INSIGHT into Diversity Magazine Recognizes 83 Honorees
(U.S.): INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine has announced the 83 recipients of its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award. The national award, open to all colleges and universities throughout the U.S., was dispensed based on an institution’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, and include all aspects of diversity including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community.
Michigan State U Launches New Website
(U.S.): The university's new virtual Sustainability Guidebook organizes the school's environmental efforts and illustrates to other communities how initiatives can be emulated.
Northwestern U Offers Green Office Certification
(U.S.): The university's new Green Office program helps decrease a department or office’s environmental impact by offering guidance on energy and water conservation, waste reduction, and increasing environmental awareness in the workplace. The certification requires that 75 percent of an office or department agree to participate in the program.
U Oregon Releases Seven Year Progress Report
(U.S.): The recently released new report, Sowing Change, details the growth and evolution of the university's environmental improvement projects on campus. Categorized by five areas identified in the university's Office of Sustainability mission statement, leadership, policy development, projects and programs, monitoring, and outreach, some of the projects featured include the climate action plan, student sustainability fund and green office program.
Weber State U Sustainability Center Gets Board Approval
(U.S.): The proposed Sustainability Practice and Research Center, with support from a half-time faculty director and a full-time sustainability coordinator, will include workshops, lectures, student projects, field-based courses and guest speakers.
Northwestern U to Recognize Campus Sustainability Champions
University community members who have identified innovative initiatives to reduce energy, water or waste, or engage their fellow employees in greening their physical environment will now be honored at a quarterly Service Excellence luncheon. The three types of awards to be dispensed are the Student Excellence in Sustainability, Faculty and Staff Excellence in Sustainability, and the Green Office Excellence Award.
George Mason U Achieves STARS Gold
Through new and recent efforts such as a Sustainability Learning Living Community, a Green Job Networking Fair and new certificates available to students that are related to sustainability, the university improved their STARS rating from silver to gold in September.
STARS 2014 Annual Review Released
(U.S.): AASHE's most recent publication uncovered some new and notable trends such as an increase in the reports submitted from associate and baccalaureate colleges, and an increase in average scores within subsequent STARS reports.
Cornell U Aims to Revise Climate Neutrality Target Date
In an effort to achieve carbon neutrality, the university's Climate Neutrality Acceleration Working Group recently proposed moving the target date from 2050 to 2035 by enhancing education and engagement of student learning, faculty research and staff participation in an updated plan.
Forbes: STARS Must Know Resource
AASHE's STARS program was recently named as one business metric that is vitally important to use in the sustainably focused economy.
Two Institutions Submit STARS Ratings
University of California Santa Barbara and Saint Mary's College of California submitted and received ratings in AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) during August.
Sustainable Endowments Institute Analyzes STARS [LINK UPDATED]
An analysis was recently released of STARS data from institutions that earned at least one of the six investment credits. AASHE was briefed about the research process, but the report was developed independently and AASHE has not partnered nor endorsed the report.
Joliet Junior College to Take on STARS
In order to promote a sustainable culture, economy and social environment, and to capture current sustainability efforts as a baseline for improvement, the college recently formed a committee to complete a STARS assessment as part of its strategic goals.
Clark Atlanta U Releases HBCU Green Report
The Building Green Initiative at the university and the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development recently released the HBCU Green Report, a scan of campus sustainability initiatives underway at Historically Black Colleges and Universities that reveal innovations and growing determination among students, faculty and administrators. The survey used for the report included five categories: administration, green building, student involvement, food and recycling, and climate change and energy.
Gonzaga U Hires First Director of Sustainability
The university furthers its commitment toward sustainability through the recent hire of Jim Simon acting as the first director of sustainability. Prior to this position, he served as the sustainability engagement coordinator at University at Buffalo. His work will support the university’s commitments to the Real Food Challenge, St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Challenge.
Sierra Magazine Ranks ‘Coolest Schools’
The eighth annual ranking of colleges and universities measures environmental achievements and goals based upon Sierra’s value of environmental priorities. This year’s top 10 includes the University of California, Irvine; American University; Dickinson College; Loyola University, Chicago; Lewis and Clark College; Stanford University; University of South Florida; Green Mountain College; University of Connecticut and Georgia’s Institute of Technology.
14 Institutions Earn STARS Rating
As part of AASHE's ongoing efforts engage and recognize the full spectrum of colleges and universities, once per month the Bulletin will publish the names of those institutions that have recently submitted for a STARS rating. Having acquired a rating in July, congratulations to Bentley University, Colgate University, Colorado College, Concordia College Moorhead, Emory University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Macalester College, Okanagan College, Smith College, Stanford University, University of New Hampshire, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vassar College and Western Michigan University.
Princeton Review Releases Green Rating
Aiding students in their decision to apply to or attend a school, the Green Rating project, now in its seventh year, has reported its annual rating of 861 colleges and universities based upon their sustainability-related practices, policies and academic offerings.
'Best College Rankings' Releases Green College List
The website bestcollegerankings.org recently announced its ranking of 100 U.S. colleges and universities that teach sustainable practices, offer community outreach, and manage sustainability-focused websites.
Anne Arundel CC Names First Diversity Officer
(U.S.): As part of the college's commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, the new Chief Diversity Officer, James A. Felton III, will take a leadership role in meeting the needs of the college’s increasingly diverse student body while building an inclusive climate on campus. Before coming to the community college, Felton was the inaugural Director for Intercultural Affairs and an adjunct instructor for Human Services at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Utah State U Connects Sustainability Message to Student Values
The college implemented its Blue Goes Green campaign, part of which includes student green fee, which brought on student protests. A campus-wide survey to gauge student attitudes toward the implemented projects revealed the need for a new sustainability communication campaign that speaks to student values of freedom, saving money and physical health.
Colorado College Earns Changemaker Campus Designation
After months of assessments, interviews, site visits and strategy sessions, the designation for the college's work in social entrepreneurship was awarded by Ashoka U, a 26-member consortium committed to advancing social innovation initiatives and catalyzing change in higher education.
William & Mary Selects First Sustainability Director
The college's newly appointed director, Calandra Waters Lake, comes on the heels of a temporary fellow position and will report jointly to the Committee on Sustainability and the Office of Strategic Initiatives. Lake will be responsible for promoting the sustainability goals of the college, exploring fundraising opportunities, monitoring distribution of green fees, and coordinating sustainability activities across campus between students, faculty, staff and the local community. Lake holds a Bachelor of Science in natural resources from Virginia Polytechnic Institute as well as a Master of Arts in education from William & Mary.
U Alberta Initiates Green Certification Program
The new Green Spaces Certification Program helps students, faculty and staff integrate sustainable practices into campus offices, labs, events or living spaces through reducing waste, protecting natural resources, supporting social inclusion and its local community.
International Sustainable Campus Announces 2014 Award Winners
(Worldwide): The International Sustainable Campus Network's Excellence Awards recognize sustainable campus projects that demonstrate leadership, creativity, effectiveness and outstanding performance in the areas of Integration, Building, Campus and Student Leadership. The 2014 awards were presented to University of Washington (U.S.) in the Excellence in Integration category; Shandong Jiaotong University (China) in the Excellence in Building category; University of Gothenburg (Sweden) in the Excellence in Campus category; and University of Exeter (U.K.) in the Excellence in Student Leadership category.
Pondicherry U Signs Talloires Declaration
(India): The recent signing of the commitment is a symbolic representation to develop sustainability-related skills among students and scholars and to disseminate knowledge to its community.
U Washington Seattle Gains International Accolades
The university was selected for the winning prize in the International Sustainable Campus Network's Excellence Award Integration category, and was cited for projects or initiatives that have integrated sustainability into the culture, community and/or operations. While the University of Washington was the only U.S. school to win a top honor, the Excellence Award also recognized three other sustainable campuses that demonstrate leadership, creativity, effectiveness and outstanding performance in the areas of Building, Campus and Student Leadership. Find out more details in next week's Bulletin: Global Edition.
Nanyang Technological U Launches 'EcoCampus' Initiative
(Singapore): The newly launched plan calls for a 35 percent reduction energy and water usage, carbon footprint and waste output by year 2020, and will initiate 12 key research projects at the campus' CleanTech Park with a $20 million investment.
Penn State U Creates Communications Initiative
(U.S.): The new Sustainability Communications Initiative will conduct original sustainability communication research that can be shared with communication practitioners, will partner with other organizations to create databases of existing sustainability research that will be shared with the media and communication practitioners, and will work with student groups at the university to promote sustainability knowledge and behaviors on campus and in the State College community.
Amherst College to Establish Environmental Sustainability Office
To raise awareness for environmental efforts within the college community, the university's soon-to-be-opened office will focus on coordinating campus operational sustainability initiatives and on further incorporating sustainability issues into research and teaching.
Black Hills State U Dining Receives Green Certification
Several of the university's dining services facilities have recently been designated as 2-Star Certified Green Restaurants by the Green Restaurant Association through sustainability work in the areas of water efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable furnishings and building materials, sustainable food, energy, disposables and chemical and pollution reduction.
Seven Schools Receive 'Canada's Greenest Employers' Recognition
Now entering its 8th year, the Canada's Greenest Employers competition recognizes the employers that lead Canada in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their organizations. The seven schools are Georgian College, Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology, Red River College, University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Northern British Columbia, and York University.
U Maryland College Develops Sustainability Plan
The university's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences new sustainability plan complements its Climate Action Plan and was designed to serve as a guide for other colleges to join BSOS in this effort to improve the sustainability of the campus and community as a whole. The publication features the vision and background, objectives, implementation plan and metrics.
Dalhousie U Releases Natural Environment Plan
The new plan represents four years of collaborative research that will formally recoginize vegetation, beneficial wildlife, water and air quality in campus natural environment management activities. Using surveys and interviews to determine management priorities from constituents, the plan is organized into three sections: planning, implementation, and operation and management review.
U Buffalo Releases Sustainability Dashboard
A key component to help the university achieve its commitment to become climate neutral by 2030, the recently launched dashboard tracks real-time electricity use in more than 145 buildings, and uploads monthly data on water consumption, solar-power generation, natural gas use.
Wake Forest U to Develop Well-Being Survey
The university’s administration and a few faculty members have been working on a survey that is designed to determine whether the college is helping its students find meaning and purpose in their lives. The university has six main areas it wants to explore: self-reported well-being; the level of meaning and purpose students find in their lives; “belongingness”; commitment to others; grit and perseverance; and physical health.
Building Green Initiative Names Ten Greenest HBCUs
(U.S.): The Building Green Initiative at Clark Atlanta University ranked Historically Black Colleges and Universities based on administration, energy efficiency, green building, recycling, renewable energy generation, food, transportation, purchasing and student involvement. Of the 43 respondents to the survey, the top ten are (public schools) University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University; Elizabeth City State University; North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University; and (three-way tie) Morgan State University, Bowie State University and Mississippi Valley State University; (private) Spelman College; Howard University; Morehouse College; Livingstone College; and (tie) Claflin University and Clark Atlanta University.
Seattle U Publishes First Sustainability Report
(U.S.): The recently released four-year sustainability progress report highlights the institution's climate action plan and its goals for academics and research, co-curricular education, environmental justice, operations, and strategies for the future.
U Hawai'i Manoa Hires First Sustainability Coordinator
(U.S.): Aurora Winslade, previous director of sustainability at the University of Hawai'i West O'ahu, is now charged with moving Manoa's sustainability efforts forward as directed in its strategic plan, and hopes to empower campus leaders, staff, faculty, students who care about campus sustainability.
Ursinus College to Form Sustainability Committee
The new committee's primary mission will be to oversee the integration of sustainability into the life of the college and to help guide and oversee the implementation of the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan. Some of the subcommittees are tree care, sustainable student experience, sustainable facilities and energy conservation, and membership on the committees is open to campus members.
Bucknell U Creates Sustainability Council
At the university's recent Sustainability Symposium, the president promised a ten-fold increase in green project funding and the creation of a President's Sustainability Council to address large-scale initiatives at the highest administrative level.
Calicut U Institutes Green Campus Awards
(India): The university's new award program will select the most environmentally-friendly and sustainable campus among its 421 campuses, and will be based upon initiatives implemented on the campus including water conservation, number of students engaged in environmental activities, campus greening activities, and environment-related academic activities.
U Washington Lab Receives Green Lab Certification
(U.S.): The university-developed certification recently delivered a bronze achievement to an on-campus lab for its efforts to reduce energy consumption, divert waste from the landfill, and signage that educates technicians about lab sustainability.
Central College to Develop Strategic Sustainability Vision
The college's soon to be developed plan for undergraduate sustainability education will include support for course development, student research opportunities, faculty workshops, and the integration of carbon reduction activities that stimulate citizenship skills.
Humboldt State U Produces Virtual Residential Room
The new website encourages healthy and sustainable living habits through its interactive website that allows users to get more information about green cleaning, ridesharing, buying reused items, indoor air quality, energy efficiency and waste reduction.
Lehigh U Hosts Regional Campus Sustainability Conference
Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC), a consortium of six private colleges and universities, recently offered a regional Campus Sustainability Conference with focused workshops on divestment, climate change, green theatre, strategies for sustaining sustainability and environmental leadership.
Illinois Wesleyan U to Open Social Justice Center
The university's new Center for Human Rights and Social Justice will host programs and activities to enhance opportunities for collaboration and exchange of ideas that tie the theme to the academic mission of the institution.
