Oakland U Receives $1M for Sustainability Center
At an event in early June, the Oakland University Credit Union announced the $1 million gift to the university, which will go toward the establishment of a Center for Environmental Sustainability and Ethics. The funds will also support a director of sustainability position and additional sustainability initiatives.
U Adelaide Publishes Sustainability Strategy
(Australia) The newly published Sustainability Strategy 2030 Here for Good aims to embed sustainability across institutional decision-making and provide graduates, communities and government leaders with the knowledge and innovations to adapt and prosper across generations. The plan includes goals and targets related to learning and teaching; research and innovation; decarbonization; investing; reporting and communications; and governance.
California State U Northridge Launches Sustainability Plan
The university's new, 10-year "Road Map to Sustainability" has ten key focus areas, each with its own action plan to achieve university-wide goals. The ten areas include: cultivating sustainability; emissions; food systems; procurement; waste; education; energy; justice, equity, diversity and inclusion; transportation and water.
SUNY ESF Renews STARS Platinum Rating
The university's latest STARS report highlights its employee sustainability educators program that supports and facilitates sustainable practices through peer education and collective action. Another point of distinction is a 41 percent reduction in waste and a 23 percent increase in waste diversion compared to a 2018 baseline.
IEN Announces Inaugural Leadership Award Recipient
Felicia Davis, co-founder of the HBCU Green Fund, was announced recently as the winner of Intentional Endowment Network's (IEN) first-ever Leadership Award. Davis was honored at IEN's 2023 summit for her decades of service in championing climate justice, her involvement in advancing the mission of HBCUs, mentoring and inspiring BIPOC individuals and women, defending democracy, and supporting a just transition to sustainable future.
Duke U Appoints Vice President & Vice Provost for Climate & Sustainability
Toddi Steelman was appointed recently to the new leadership position–vice president and vice provost for climate and sustainability–and will begin July 1. Concluding her five-year term as the Stanback Dean of Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, Steelman will become the chief administrative and academic officer in charge of advancing the Duke Climate Commitment and will lead the newly created Office of Climate and Sustainability. Lori Bennear will succeed Stellman in a two-year term as the new dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment.
Southern Illinois U Carbondale Names Sustainability Director
The university recently selected Aimee Lemrise as its new director of sustainability. Having earned her bachelor and master's degrees from SIU in geography and environmental resources, Lemrise plans to track the university's sustainability progress using STARS, seek additional funding, and create a collaborative space for sustainability research, education and partnerships.
U Vermont Publishes Sustainability Plan
The university's newly released Comprehensive Sustainability Plan outlines short- and long-term goals organized around four major themes–decarbonization; operations; governance and people; and research and learning. Highlights of the plan include a carbon neutrality goal of 2030, prioritizing renewable energy investments, developing a program focused on sustainability of campus labs, reducing waste per campus user 10 percent by 2035, and creating partnerships to support the development and training of the green workforce in Vermont.
