available to AASHE members, alphabetically lists campuses in the U.S. and Canada that have one or more hybrid vehicles in their fleet.
Interview with Sustainability Mgr, U California Ofc of the President
National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology has posted an interview with Matthew St. Clair, the sustainability manager for the University of California Office of the President. In the interview, St. Clair discusses the challenge of acquiring staff time in the current economic climate, the difference between his job and that of an on-campus sustainability coordinator, and what he has learned about understanding and motivating people.
AASHE Interview with Purchase College Dir of Sustainability
AASHE has posted a new installment of its Interview Series. This interview is with Joseph Tripodi, the director of sustainability at Purchase College State University of New York. Tripodi was hired in 2009 and is tasked with coordinating the College’s efforts toward climate neutrality. In particular, his areas of focus are on alternative fuels and vehicles, sustainability education across the curriculum, renewable energy, energy-recapture technologies, and the recycling process. Previously, he worked as a high school administer in New York where he was involved in various sustainability initiatives. In the interview, Tripodi discusses how he got started in sustainability, what advice he would give to other in his position who are just getting started, and how he incorporates the social dimensions of sustainability into his work.
Paper on Sustainability in Law Schools
Widener University (PA) School of Law has published "The Essential and Growing Role of Legal Education in Achieving Sustainability." The article suggests that law schools need to play a leading role in the national and global effort to achieve sustainability, including the effort to address climate change. The article first describes the various drivers for sustainability in law schools and then describes a broad and growing range of sustainability activities - especially in curriculum and scholarship, but also in buildings and operations; outreach and service; student life; institutional mission, policy, and planning; and external stakeholders.
List of Campus Water Conservation Efforts
AASHE has published a list of water conservation efforts at higher education institutions in Canada and the United States. The new resource is only available to AASHE members.
Handbook of Sustainability Literacy
Green Books has published The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy: Skills for a changing world . The 224-page book, edited by Arran Stibbe, provides a reflection on the skills people need to survive and thrive in the challenging conditions of the 21st century. The book covers a wide range of skills and attributes from technology appraisal to ecological intelligence, and includes active learning exercises to help develop those skills. The publication is available online and in paperback.
Student Research on Campus Sustainability Database
AASHE has launched a database for student research on campus sustainability. The new resource allows users to search research projects by keyword, discipline, administrative department, publication date, paper type, and/or search term. The database is only available to AASHE members.
Study Finds Organic Coffee Market is Strongly Supported by Campuses
A new report from the Organic Coffee Collaboration, a project of the Organic Trade Association, has found that organic coffee is more available than ever on college and university campuses as a result of student and faculty demand. A variety of organic coffee companies around the country have seen sales go up. Institutions cited in the article for purchasing more organic coffee include University of Utah; Utah State University; the City College of San Francisco (CA); University of California, Berkeley; Columbia University (NY); University of Arizona; Wesleyan University (CT); Indiana University; University of Massachusetts; and the University of Vermont.
Peterson’s Releases Campus Sustainability Survey Results
Peterson’s, an education content provider, has released the results from a survey completed by 449 two- and four-year higher education institutions on the type of sustainability initiatives that exist on their campuses. The survey found that 85 percent of participating schools reported having a sustainability committee or advisory council supporting campus-wide participation in sustainability efforts and nearly 58 percent of schools employ a sustainability coordinator or director.
Student Sierra Coalition Releases 'Moving Campuses Beyond Coal'
The Sierra Club and the Sierra Student Coalition have released, Breaking Coals' Grip on Our Future: Moving Campuses Beyond Coal . The report describes the problem of using coal to power colleges and universities, highlights some of the campuses that rely on this power source, and shows examples of schools that are now transitioning away from coal and toward clean energy.
Climate Neutral Campus Report
The American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) has released Climate Neutral Campus Report , a collection of white papers, case studies, and interviews that address how the higher education sector is fighting the climate crisis. The Report includes ideas on topics ranging from the reorientation of student education to the re-design of campus operations, from the policy reforms that will enable colleges and universities to switch to renewable energy, to the emerging competition for carbon reduction in college sports.
New Issue of Sustainability: The Journal of Record
A new issue of Sustainability: The Journal of Record is now available. Volume 2, Number 4 features an editorial entitled "Carbon Neutrality and Athletic Tape," a roundtable discussion on how religious institutions can foster sustainability, an article on sustainable dining, and a sustainability program profile of Colorado State University.
Conf Call Recording on Psychological Resistance to Env'l Behaviors
Media Strategies for Sustainability has posted a recording of its conference call entitled "Understanding and Overcoming Psychological Resistance to Promote Environmental Behaviors. In this session, conservation psychologist Dr. Jessica M. Nolan discusses the three types of psychological resistance that may undermine message effectiveness and shares several techniques for overcoming resistance to promote sustainable behaviors on campus. The presentation is part of a national conference call series about media strategies for sustainability.
Podcast Interviews from ACUPCC Climate Leadership Summit
AASHE and Second Nature have posted three podcasts recorded during the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment Climate Leadership Summit. The podcasts feature interviews with Jesse Pyles, Sustainability Coordinator at Unity College (ME); Dr. Kathleen Schatzberg, President of Cape Cod Community College (MA); and Glenn Cummings, Assistant Deputy Secretary with the U.S. Department of Education.
Publication: Choices for Sustainable Campus Living & Study
Today's Campus has published "Choices for Sustainable Campus Living and Study: Ecovillages Provide College Students with Experiential Learning," a review of ecovillages at campuses in the U.S. The publication gives an overview of ecovillages at Berea College (KY); the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Clemson University (SC), and Pacific Union College (CA).
Conf Call Podcast: Students' Role in Adopting a Sustainability Policy at U Colorado
AASHE has posted a podcast of "The Students' Role in Adopting a System-Wide Sustainability Policy at University of Colorado," a recent conference call held on the organization's Open Space Conference Call Line. The conversation, led by student leaders on all four CU campuses, focuses on how individual student governments can affect campus sustainability policy and what policies would help the CU campuses achieve strong sustainability goals best.
Interview with Owner of Duke U's Green Campus Cafe
National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology has posted an interview with Laura Hall, the owner and operator of the Refectory, a café that serves local and sustainable foods at Duke University (NC). In the interview, Hall discuss how the café was opened; how the Refectory has been able to source produce, meat, and eggs from 30 local farms, all within 150 miles; and how the campus eatery uses food from the on-campus garden.
Sustainability Education and Curriculum Resource Center
Creative Change Educational Solutions has announced the opening of its Curriculum and Resource Center (CRC). The CRC is an online curriculum library that provides educators (K12, college, and adult) access to a curriculum portfolio on a subscription basis. The materials in the CRC address sustainability topics such as food systems, land use/sustainable communities, brownfields redevelopment, green design, renewable energy, environmental justice, and ecological economics. The site also offers a searchable interface that allows subscribers to select and download materials by grade level, discipline, topic, and more. The CRC also provides access to completely developed units to integrate into courses.
Leading Profound Change - ACUPCC Resource
Second Nature has published "Leading Profound Change: A Resource for Presidents and Chancellors of the ACUPCC." The paper discusses the role of an effective president in a rapidly evolving 21st century organization; successful ways to communicate and foster collaboration; concrete steps to develop clear goals and metrics for accountability; the “Five Disciplines” to create a learning organization; ways to make conversation a strategic tool; and strategies to address limiting factors.
Bioneers Radio Show on Eco Schools
The Bioneers 2009 Radio Series has recorded and posted a free podcasting of a show entitled, "Eco Schools." During the program, Fritjof Capra, co-founder of the Center for Ecoliteracy, and environmental educators Cheryl Charles and David Orr explore what is working for the schools that are successfully integrating ecological awareness, understanding, and practices through the curriculum and the community.
Climate Change Reference Guide for Students
The Worldwatch Institute's "Climate Change Reference Guide" is now available as a free download for students. The Guide contains sections on sources of climate change, measuring climate change, consequences of greenhouse gas buildup, food and agriculture, health, and coasts, and climate diplomacy.
Critical Path Issues on the Way to Carbon Neutrality
The National Association of College and University Business Officers has published "Perspectives... Presenting Thought Leaders' Points of View: Critical Path Issues on the Way to Carbon Neutrality." In the document, author Wendell C. Brase gives "an overview of tools, resources, and public policies that colleges and universities need to markedly reduce, or neutralize, their carbon emissions."
Editorial on Sustainability in Higher Education
The Spring/Summer 2009 Issue of Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy features an editorial entitled, "Higher Education: the quest for the sustainable campus." In the piece, author Leith Sharp, Founding Director of the Harvard Green Campus Initiative, discusses the history of the campus sustainability movement and advocates for teaching and demonstrating sustainability on campus.
Interview with U North Texas Sustainability Director
Bike Denton, a blog on cycling in Denton, Texas, has published an interview with Todd Spinks, the Sustainability Director at the University of North Texas. In the post, Spinks discusses the trend of sustainability at UNT, upcoming UNT initiatives, how bicycling ties into the University's goals, and collaboration between operations and academia on campus.
List of Campus Bottled Water Bans & Use Reduction Campaigns
AASHE has released a new resource that lists institutions that have banned bottled water from campus or have active campaigns to reduce their sale and consumption. The page, which is available to AASHE members only, also lists non-profit organizations that have resources available to students and institutions who wish to reduce bottled water use on campus.
Mother Nature Network's Top 10 Env'l Scholarships
Mother Nature Network has published an article on its top 10 environmental scholarships. The funding opportunities include: Annie's Homegrown Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship, Brower Youth Awards, Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Education Scholarship, Dr. W. Wesley Eckenfelder Scholarship, Garden Club of American Scholarships, National Environmental Health Association Scholarship, Middlebury Fellowship in Environmental Journalism, Morris K. Udall Scholarship, Switzer Foundation Fellowship, and Windstar Environmental Studies Scholarship.
Survey Report on Sustainability in Collegiate Athletic Departments
AASHE has released the 2009 Collegiate Athletic Department Sustainability Survey Report . The survey, which was distributed to the 119 athletic departments at National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision universities, found that while sustainability efforts appear to be growing within collegiate athletics, commitment to sustainability is lower among athletic departments than compared to their institutions as a whole and to professional sports teams. Nearly three out of four athletic departments reported that sustainability initiatives are a “very high” or “high” priority for their institution as a whole, and less than half (44 percent) of respondents said that sustainability was a very high or high priority for the athletic departments themselves. In addition, almost 75 percent of respondents expect the emphasis on environmental programs in the Athletic Department to increase in the future.
New Resource on Campus Electric Vehicle Fleets
AASHE has published a new resource that lists higher education institutions with electric vehicles in their fleet. The resource also provides the number of electric vehicles each campus owns and news stories or web pages where readers can obtain more information about each campus' fleet. This resource is only available to AASHE members.
AASHE Resource on Alumni Sustainability Funds
AASHE has posted a new resource on Alumni Sustainability Funds. The resource lists institutions that have giving programs which allow alumni to contribute to campus sustainability initiatives.
Cool Campus! A How-To Guide for Climate Action Planning
AASHE has released Cool Campus! A How-To Guide for College and University Climate Action Planning . The guide, which was written by Walter Simpson, is a revised and printer-friendly version of the climate action planning wiki released this spring. It provides a how-to approach for each of the various steps required to develop and implement a plan for campus climate leadership. The guide was produced with financial support from the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.
Encouraging Pro Env'l Behavior Call Recording Posted Online
The second call in the Media Strategies for Sustainability Conference Call Series has been posted online. "Encouraging Pro Environmental Behavior – How Social Psychology Can Help Us" addresses how institutions can incorporate the power of social norms into sustainability messaging and avoid a frequently-made error in the process.
New Issue of Intl Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
A new issue of International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education is now available. Issue 3 of Volume 10 includes papers on: using a class to conduct a carbon inventory, climate action planning at the University of New Hampshire, assessing carbon dioxide emissions from energy use at a university, and student-led campus climate change initiatives in Canada."
Association of Intl Educators Creates Sustainability Group
NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, has created a Special Interest Group (SIG) for Sustainability in International Education. The new Group will function as a forum for international education professionals to discuss, learn about, and address the environmental impacts inherent in the development and management of international programs. The SIG also hopes to help educators by sharing opportunities to educate students on issues related to the global environment.
Higher Ed Associations Sustainability Consortium's Annual Report
The Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) has released its 2008 Annual Report. The document provides a view of the Consortium's collective and individual efforts including webcasts and professional development opportunities at annual meetings and conferences and articles, practical guides, and comprehensive books on renewable energy, climate neutrality, and the financing strategies higher education institutions can employ to make the transition to a clean and green economy a reality.
Q&A on Sustainability in the Data Center at U Notre Dame
Campus Technology has posted a two part interview with Gorden Wishon, the Chief Information Officer at the University of Notre Dame (IN), entitled "Sustainability in the Data Center." In the question and answer sessions, Wishon discusses the structure of the IT department at UND, explains how his department is able to reduce the growth of the number of physical servers on the data center floor, and gives examples of what UND is doing to reduce its environmental impact.
AASHE Annual Review of Campus Sustainability
AASHE has announced the release of AASHE Digest 2008 . The 356-page report, available as a free download on the AASHE website, includes over 1,350 stories that appeared in the weekly AASHE Bulletin last year. Initiatives from nearly 700 institutions are organized into 28 chapters, spanning education and research, campus operations, and administration and finance. In addition, the publication contains over 90 new campus sustainability resources that were released in 2008.
AASHE Interview Series: Chief Info Officer, George Washington U
AASHE has posted a new interview as part of its Campus Sustainability Professionals Interview Series. In this installation, David Steinour, Interim Chief Information Officer at George Washington University (DC), discusses the work he and his colleagues have done to green GWU's IT department, the role information technology plays in campus sustainability efforts, and the steps being taking in procurement and purchasing decisions that affect sustainability and IT at GWU. Steinour also offers some advice to those just getting started in a position similar to his.
New AASHE Resource on Campus Car Bans
AASHE has posted a new resource on campus car bans. The resource provides a list of institutions that prohibit first year students from bringing cars to campus and a list of campuses that have wider bans that include sophomores, residents in general, or some other category of student. The resource is available to the public.
Webinar: Making IT a Key Part of the Campus Sustainability Effort
Educause has posted a webinar on its website entitled, "Making IT a Key Part of the Campus Sustainability Effort." The session focuses on Indiana University's approach to making IT a key component of its sustainability initiatives. In the presentation, IU staff give a model for such activities, describe lesions learned, and discuss the future roles of IT in sustainability.
AASHE Interview Series: Sustainability Coord for Res Life, U Kentucky
AASHE has posted a new installment of its Interview Series. In the most recent interview, Shane Tedder, the Sustainability Coordinator in the Office of Residence Life at the University of Kentucky, discusses the sustainability initiatives on which he is current working, how he incorporates the social dimensions of sustainability into his work, how UK tracks its progress towards sustainability, how students are involved in sustainability initiatives on campus, and a future initiative that will involve using social network analysis to map and connect the sustainability-focused people and projects at UK.
