Community College Innovation Challenge
The National Science Foundation and the American Association of Community Colleges present the third annual Community College Innovation Challenge that asks student teams to innovate a STEM-based solution to a real-world problem. Teams must submit projects in one of three themes: Maker to Manufacturer, Energy and Environment, or Security Technologies. Submissions are due by Feb. 15.
Call for Proposals: Green Sports Alliance Summit
The Green Sports Alliance is currently accepting proposals for its 7th annual summit, being held June 27-29, in Sacramento, California. This year the summit will focus on mobilizing members and partners to bring about positive environmental and social impact across the fan-base and surrounding communities. Proposals are due by Nov. 18.
Call for Proposals: SSCC Student Summit
Call for proposals and registration is open for the second annual Student Summit as part of the Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference on March 26, hosted by American University. The Student Summit program will include specifically focused workshops and presentations that allow for in-depth analysis and exploration of the four tracks of the summit, which are Renew, Restore, Regenerate; Food, Consumption and the Built Environment; Outreach; and Climate Justice. Proposals are due by Jan. 30.
Survey on Edible Food Recovery at Higher Education Institutions
As part of a senior honors project by a student at Messiah College, this survey will attempt to examine edible food recovery programs at higher education institutions. Edible food recovery programs divert edible food from the waste stream and redirect it to people facing food insecurity. The data collected from this survey will be used to examine the drivers behind an institution's choice of whether or not to employ an edible food recovery program as one of its sustainability efforts. Included at the end of the survey is an option to receive the results of this study upon this project's completion.
Sustainable Horticulture Student Scholarships
The GWA Foundation, a subsidiary of the GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators, is offering financial assistance to deserving students who wish to pursue or further a career in horticultural communications. This year's scholarship awards are $500 or $2,000 per student and include a complimentary full year membership to GWA. Annual scholarship awards are intended as a tuition aid or as an aid in the purchase of textbooks, garden books and special horticultural projects to further a student’s horticultural journalism skills.
Early Bird Registration Deadline Extension: 2017 Presidential Climate Leadership Summit
The 2017 Presidential Climate Leadership Summit, designed for campus sustainability teams, will focus on climate commitments, actions and innovations by U.S. higher education, and how to accelerate progress in this field. AASHE members can receive reduced registration pricing by choosing "AASHE Members" from the dropdown list. Institutions that are both AASHE members and part of the Climate Leadership Network should choose the Climate Leadership Network pathway to receive the greatest discount available. Deadline to register is Dec. 9.
Open Nominations: 2017 Newman Civic Fellowship
The Newman Civic Fellowship is a fellowship program for community-committed students at Campus Compact member institutions. The fellowship provides training and resources that nurture and develop students’ assets and passions to help them develop innovative and collaborative strategies to bring about social change. Presidents and chancellors from member institutions may nominate one student. Nominations are due by March 3.
Call for Proposals: Greenbuild International Conference & Expo
Greenbuild invites session proposals for its International Conference & Expo happening Nov. 8-10, 2017, in Boston, Massachusetts. This conference features educational sessions covering all aspects of sustainable design, construction and operations practices for buildings and communities, including their impact on people, the environment and the economy. The call for proposals closes on Jan. 13.
AASHE Member Discount: $100 Off ISSP Certification
The International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) offers students, faculty and staff from AASHE-member schools a $100 discount on the ISSP Sustainability Associate (ISSP-SA) credential exam. The program is designed to recognize the knowledge, skills and abilities of those in the sustainability field, including students with knowledge of core sustainability concepts. The ISSP-SA exam will be available Nov. 18 through Feb. 18.
2017 Presidential Climate Leadership Summit: Early Bird Rates End Nov. 21
The 2017 Presidential Climate Leadership Summit, designed for campus sustainability teams, will focus on climate commitments, actions and innovations by U.S. higher education, and how to accelerate progress in this field. AASHE members can receive reduced registration pricing by choosing "AASHE Members" from the dropdown list. Institutions that are both AASHE members and part of the Climate Leadership Network should choose the Climate Leadership Network pathway to receive the greatest discount available.
Call for Proposals: New England Farm to Institution Summit 2017
Farm to Institution New England is accepting session proposals for the second biennial New England Farm to Institution Summit, taking place on April 6-7, 2017, in Massachusetts. The 2017 Summit will gather farmers, food service operators, advocates, administrators and elected officials dedicated to cultivating the power of New England institutions to develop an equitable and resilient food system.
'Before the Flood' Movie: Free Copy for Colleges & Universities
Schools interested in screening Before the Flood can obtain a free copy. Before the Flood is a 2016 documentary featuring Leonardo DiCaprio that presents global climate change impacts and actions that individuals and societies can take. The film follows DiCaprio as he travels to five continents and the Arctic speaking to scientists, world leaders, activists and local residents to gain a deeper understanding of this complex issue and investigate concrete solutions.
AASHE Member Discount: 30% Off Island Press Books
Through Dec. 31, AASHE members can receive 30 percent off all Island Press books including titles about sustainable urban planning and design, environmental conservation and ecosystems management.
Call for Proposals: Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference 2017
The call for proposals deadline for the Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference 2017, happening from March 26-28 has been extended to Nov. 13. Proposal tracks are renew, restore, regenerate; education for sustainability; innovating curriculum and research; the built environment; change management; toward transformation; and expanding the sustainability community.
Survey on Energy and Water Efficiency of Stadiums and Arenas
The Green Sports Alliance, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program, the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institute of Building Sciences have developed a survey aimed at better understanding the characteristics of stadiums/arenas and their energy and water impacts. The findings from this survey will help identify opportunities to reduce energy and water use, save money and potentially develop an ENERGY STAR score and certification for stadiums and arenas.
Opportunity to Host 'Land Grab' Film Director
Campuses have the opportunity to host a screening of Land Grab that brings the film’s director, Sean O’Grady, to campus to talk about the film. Land Grab is a new documentary about one man's (John Hantz) effort to clear one square-mile of blighted Detroit neighborhood with his own money in an effort to green the neighborhood while at the same time making it safer and increasing property value.
North American Laboratory Freezer Challenge
The International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories and My Green Lab have partnered to establish the first annual North American Laboratory Freezer Challenge. This challenge is designed to encourage all laboratories to recognize the benefits of good cold storage management, such as reduced costs associated with maintaining refrigeration units and development of ongoing cold storage management practices that support efficiency and maximize space utility. The registration deadline is Jan. 15.
EAUC Conference 2017 Call for Proposals
Session proposals are now being accepted to the U.K.-based Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC) annual conference. This year’s theme, Global Goals: Local Action, aims to recognize the critical role higher education institutions play in developing and implementing solutions to climate change and realizing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals on a local level within their communities. The conference takes place from March 28-30 at Lancaster University (England). Deadline for submission is Nov. 18.
No-Cost Solar Screenings and Implementation Assistance for Universities
In support of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is offering approximately 40 hours of no-cost technical assistance to universities seeking to increase the deployment of mid-scale solar photovoltaic systems at universities. Assistance will provide project development support to higher education institutions as they deploy solar on-campus, which includes assistance writing and/or evaluating request for proposals, advice on financing structures and interconnection agreement facilitation. Applications are due November 18.
Registration Deadline Extension: Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop
Apply by Nov. 11 for the Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership workshop from Jan. 5-6, at Emory University. Participants will experience a range of strategies, hear local experts, enjoy outdoor, place-based activities, dialogue with faculty from around the country, and reflect on their own roles in the transformation of higher education. Readings and organizational materials are provided.
AACC Climate Leadership Awards Call for Applications
Solution Generation, in collaboration with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), will honor one AACC member college with a $10,000 award for its excellence in climate leadership. Solution Generation will reward the institution that demonstrates a clear commitment to advancing environmental sustainability and climate change awareness in the classroom, on campus and in the community through implementation of innovative sustainability and sustainable development policies, practices and curricula. Applications are due by Nov. 1.
Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop
Oct. 28 is the last day to apply for the Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership workshop from Jan. 5-6, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia at Emory University. Through an intensive two days of presentations, exercises, discussions, reflection and planning, participants will become familiar with the philosophy of change in higher education developed through the Ponderosa Project at Northern Arizona University and adapted at Emory University in the Piedmont Project. Participants will experience a range of workshop strategies and enjoy outdoor, place-based activities to adapt the Piedmont/Ponderosa model to their own campus.
Call for Campus Sustainability Month Submissions
AASHE invites campuses to share engaging and action-oriented pictures from Campus Sustainability Month through the Campus Sustainability Hub. Photos may be featured in AASHE publications and communications.
Call for Pilot Institutions to Test Mobile Water Refill Stations
WaterStop Carts invites institutions to sign up to test a new version of its Wi-Fi-enabled, mobile water bottle refilling station that includes a 50-gallon reservoir and filters for taste and contaminants like lead. A financial stipend for the person who is responsible for oversight and maintenance of the cart will be provided and the cart will belong to the school once the pilot program has concluded. Schools will provide feedback to WaterStop Carts regarding the cart's ease of use, system effectiveness, ease of mobility and other technical aspects.
C2C Fellows Sustainability Leadership Training
Offered by Bard College’s Center for Environmental Policy, the upcoming C2C training from Dec. 2-4 will focus on key leadership skills: vision, courage, developing a network, telling your story and raising funds. C2C workshop trainings are for undergraduate students and recent graduates who want high-impact sustainability careers that can change the future, in policy, business and politics.
Wege Prize 2017 Student Design Competition
Wege Prize is an annual, transdisciplinary design competition challenging teams of five college or university students from around the world to develop a product, service or business/nonprofit organization that can help transition our current linear economic model to a circular economic model, a tightly-looped, restorative economic cycle in which resources can be re-adapted for use without limiting the desirability of products or the flow of revenue. Teams will contend for $30,000 in total cash prizes. The deadline for team registration is Nov. 30.
Call for Webinar Proposals
AASHE invites webinar proposals on any topic of interest to the campus sustainability community, including faculty, students, sustainability staff and executives, and at all levels of sophistication (introductory, intermediate and advanced). Approximately 12 webinar proposals will be accepted. Guidance will be provided on preparing presentation slides, presenter best practices and training on the webinar tool platform. The deadline to submit a proposal is Oct. 24.
Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop
Emory University, in partnership with AASHE, is offering a Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership workshop from Jan. 5-6, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. Through an intensive two days of presentations, exercises, discussions, reflection and planning, participants will become familiar with the philosophy of change in higher education developed through the Ponderosa Project at Northern Arizona University and adapted at Emory University in the Piedmont Project. Participants will experience a range of workshop strategies, hear local experts, enjoy outdoor place-based activities and dialogue with faculty from around the country to adapt the Piedmont/Ponderosa model to their own campus. Applications are due by Oct. 28.
Campus Sustainability Month
Campus Sustainability Month will take place throughout the month of October. AASHE invites campuses to share their plans to engage and inspire future sustainability leaders.
University Barriers to Innovation and Sustainability Survey
Researchers at Federal University of Santa Maria (Brazil), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and University of Passo Fundo (Brazil) invite responses to a survey for the second phase of a doctoral thesis in business administration, which aims to analyze the barriers that influence the development of innovation and sustainability at universities. Deadline to participate is Oct. 7.
AASHE Member Discount: Registration for 2017 Presidential Climate Leadership Summit
AASHE members that are not a part of the Climate Leadership Network can register to attend Second Nature's 2017 Presidential Climate Leadership Summit for $100 off registration. AASHE members who are in the Climate Leadership Network will receive a larger discount. The 2017 Presidential Climate Leadership Summit is happening from Feb. 13-15, 2017, in Tempe, Arizona. Registration fees increase on Oct. 6.
Call for Webinar Proposals
AASHE invites webinar proposals on any topic of interest to the campus sustainability community, including faculty, students, sustainability staff and executives, and at all levels of sophistication (introductory, intermediate and advanced). Approximately 12 webinar proposals will be accepted. AASHE will provide guidance on how to prepare presentation slides, share best practices for presenting and provide training on the webinar tool platform. The deadline to submit a proposal is Oct. 24.
White House Educators Commitment on Resilient Design
The U.S. White House seeks to highlight the important role of schools in training and inspiring students who will lead the planning, design and development of future homes, buildings and infrastructure designed and built for resilience. The White House is inviting schools of engineering, architecture, urban planning, construction and other design disciplines to participate in this important effort by signing the Educators Commitment on Resilient Design by Oct. 3.
Invitation to Join the NSSE 2017 Sustainability Education Consortium
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Sustainability Education Consortium provides an opportunity to gather high-quality data on sustainability education in a way that will allows for comparison with other institutions. Participation in the Sustainability Education Consortium adds a series of questions about student engagement with sustainability education to the survey, which is administered by every year by hundreds of four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. The deadline to register for the consortium is Oct. 21.
GameDay Recycling Challenge 2016
Registration is open through Oct. 19 for the annual GameDay Challenge, a friendly competition for colleges and universities to promote waste reduction at home football games. The GameDay Recycling Challenge is administered by the College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), RecycleMania, Keep America Beautiful and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise.
Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop
Emory University, in partnership with AASHE, is offering a Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop from Jan. 5-6, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. Through an intensive two days of presentations, exercises, discussions, reflection and planning, participants will become familiar with the philosophy of change in higher education developed through the Ponderosa Project at Northern Arizona University and adapted at Emory University in the Piedmont Project. Participants will also experience a range of workshop strategies, hear local experts, enjoy outdoor place-based activities and dialogue with faculty from around the country to adapt the Piedmont/Ponderosa model to their own campus. Applications are due by Oct. 28.
AASHE Member Discount: 30% Off Island Press Books
AASHE members can receive 30 percent off all Island Press books through Dec. 31 including titles about sustainable urban planning and design to environmental conservation and ecosystems management.
EPA Recognition for Commercial Buildings Survey
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s ENERGY STAR program is considering offering a new recognition based on improvement over time. All types of buildings would be eligible for earning this new recognition, whereas the existing recognition is based only on top performance. The EPA is seeking feedback by Sept. 30.
Call for Proposals: 2016 Sustainability Student Leaders Symposium
The annual symposium being held on Nov. 5 brings together peer-to-peer student sustainability educators and leaders from many different colleges and universities in the Northeast to learn and be inspired by each other. Proposals are now being accepted for presentations, workshops and roundtable discussions.
Two Days Left to Register: 2016 AASHE Conference & Expo
Consider registering by Sept. 22 for the 2016 AASHE Conference & Expo in Baltimore, Maryland, to avoid the hassle of on-site registration and secure the best possible rate. Themed Beyond the Campus, AASHE’s annual conference, Oct. 9-12 brings together thousands of sustainability champions from around the world to share ideas and be inspired by sustainability leaders.
NREL No-Cost Solar Screenings and Implementation Assistance for Universities
In support of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot initiative, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is offering no-cost technical assistance to universities seeking to increase solar energy on campus. Any U.S. higher education institution is eligible to apply. The program is designed to increase the deployment of mid-scale solar photovoltaic systems at universities, engage stakeholders to develop deployment solutions and empower decision makers. Applications are due Oct. 15.
Call for Proposals: Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference 2017
With a theme of Renew, Restore, Regenerate, interested parties are invited to submit proposals for the 2017 Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference, March 26-28, 2017, in College Park, Maryland. Sessions are 50- and 80-minutes in length and alternative presentations styles are supported. Proposals are due on Oct. 30.
#AASHEtogether Campaign
In an effort to highlight the value of the AASHE community, AASHE is inviting 30-second or less video submissions for its campaign, #AASHEtogether.