The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that the majority of college trustees are white, male and over 50 years old, according to the results of two surveys released in November by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. Whites account for 74.3 percent of the trustee spots at public institutions and 87.5 percent at private institutions, compared with 77.7 percent and 88.1 percent, respectively, in 2004. Women and minorities have gained little ground in the six years since the association's last survey. At 28.4 percent, the share of women serving on governing boards today is almost 2 percent less than it was in 1997. The two surveys yielded responses from 195 public institutions and 507 private institutions.

A group of environmental science students at Humboldt State University (CA) has teamed up with the university's Waste Reduction and Resource Awareness Program, Plant Operations and Environmental Health and Safety to launch e-waste collection drives on campus. The students plan to divert waste like cell phones, laptops, keyboards and alarm clocks from the landfills while raising awareness about the social and environmental impacts of e-waste. The collection drives are open to university students, faculty and staff.

Linfield College (OR) has reduced its campus kitchen food waste by about one-third as part of a Sodexo, Inc. pilot project to track and monitor campus food waste at eight U.S. institutions. Part of its "Stop Wasting Food Campaign," Sodexo partnered with food waste tracking system technology company LeanPath for the pilot study, which is focused on kitchen - or pre-consumer - waste, rather than what customers throw out. The study features a tracking station at each participating school where employees enter data about what they are throwing out and why. Each school has a Stop Waste Action Team (SWAT) to review the waste tracking data, set specific goals for improvement and test waste prevention ideas. Linfield College weighs its pre-consumer waste everyday to calculate the dollar amount that is wasted. Other institutions participating in the waste-reduction pilot program include Coe College (IA); California State University, Monterey Bay; Juniata College (PA); Marist College (NY); Pomona College (CA); University of California, Davis; and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Lone Star College-Montgomery (TX) has been chosen by the National Algae Association to host a commercial-scale, closed-loop photobioreactor. The photobioreactor will generate green crude from pond scum, which will be used with waste vegetable oil collected from the community to create biodiesel fuel. Students will have the opportunity to help the biotechnology program conduct research through on-site internships and develop partnerships within the energy industry.

Loyola University Chicago’s (IL) Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy collected donations of used turkey grease, animal fat and vegetable oil after Thanksgiving. The center’s biodiesel program will convert the oil collected into biodiesel to be be used in campus vehicles. Additionally, a byproduct of biodiesel will be used to make soap to sell in campus stores.

The Missouri University of Science and Technology has announced plans to replace a 65-year-old campus power plant with a geothermal system. The university’s project was approved for debt financing by the University of Missouri Board of Curators and will receive $32.4 million in revenue bond financing. The system is expected to save $1.4 million in energy and campus operational costs annually. The project will take approximately five years to complete.

Northern Essex Community College (MA) has announced the implementation of single-stream recycling on campus. A joint effort among the city of Havervill and the college's Facilities Management and Environmental Impact and Sustainability Committee, all recyclables including paper, cardboard, plastic and glass can be deposited in the same bin. The college also purchased additional recycling bins.

Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg’s newest residence hall has received LEED certification. The 30,000-square-foot building opened in August and houses approximately 100 students. Sustainable features include energy-efficient lighting systems, recycled carpet with low VOC levels, low-flow plumbing fixtures and rain gardens. Local resources were also utilized during construction.

Purdue University (IN) has received a $1.2 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to promote organic farming in Indiana. The university will focus on increasing information on organic farming practices and identify potential economic and marketing obstacles and opportunities for organic farmers. The grant will also help start a student farm on about three acres west of campus.

Syracuse University (NY) has partnered with Impact Technologies Group of Syracuse to form the Clean Energy Collaborative, which will work to develop innovative wind turbines and bring to market wind- and solar-powered street lights. The alliance is working on prototypes of new light poles that integrate wind, solar energy and new LED lamps to illuminate streets, parking lots and pedestrian paths. The group is focused on small wind turbines that generate 100 kilowatts or less and how best to utilize them in an urban setting. Students will have opportunities to work on the projects with professional designers and engineers.

The University at Buffalo (NY) has launched a pilot program with Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority that will allow students, faculty and staff to purchase metro rail passes at a discounted rate. Student rail-only passes will be available for $10 per semester, and faculty and staff passes for $30 per year. The university expects the lowered prices to decrease traffic and help reduce the university’s carbon footprint.

The University of California, Berkeley has opened a new bicycle maintenance education center. BicyCAL members will offer free repairs and do-it-yourself information to the campus community. The program hopes the education provided will enable students to become excited about bike transportation. The center was funded by a $12,000 Green Initiative Fund grant. BicyCAL now hopes to create a bike sharing program.

The University of California, Davis aims to reduce its lighting energy use by 60 percent by 2015 with its newly-launched Smart Lighting Initiative. The university has installed energy-saving projects in campus parking structures, dorms and staff office buildings and future projects will be based on innovations developed or refined by designers and engineers at the California Lighting Technology Center. The initiative is expected to cost $39 million. The California Statewide Energy Partnership Program will fund $4 million and the remaining $35 million will be paid for by energy savings.

In connection with its "Buy Nothing Movement," the University of South Carolina recently offered an alternative to throwing away old items and shopping for new ones with its "Freecycling" initiative. The student-initiated event encouraged the campus community to bring unwanted items for participants to sort through and take free of charge. Unclaimed items at the end of the event were taken to Goodwill and the Salvation Army store. Attendees were asked to pledge to buy nothing the day after Thanksgiving in an effort to promote non-consumerism and educate people about the increasing amount of waste created by a consumer based society.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has installed solar panels on top of its College of Business and Economics building. The 32.4-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array is expected to generate about 39,755 kilowatts per year. The solar installation was funded by grants from Focus on Energy and WE Energies. The university hopes the solar array will provide students with an ongoing example of how solar energy can contribute to the energy supply needed to keep a building running.

The American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) has signed on as an academic partner to the R20 - Regions of Climate Action alliance. Officially launched this month at the third Governors’ Global Climate Summit in California, the R20 is a subnational public-private alliance that will partner with organizations and individuals from the private sector, academia, national governments, international organizations and civil society to build momentum for climate action at the national and international levels. The alliance aims to develop and implement low-carbon and climate resilient projects through cooperation among subnational governments from around the world and within five years, aims to have at least 20 subnational governments enact comprehensive low-carbon policies and implement projects. The R20 hopes to expand the global green economy, create new green jobs and build commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

American Public University System (WV) has dedicated its new energy-efficient academic center, designed to meet LEED Gold certification. Environmentally friendly features were employed during the construction and material selection of the 45,000-square-foot building to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The center will feature an extensive recycling program and two electric vehicles for local travel.

Bates College (ME) has announced plans to turn down the heat in buildings across campus during the winter break in an effort to reduce campus energy consumption. Buildings occupied during the break will be maintained at an average of 65 degrees Fahrenheit and unoccupied buildings will be heated to 55 degrees. The college’s Committee on Environmental Responsibility and Energy Task Force estimates that the curtailment program will save more than $50,000 in energy costs over the break.

Bristol Community College (MA) has opened a new facility for training Massachusetts’ work force for jobs in weatherization, energy auditing, solar power and other environmentally friendly occupations. The Green Center includes replicas of different parts of a home, including exterior siding, an interior wall and the cross-section of an attic. The goal of the center is to prepare students to take advantage of the green economy.

Carleton College (MN) has announced plans to erect a second, utility-grade wind turbine that will provide power directly to the college’s electrical grid. Pending final approval from City of Northfield and Rice County officials, construction will begin in spring 2011. The proposed output of the turbine is estimated around 5,000 megawatts of power per year, potentially reducing the college's annual consumption of purchased electricity by 30 to 40 percent.

Central Michigan University has placed 100 new recycling bins around campus. The new receptacles are painted maroon and gold to stand out to and make it difficult for students to ignore. The university conducted research to determine where the heaviest traffic occurs and placed the bins accordingly. The university expects the new bins to help increase the amount of recycled waste.

College of the Desert's (CA) Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation Nursing Complex has earned LEED Silver certification. Sustainable design features include the use of solar tubes that provide lighting, PVC cool roofing and the use of recycled denim jeans as insulation. The complex was also designed to improve indoor air quality, thermal comfort and classroom day lighting.

The results of the 2010 Campus Conservation Nationals reveal DePauw University (IN) as the top electricity reducer among the 40 institutions that participated in the first annual nationwide electricity and water use reduction competition. To achieve its 25.8 percent reduction, the DePauw Energy Wars team motivated students by listing energy-saving "Battle Tactics" on residence hall bulletin boards to illustrate concrete ways to reduce energy consumption. Students could also become "Conservation Vigilantes," going beyond individual actions to coordinate with others in their residence hall. Toward the end of the 19-day competition held this month, the university organized "The Big Turn-Off," an hour-long event that encouraged students to turn everything off in their rooms and congregate in the main area. DePauw University will receive Lucid Design Group's Building Dashboard software for two buildings, allowing students to view, compare and share building resource use data. Taking home top water reduction honors was Humboldt State University (CA) with a 15.4 percent reduction in participating residence halls. In total, participating institutions saved $50,200 in energy costs and averted 816,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Students, faculty and Duke University (NC) alumni are encouraged to transform socially minded theories into practice through the university's new campus-wide initiative to develop entrepreneurial ventures. The effort will build on ideas generated in existing campus social innovation programs by seeking opportunities to partner with private companies and the local community. One example of such an effort is Bull City Forward, a community of innovators who develop and scale solutions to community challenges and entrepreneurial opportunities. Led by the director of the university's Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative, Bull City Forward recently opened a storefront hub for social entrepreneurs.

To help students prepare for careers in resource conservation, environmental stewardship and community service, Furman University (SC) has announced that it will offer a B.S. in sustainability science. Students can declare the major as of Nov. 2, 2010, when it was unanimously approved during a faculty meeting. Offered through the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, the program will focus on the relationships among human, social and environmental systems, and how changes in one system, directly or indirectly, affect the others.

The National Wildlife Foundation (NWF) has declared Life University's Marietta, Ga. campus a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Home to foxes, beavers, woodchucks, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, fish and several species of reptiles and amphibians, the campus contains the significant sources of wild food, water, shelter and places where wildlife can raise their young to qualify for the designation. NWF also recognized the university's conscientious planning, landscaping and sustainable gardening.

North Shore Community College (MA) has partnered with Division of Capital Asset Management to install 352 solar photovoltaic panels on its Frederick E. Berry building. The solar panels are expected to produce 5 percent of the building’s electrical requirements. The college received $333,469 in federal funds to cover the cost of the installation. Energy savings from the project will pay for the $148,050 federal government loan for Clean Renewable Energy.

North Shore Community College (MA) has announced the establishment of a green scholarship to assist students enrolled in its new environmental studies program. The scholarship was initiated by the New England Biolabs Foundation, a private foundation whose mission is to foster community-based conservation of landscapes, seascapes and biocultural diversity, because a large percentage of North Shore Community College graduates stay to live and work in the local community.

Rice University’s (TX) McMurtry College building has earned LEED Gold certification. The 324-bed residential hall was built as part of the university’s goal to expand its undergraduate population. Sustainable features include smart controls to regulate air-conditioning, motion detectors that turn off lights, passive solar design, thick exterior walls to provide high thermal mass, low flow plumbing and covered bike racks. The building was made possible by a multimillion dollar gift from university alumni.

Santa Clara University (CA) has completed the first phase of its smart microgrid installation, scheduled for a December 2011 completion. The microgrid will help the university maximize energy savings by tying its power source, transmission, distribution and consumption data to weather reports. The power source can be solar, wind, geothermal or another kind of electricity generator. The microgrid will also deliver data in real time and measure carbon emissions. The university has completed the installation of sub-meters in 14 campus buildings and integrated the smart microgrid's on-site alternative energy sources including solar and fuel cells. The next phase will connect the entire campus to the microgrid. Once completed, the university expects to reduce energy consumption by 50 percent and save about 20 percent in energy costs.

Skidmore College (NY) has hired Riley Neugebauer as its new campus sustainability coordinator. Neugebauer has significant experience working with student groups and previously held sustainability positions with American University (DC) and Allegheny College (PA). She has also worked as a research analyst in renewable energy options and energy efficiency, and currently serves on the AASHE Advisory Council. Neugebauer will work on the completion and implementation of the college's Climate Action Plan in addition to other projects that include "composting, managing the Eco-Rep program, creating awareness around diversity and sustainability, stewardship within the campus-owned forest, building community relationships and investigating alternative financing for renewable energy," she tells AASHE Bulletin.

State University New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry has partnered with National Grid and ECR International, a designer and manufacturer of hydronic and HVAC equipment, to install a freewatt plus home energy system in the campus-owned residence of the college president. The system operates using micro-combined heat and power technology, which uses a high-efficiency gas furnace or boiler combined with an engine/generator to generate heat, producing electric power as a byproduct. The electricity generated by the freewatt system can be used to power the college residence or can be sold back to the electric grid.

The University of Connecticut has launched a single stream recycling program on campus. The new program will allow users to throw all types of recycling materials including paper, plastic, glass and aluminum into a single container. Since the start of the program, 100 outdoor recycling bins have been purchased. The university expects the single stream recycling to increase campus recycling efforts.

The United Negro College Fund Institute for Capacity Building has awarded 23 green planning grants totaling $240,000 to assist with institutional sustainability planning for minority serving institutions. The grant will also encourage the institutions to participate in the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The program seeks to ensure that future campus construction is certified under the LEED program and will offer training, technical support, networking activities and resources for minority serving colleges and universities committed to sustainability.

The University of South Carolina has partnered with Keep the Midlands Beautiful and Sonoco Recycling to run a trial recycling program at off-campus student housing locations. Sonoco has provided collection bins for aluminum and plastic materials and has agreed to empty them free of charge. The university's Off-Campus Student Services is working to get groups like Students Advocating a Greener Campus involved to help expand the program past the trial phase.

The University of Toledo (OH) has partnered with Northwest State Community College (OH) to offer an alternative energy technology associate degree. The degree will offer a systems design track for those interested in developing technology and a systems service track for students interested in careers involving installation and maintenance. Students enrolled in the alternative energy technology program will be admitted to both the university and community college.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Pioneer Farm has received $1.18 million for a bio-energy project to convert manure into methane used to generate electrical power. With plans to make the farm a showcase for new bio-energy technology with educational and research opportunities for students and faculty, the project will include the construction of a manure pit, solids separator, substrate holding tank, preheating and missing tank, anaerobic digester, gas scrubber and a gas-driven electrical generator. The campus farm will test other organic material in the digester including cheese whey, food waste and byproducts from biodiesel processing. The system is estimated to save the farm about $73,000 in annual energy costs and have a 14-year payback period. A $156,200 Focus on Energy grant will be awarded when the project is completed in December 2011.

Virginia Tech Dining Services has opened its Farm and Fields Project in the Owens Food Court on campus. The project provides students with local, organic and sustainable dining options that incorporate products from both nearby producers and the university’s own farm. The project is continuously working to add a greater variety of food from local sources and has introduced an expanded selection of products including milk and ice cream.

Wake Forest University’s (NC) Golf Learning Center has received LEED Gold certification. The building features innovative heat reflecting roofing tile, low VOC paints and adhesives and native landscaping. The golf center’s location also ensures pedestrian access and eliminates the need for an asphalt parking area.

Waubonsee Community College (IL) has announced plans to launch a solar energy curriculum program in the spring of 2011 with the aid of its recently installed 24-panel photovoltaic solar array. The college will use a $120,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to fund an indoor renewable energy laboratory and other program start up costs. The college also has plans for geothermal and wind energy courses.

The Multicultural Center at Western Illinois University's Macomb campus has received LEED Silver certification. Sustainable features of the 14,000-square-foot facility include a green roof, energy-efficient lighting and a geothermal heating and cooling system. A number of recycled materials were also used during construction. The university received a $100,000 grant from Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to offset costs associated with pursuing LEED certification.

More than 100 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on June 21, 2010. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. In the November 15 issue, AASHE listed the first 70 of 131 institutions that submitted new inventories in alphabetical order. The remaining 61 campuses that have submitted new inventories include: Saint Joseph's College of Maine; Salisbury University (MD); San Antonio College (TX); San Francisco State University (CA); Santa Clara University (CA); Southern Oregon University; Southwestern College - Kansas; St. Catherine University (MN); St. Cloud State University (MN); St. Philip's College (TX); State University of New York at Buffalo; State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry; State University of New York College at Oswego; State University of New York Empire State College; SUNY Orange (NY); The College of New Jersey; The Ohio State University, Columbus Campus; Towson University (MD): Trident Technical College (SC); Trinity College (CT); Union College (NY); Unity College (ME); University of Arizona; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Davis; University of California, Irvine; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of California, Santa Cruz; University of Cincinnati (OH): University of Colorado at Boulder; University of Idaho; University of Illinois at Chicago; University of La Verne (CA); University of Maine; University of Maine at Machias; University of Maryland Baltimore County; University of Maryland College Park; University of Massachusetts Medical School; University of Nevada, Reno; University of New Hampshire; University of New Mexico-Valencia; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of Puget Sound (WA); University of Redlands (CA); University of Utah; University of Washington Bothell; University of Washington Seattle; University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; University of Wyoming; Utah State University; Valencia Community College (FL); Virginia Commonwealth University; Wake Technical Community College (NC); Warren Wilson College (NC); Washington & Jefferson College (PA); Western Iowa Tech Community College; Western Michigan University (MI); Western Oregon University; William Paterson University of New Jersey; and Wilson College (PA).

American University (DC) has begun giving incentives to bike commuters. The monthly incentive comes as a $20 Commuter Check for Bicycling voucher valid for bicycling gear and services at participating bicycle shops nationwide. The vouchers can be spent each month or accumulated for up to a year and placed toward a larger purchase. Starting this month, bike commuters can request a January 2011 voucher through PayFlex at www.healthhub.com. In accordance with the federal legislation that makes this tax free program available, this benefit is available only to commuters who are not enrolled in any other transit or parking benefit.

Georgetown University (DC) has installed three bike share docking stations near the university’s main campus. Bike share members can rent the bicycles for an annual or monthly fee. Day passes are also available. The District’s Department of Transportation and Arlington County in Virginia launched Capital Bikeshare earlier this fall to help decrease car emissions and increase healthy activity. The university has partnered on the effort as part of its overall sustainability goals.

Grand Rapids Community College (MI) has announced plans to create a renewable energy certificate and associate degree program. The college’s goal is to tie the program with the recently launched wind safety technician and green building deconstruction programs. A new solar photovoltaic installation program will begin in February.

North Carolina State University's Utilities and Engineering Department has been awarded $1.2 million for energy projects and fellowships through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The university will add 10 fellowships that will focus on synergy projects among its Energy Management Office, FREEDM Systems Center, University Sustainability Office, NC Solar Center and Advanced Energy to help launch energy programs on campus and in North Carolina. The remaining funds will go toward energy conservation measures on campus like the installation of energy-efficient lights.

Paul Smith’s College (NY) has partnered with Johnson Controls, Inc. to launch a campus-wide energy conservation program. Through building and lighting retrofits, weatherization measures and the installation of an integrated building management system, the college expects to save $4.6 million in energy costs over the next 15 years and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings on campus by 22 percent. The program is expected to be complete in December 2011.

St. Thomas University School of Law (FL) has announced a new Master of Laws in environmental sustainability. Featuring a core curriculum that includes natural resource law and policy, environmental law, Earth jurisprudence, ecology and ecosystems management for lawyers, the one-year program is open to those who have earned their Juris Doctor degree or equivalent. Students will have the opportunity for real-world experiences alongside case studies through externships and one-credit short courses led by visiting professionals that will start in March 2011.

State University New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry students recently held a recycled plastic art exhibition to increase waste awareness after a campus waste audit last spring revealed an unsettling amount of plastic waste. Works included a plastic hippopotamus and a biosphere made from a discarded television.

Students at Syracuse University (NY) hosted a denim drive throughout the month of October as part of Cotton Incorporated’s campaign, “Cotton from Blue to Green.” The denim is converted to cotton fiber insulation for houses in communities that are in need. The university collected more than 1,000 jeans, enough to insulate two houses. Since the campaign's inception in 2006, about 540 homes have received insulation.