Call for STARS Steering Committee Members
AASHE is seeking two to four campus representatives to join the STARS Steering Committee. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 9, 2011. For questions, contact stars@aashe.org.
Call for STARS Technical Advisors
AASHE is seeking individuals with expertise related to campus sustainability to serve as STARS Technical Advisors. One to two advisors are needed for each of the following areas: grounds, transportation, waste, coordination and planning, diversity and affordability, sustainable investment, and public engagement. Drawn from higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations and businesses - with a preference given to AASHE members - advisors are the primary source for input and insight regarding the content of STARS credits. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 9, 2011. For questions, contact stars@aashe.org.
Food Systems Journal Discount for AASHE Member Libraries
As a special opportunity for libraries at AASHE member institutions, New Leaf Publishing and Consulting is offering a 15 percent discount on its Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (focused on the interests of sustainable agriculture and food systems development for scholars and professionals) and a free membership to AgDevONLINE, where the journal is exclusively available. The upcoming issue of the international, peer-reviewed journal will focus on higher education.
New AASHE Faculty Fellows Program
AASHE invites members to apply for its new AASHE Faculty Fellows Program beginning Jan. 25, 2012. Faculty fellows will use their expertise to help AASHE advance sustainability by meeting its educational goals. The fellows will also work directly in the development and management of the new AASHE Faculty Commons, a new interactive web-based format that will feature faculty fellows as experts who convene other faculty in thinking about critical issues in curriculum development and transformation. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 3, 2012. One fellowship will be awarded in January 2012 to launch the initiative. The selection will be made by Jan. 15, 2012. For questions contact cindy@aashe.org.
Call for Proposals: National Volunteering and Service Conference
The Points of Light Institute invites proposals for the 2012 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, slated for June 18-20, 2012. Presentations from the higher education community are welcome in areas including "excellence in education" and "youth leadership," among others. Proposals are due by Dec. 5, 2011.
CoFED 2012 Winter National Leadership Retreat
Registration is open for the Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive's (CoFED) 2012 Winter National Leadership Retreat for students. Slated for January 2012 in Berkeley, Calif., participants will receive two days of intensive education workshops in green business planning, fundraising and co-op management. The event also offers an opportunity for networking among like-minded students doing similar projects on their campuses across the country.
Deadline Extended: Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards
Second Nature has extended the nomination period for its 3rd Annual Climate Leadership Awards to November 30. Nominations are invited from American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatory institutions to highlight the ways that senior leadership, academic and curricular initiatives, institutional efficiency and innovative financing are being used to adapt to a changing climate. Finalists will be featured in a public voting forum on PlanetForward.org during spring 2012, with award winners announced and recognized at the ACUPCC Climate Leadership Summit in June 2012.
White House 'Campus Champions of Change' Student Challenge
In an effort to highlight student initiatives that are moving their communities forward, the White House has announced its "Campus Champions of Change Challenge," in partnership with MTV U. Students are invited to explain via web form how their projects are improving their campus communities for a chance to become one of five projects that are honored at the White House.
Earthzine Third Annual Student Essay and Blogging Contest
Earthzine, an online publication dedicated to promoting the societal benefits of Earth observation and Earth information, invites undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to submit an essay for its Third Annual College and University Student Essay and Blogging Contest. Winners will share $1,200 in prizes for this year's contest, themed "How Can Earth Observation Help Us to Build a More Sustainable World?" The submission deadline is Dec. 22, 2011.
Student 'Documerica' Challenge
The National Archives and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency invite students to submit an original photo, poem, graphic or multimedia video that shares how they see the state of the environment today. The deadline is Jan. 6, 2012.
Tribal Energy Program Summer Internships
The U.S. Department of Energy's Tribal Energy Program is seeking Native American students for 2012 summer internships at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. Interns will gain experience with on-grid photovoltaic installations; off-grid photovoltaic electricity systems; off-grid PV/small wind hybrid systems; large-scale commercial wind farms; and solar power towers. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 17, 2012.
Deadline Extended for Campus Conservation Nationals 2012
The extended registration deadline for Campus Conservation Nationals 2012 ends today, November 15. The nationwide resource use reduction competition challenges college and university campuses to achieve the greatest electricity and water use reductions during a three-week period. In the competition's inaugural year, participating institutions saved a total of $50,200 in energy costs and averted 816,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Competition begins Feb. 6, 2012.
STARS Discount for ACUPCC Signatories
AASHE is offering an exclusive discount on STARS registration to American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatories during the month of November. The discount will offer $250 off the registration price for institutions that have not yet signed on to STARS. This offer is available through Nov. 30, 2011.
Higher Education Policy Advocacy Workshop
Antioch University New England is organizing a policy advocacy workshop that will focus on how to translate higher education research into policy and build the capacity of the science community to engage in the policy process. The workshop is part of the twelfth annual National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Environment and Security, to be held Jan. 18-20, 2012. Conference attendees will explore the policy and governance needed to address security risks from a rapidly changing environment.
2012 Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards
Second Nature invites nominations for its 3rd Annual Climate Leadership Awards. Nominations are invited from American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatory institutions to highlight the ways that senior leadership, academic and curricular initiatives, institutional efficiency and innovative financing are being used to adapt to a changing climate. Finalists will be featured in a public voting forum on PlanetForward.org during spring 2012, with award winners announced and recognized at the ACUPCC Climate Leadership Summit in June 2012. Applications are due by Nov. 18, 2011.
Call for Higher Ed Papers: Food Systems Journal
New Leaf Publishing and Consulting's Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development invites researchers, administrators, graduate students and others to submit manuscripts featuring the results of surveys, case studies, policy analyses, review articles, reflective essays and commentaries that examine the ways colleges and universities are pursuing their food system sustainability goals and the extent to which they are finding success. Submissions are due Dec. 1, 2011.
AASHE Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop
AASHE's latest Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership workshop is slated for Jan. 9-10, 2012 at Emory University (GA). For faculty leaders of all disciplines who wish to develop curriculum change programs around sustainability on their campuses, the workshop will include two days of presentations, exercises, discussions, reflection and planning. Participants will experience a range of workshop strategies, hear local experts, and enjoy outdoor place-based activities and dialogue with faculty from around the country. The deadline for applications is Oct. 28, 2011.
Call for Papers: Journal of Sustainability Education
The Journal of Sustainability Education invites submissions for its March 2012 special issue on the Geography of Sustainability. Preference will be given to authors who address emerging binaries that are guiding sustainability education including North vs. South; natural vs. cultural; carbon-based vs. electron-based; urban vs. rural; and traditional vs. modern. Submissions are due by Jan. 1, 2012.
EPA P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet Competition
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency invites higher education students and faculty to apply for its P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet competition to design solutions for a sustainable future. Winners of the first phase of the competition will receive a $15,000 grant to develop their idea. Designs will then compete at the National Sustainable Design Expo in April 2012 for the P3 Award and a $90,000 grant for real world application. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 22, 2011.
Ithaca College Online Sustainability Leadership Certificate
This Online Professional Certificate program offers practitioners the ability to credential their work as sustainability coordinators or advocates on college campuses and in other organizations across the professions. Learn to assess your institution's green policies and practice, communicate sustainability initiatives and evaluate best practices. Participants can register for a single course or a six-course certificate. New classes begin 11 times each year. Each online class is only 16 days long, but work can be completed anytime, on your schedule. Next two session start dates: Oct. 27, 2011 and Dec. 1, 2011. Discounts are available to AASHE members. Next courses include "Communicating the Organization's Sustainability Efforts," "Marketing Sustainability Initiatives," "Marketing Metrics that Matter" and "How Green is Your Organization?: Sustainable Policy and Practice."
Call for Nominations: ACPA Champion of Sustainability Award
ACPA (College Student Educators International) is currently accepting nominations for its Champion of Sustainability Award. The honor recognizes the contributions and impact of individuals and organizations regarding sustainability who have made a significant impact upon their department and/or campus by incorporating healthy environments, social justice and/or strong economies into student learning, scholarship or administrative processes. Nominations are due by Nov. 18, 2011 and can be e-mailed to kedward2@macalester.edu.
STARS Discount During AASHE 2011
Institutions that register for AASHE's STARS program during the week of the AASHE 2011 conference (October 9-14) will receive a $250 discount. Registration will be discounted to $650 for AASHE member institutions and to $1,150 for non-members. This offer applies to new registrants only.
Call for Submissions: U Oregon 'Unintended Consequences' Project
The University of Oregon's Office of Sustainability invites submissions for its Unintended Consequences project. The university is collecting the unintended consequences of good design to inform a paper that will provide sustainability practitioners, including those at campuses, with useful insights that result in better design. Send stories to Steve Mital at smital@uoregon.edu by Dec. 20, 2011 (limit 250 words).
Environmental Health and Safety Professionals Leadership Program
Health, safety, medical and environmental professionals at higher education institutions are invited to participate in the Harvard School of Public Health's (MA) Management and Leadership Skills for Environmental Health and Safety Professionals program offered by its Center for Continuing Professional Education. The one-week program, slated for March 26-28, 2012, is designed for those who want to increase their individual effectiveness.
Provide Input for Rio+20
Join the discussion of what role higher education does, can and should play in sustainable development. AASHE is collaborating with Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (Australia) and the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (UK) to inform the delegates to the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) regarding the critical role of higher education (known in some countries as tertiary education). Comments may be recorded here for inclusion in the joint document. AASHE will also host a session titled "A Holistic Approach to Rio+20" at the AASHE 2011 Conference on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011 at 10:00 am Eastern to further discuss this input.
'America's Next Eco-Star' Campus Competition
U.S. college or university students, faculty and administrators are encouraged to submit nominations for SmartPower's "America's Next Eco-Star" competition. Each school can nominate up to three contestants, chosen by the school's sustainability director, who can accept the challenge by submitting a video about their commitment to clean energy and energy efficiency on campus. Nominations end October 28 and the deadline for video submissions is December 30.
Student Opportunity: USGBC Green Jobs Summit
Student discounts of 75 percent are available for the U.S. Green Building Council's upcoming Green Jobs Summit. Slated for Oct. 4, 2011, the summit will convene key leaders and visionaries to discuss an action plan for the green economy.
Call for Abstracts: Campus Community Partnerships Conference
The 2011 Campus Community Partnerships for Sustainability conference is now accepting presentation submissions in the areas of water and energy conservation, waste management, food, biodiversity, green building, transportation, sustainable education, social and environmental justice and living sustainably. Forty-five minute presentation abstracts are due September 26; poster presentations due October 7; and exhibits due October 21. The conference will be held Nov. 18-20, 2011 at Northern Kentucky University.
Campus Conservation Nationals 2012
Registration for Campus Conservation Nationals 2012 kicks off September 21 with a deadline of November 1. The nationwide resource use reduction competition challenges college and university campuses to achieve the greatest electricity and water use reductions during a three-week period. In the competition's inaugural year, participating institutions saved a total of $50,200 in energy costs and averted 816,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Competition begins Feb. 6, 2012.
Education for Sustainability Study Tour in Israel
The MOFET Institute, a center for the professional development of teacher educators and teachers, has announced an eight-day study tour, "Education for Sustainability: Bridging Cultural, Social and Political Gaps." Slated for March 25 - April 1, 2012, the tour will explore sustainability education in Israel throughout the education system and public campaigns including dilemmas and problem solving in the fields of energy, water, agriculture, constructions, fauna and flora and the adaptation of man to desert conditions.
EPA Climate Leadership Awards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Registry, Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Association of Climate Change Officers have established the Climate Leadership Awards. Higher education institutions and individuals are invited to apply for the awards, which recognize exemplary corporate, organizational and individual leadership in response to climate change. Specific recognition categories include Excellence in GHG Management, Supply Chain Leadership, Organizational Leadership and Individual Leadership. Award recipients will be honored at the first annual Climate Leadership Conference, to be held Feb. 29 - March 1, 2012. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 14, 2011.
Ithaca College Online Sustainability Leadership Certificate
The professional certificate in sustainability leadership from Ithaca College (NY), offered in partnership with AASHE, is for practitioners who want to apply best practices in leading sustainability initiatives. The certificate catalog features 12, two-week seminars delivered online - anytime, anywhere - with open enrollment. The program currently has three upcoming seminars that will take place Sept. 29 – Oct. 15, 2011. "How Green is Your Organization: Sustainable Infrastructure" will help sustainability coordinators apply rating tools and environmental scans to assess an organization's level of achievement with industry standards in infrastructure. "Design Effective Communication Media" will give participants an understanding of how to engage an audience and enhance comprehension of messaging through graphic design and clear, crisp persuasive writing. "Using Evaluation to Craft the Business Case for Sustainability" will cover two common methods—return on investment and social return on investment—for establishing the quantitative and qualitative benefits of investing in sustainability initiatives. The registration deadline for all is September 29 and discounts are available for AASHE members.
SEI Billion Dollar Green Challenge
The Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI), in collaboration with AASHE and American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), will launch the Billion Dollar Green Challenge on the main stage at the AASHE 2011 conference. The challenge encourages colleges and universities to invest a combined total of $1 billion in self-managed green revolving funds to finance energy efficiency improvements and provide an ongoing source for future conservation upgrades. To learn more about joining the Founding Circle of the Billion Dollar Green Challenge, contact Mark Orlowski at Mark@GreenBillion.org. The deadline to apply for inclusion in the Founding Circle is Sept. 30, 2011.
U Vermont Farmer Training Program
The University of Vermont is offering a six-month Farmer Training Program for aspiring farmers and food systems advocates. The full-time program offers the opportunity to manage a growing site and take classes from professors and expert farmers. Participants will earn a certificate in sustainable farming with an understanding of agricultural management, small-scale farming and entrepreneurial skills to start their own operation.
350.org Moving Planet Day
Campuses and communities are encouraged to participate in the upcoming Moving Planet Day on September 24, organized by 350.org. Calling for a future free from fossil fuels and dangerous climate change effects, the event aims to move the climate message along, literally. "We'll show that we can use our hands, our feet, and our hearts to spur real change," says 350.org founder Bill McKibben. "But we won't just be cycling or marching - we'll also be delivering a strong set of demands that can have real political impact."
AASHE Offering Hotel Discount for 2011 Student Summit
AASHE is offering hotels at a discounted student rate for its 2011 Student Summit. The $30 event features keynote speaker Bill McKibben, and registration includes access to the conference keynote speech by Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai and the AASHE EXPO reception. Registration for the Summit, which will feature a community service project and student networking opportunities, ends September 30.
EPA 2011 Game Day Challenge
Registration is open through September for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2011 Game Day Challenge. Open to any college or university in the U.S., the EPA initiative challenges schools to design a waste reduction plan for one regular season home football game and measure the results. The amount of waste generated and recycled will determine which school is the greenest of the gridiron.
Biomimicry Institute Student Design Challenge
The Biomimicry Institute invites submissions for its 2011 Student Design Challenge, open to students from any university. Students are challenged to use biomimicry to design a solution that improves energy efficiency, and ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions, ideally in the student's own local area. Teams must register by Oct. 1, 2011 to participate.
Call for Papers: Greening of the Campus IX
Ball State University (IN) invites abstract submissions for its "Greening of the Campus IX: Building Pedagogy" conference. The event will take place March 18-21, 2012. Faculty, students, administrators, facilities professionals and others working in campus sustainability are encouraged to share their interpretation of the conference theme as it relates to policies, operations and practices; events, programs and opportunities; clubs, organizations and groups; courses, minors and degrees; and campuses, buildings and spaces. Abstracts should be between 250 and 300 words and will be accepted through Oct. 14, 2011.
Ithaca College Online Sustainability Leadership Certificate
The Professional Certificate in Sustainability Leadership from Ithaca College (NY), offered in partnership with AASHE, is for practitioners who want to apply best practices in leading sustainability initiatives. The certificate catalog features 12, two-week seminars delivered online - anytime, anywhere - with open enrollment. The program currently has three upcoming seminars that will take place Sept. 8-24, 2011. "A Systems Approach to Sustainability" will cover awareness of sustainability as a multidimensional, dynamic interaction between interrelated and interdependent elements in an organization. Participants in "Establishing Sustainability as an Organizational Purpose" will learn how to implement a sustainability branding strategy for their organization that defines their values and interactions. "Marketing Metrics that Matter" will provide an orientation to qualitative research methods and their use in designing and implementing tools and methods for identifying high value opportunities. The registration deadline for all is September 8 and discounts are available for AASHE members.
Spring 2012 Sustainability Studies Semester in Thailand
The International Sustainable Development Studies Institute is now accepting applications for its spring 2012 study abroad semester in Thailand, including the newest study site in Laos. Designed in partnership with local communities, courses focus on the link between culture, ecology and sustainable development. The institute offers academically challenging coursework in unique learning environments from backpacking into remote upland tribal villages to sea kayaking and skindiving the islands of Southern Thailand. The deadline for applications is Oct. 14, 2011 and the early application deadline is Sept. 12, 2011.
Call for Papers: Symposium on Campus Sustainable Development
Papers are invited for the World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities in June 2012, planned as a parallel event to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The symposium, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, aims to provide institutions around the world with the chance to present works including curriculum innovation, research, activities and practical projects as they relate to education for sustainable development at the university level. Attendees will discuss methodological approaches and projects that aim to integrate the topic of sustainable development in the curriculum of universities and have the chance to network and explore possibilities for cooperation. A special issue of the International Journal of Sustainable Development will feature selected papers from the conference and the latest volume of the book series, "Environmental Education, Communication and Sustainability," will also include papers from the conference. Abstract submissions are due by Sept. 30, 2011.
Real Time Farms' Food Warrior Internship Program
Real Time Farms, a crowd-sourced online food guide, is currently accepting applications for its fall 2011 Food Warriors Internship Program. Starting September 12, the part-time internship will provide an experience-based opportunity to interact with farmers, visit farmers markets and write for the Real Time Farms blog. Real Time Farms is looking for five students or recent graduates for this unpaid internship, which may qualify for school credit. Through integrative work with all parts of the food system, interns will gain an understanding of regional food sourcing and agricultural production practices. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 24, 2011.
AASHE Bulletin Reader Survey
AASHE would like to hear from its Bulletin readers! Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey, which will take about 10 minutes to complete. The questions are designed to learn how readers interact with the AASHE Bulletin format and content, and will help inform any future content and/or design changes. Please submit your answers by Aug. 18, 2011 . For any questions, please contact bulletin@aashe.org.
AASHE Seeks Education Steering Committee Members
AASHE invites individuals at member institutions to apply for openings on its new AASHE Education Steering Committee (ESC). The ESC will provide guidance and feedback on the strategic and fiscal direction of AASHE Education projects, initiatives and resources supporting the advancement of sustainability in higher education, and oversight regarding AASHE efforts to lead the transformation of educational practices (including the curriculum) to ensure that all students acquire the knowledge, skills and dispositions to meet sustainability challenges. Committee members should possess an understanding of the AASHE mission and goals and familiarity and significant experience with the transformation of educational practices; successful professional development approaches and curricular change processes; and the development, assessment and evaluation of EfS learning outcomes.
Call for Case Studies: NWF Campus Ecology
National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Campus Ecology program is calling for case studies that showcase campus sustainability practices and global warming solutions for the 2010-2011 school year. Case studies will be featured in NWF's "ClimateEdu: News for the Green Campus" newsletter and as illustrated reports in an online searchable case study database. Submissions are due by Aug. 20, 2011.
Call for Stories: Global Edition of the AASHE Bulletin
AASHE will publish the fifth edition of its semi-annual AASHE Bulletin: Global Edition in August. We invite press releases and news article suggestions from institutions outside the U.S. and Canada for inclusion in the upcoming issue. The Global Edition covers the continued strides made by college and university campuses around the globe toward sustainability in areas including new sustainability educational programs, waste reduction efforts, public engagement initiatives, green buildings, climate and energy initiatives and more. Institutions from nearly 15 countries were represented in the March 2011 issue and we'd like to hear from even more. To submit an item for consideration, email a hyperlink to the news story or press release that is posted online to bulletin@aashe.org with the subject line, “global edition.” The deadline for submissions is Aug. 11, 2011.
USGBC Classroom to Boardroom Mentorship Opportunity
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Classroom to Boardroom Diversity Mentorship program aims to provide highly individualized executive-level mentoring to undergraduate students interested in sustainability or green building from members of USGBC's Board of Directors. Students will be provided with the tools and guidance necessary to become successful professionals in sustainability-related fields, and advocates for this work in their communities. The deadline to apply is Sept. 2, 2011.
Northwest Earth Institute EcoChallenge
Registration for the Northwest Earth Institute's EcoChallenge 2011 is now open. The event, to be held Oct. 1-15, 2011, will challenge students, faculty and staff to choose one action in the areas of water, trash, energy, food or transportation to reduce their environmental impact and stick with it for two weeks.
Call for Papers: Building a Global Future Conference
Co-sponsored by West Chester University (PA) and Universidad Nacional at Heredia (Costa Rica), the Knowledge Crossing Borders conference is seeking conference workshop papers that focus on border-crossing perspectives in broad contexts. Themed "Building a Global Future through Research and Innovative Practices," the international conference will examine how knowledge crossing regional and international borders creates both challenges and opportunities for cooperation, change, creativity and innovation. Paper topics may be related to tracks including sustainability, technology and science, globalization and transnationalization in higher education, and funding models for higher education. The conference will take place May 29 - June 3, 2012 in West Chester, Pa.
