A $25,000 grant from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture will help the University of Iowa locate and procure sources of biomass fuel to replace coal at the main power plant. Several working groups will study different types of renewable biofuels including invasive plants, switchgrass and miscanthus grass.

Territorial Hall has been named the winner of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities' second annual residence hall sustainability competition for reducing its energy use during the month-long competition by 4.4 percent. If all residence halls conserved resources over the course of an entire year at the same rate as the top ranking residence halls during the competition, the university reports that it would save more than $120,000 annually.

The University of Missouri's new Solar Dok, a table equipped with solar panels for charging electronic devices, was funded by student fees. The table features a battery bank that stores energy for use when the sun’s rays are not as strong and a charge controller that displays the amount of solar energy being produced.

Recently adopted efficiencies by Unity College's (Maine) IT department include thin client computers in place of PC desktop units that cost half as much and are projected to save nearly $12,000 per year.

In an effort to ease the transition from community colleges and reduce admissions hurdles, environmental college Unity College (Maine) has announced that students who have earned an associate degree will automatically be accepted for enrollment. Students have to show a "C" or better in a college level math, science and composition course with an overall GPA of at least 2.5.

Expanding on a previously offered minor, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's new sustainable and renewable energy systems major will feature technology and project management tracks that cover sustainability, wind and solar energy, building efficiency, biomass energy and project management.

A year after unveiling four electric car charging stations on its main campus, Western Michigan University has announced that 20 electric vehicle charging stations are now connected to the university’s power grid and available to the public free of charge.

Organized by student organizations Greening the Greeks and Green Campus, the Green Cup at the University of California, Berkeley challenged 18 Greek chapters to reduce their per capita electricity and natural gas consumption in October and November 2011 through educational presentations, basic retrofits, motivation from chapter leaders and a $2,000 prize incentive for the winning chapter. Phi Gamma Delta fraternity was announced the winner after reducing its per capita electricity consumption by 40 percent and natural gas consumption by 24 percent. In total, participating chapters avoided 11 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and $5,600 in utility bills.

The White House has announced the five winners of its Campus Champions of Change Challenge. Selected through an online popular vote, the winners include a permaculture initiative at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; a food pantry at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; a microfinance program that combats rural poverty at Grinnell College (IA); a donation program for the homeless at the University of California, Los Angeles; and an initiative to help local urban teenagers learn better financial skills at the University of Chicago (IL).

In partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, AASHE has announced the campuses chosen for Tree Campus USA planting events this spring. One hundred trees will be planted as part of a service learning project or Arbor Day celebration at Colorado State University; University of Colorado Boulder; University of Illinois, Chicago; Virginia Commonwealth University; Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY); and Purdue University (IN). In related news, several campuses have achieved Tree Campus USA designations recently for meeting the required five core standards for sustainable campus forestry which include the creation of a tree advisory committee and dedicated annual expenditures for a campus tree program. The institutions include Indiana State University, Duke University (NC) and Colorado State University, which received the distinction along with a Tree Campus USA planting event.

Aims Community College (CO) has partnered with Green Girl Recycling to decrease trash removal and associated costs by making it easier for people to find recycling locations on campus. The college will install at least 100 larger recycling containers.

Auburn University (AL) has installed 24 solar panels on the upper level of a parking garage. The energy generated by the panels will be used to offset the electricity consumed by the 12 electric vehicle-charging stations located on the parking deck.

Austin Community College's (TX) Culinary Arts Institute has adopted several sustainability initiatives including a new composting program, biodegradable food containers and recyclable cutlery. The department is currently seeking to integrate local farmers into the purchase of food for its restaurants.

Graduate business schools are seeing a slow but steady increase in women, reports a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article. The Graduate Management Admission Council credits the rise to an interest in one-year master's degrees, which have increased in recent years.

Chippewa Valley Technical College (WI) has installed a metal tree composed of solar panels to provide energy for the campus greenhouse. The solar tree’s main function is to provide a learning experience for the students involved in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning program. The $10,000 cost was funded by a grant and donations.

Colorado State University's Police Department has installed a DIY bike repair station to promote bicycling on campus. The station is equipped with an air pump, screwdrivers, various wrenches and a tire lever. Campus bike registrations and bicycle tickets funded the $1,300 project.

Harvard University's (MA) Kramer Lab has earned LEED Silver certification. A heavy focus was placed on the reuse of existing elements, as well as the application of sustainable furniture and materials. The lab is the Faculty of Arts and Sciences' 25th LEED certification, achieving an average total 25.4 percent reduction in lighting power density.

National University (CA) has announced the completion of rooftop and carport solar power systems. With over 3,000 panels, the two systems are expected to produce enough energy to power 85 percent of the electricity at the Technology and Health Sciences Center and 35 percent at the Spectrum Business Park Campus. The university expects to save more than $1.6 million over the next 20 years.

New York University’s WILF Hall has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. A green roof and two planted terraces help insulate the building year-round and filter pollutants out of rainwater, reducing runoff into the sewers. More than 90 percent of all construction and demolition debris was reused or recycled. Additional features include bicycle storage and showers for commuting riders.

Okanagan College (BC) has received a $100,000 gift from Great-West Life, half of which will be used to develop a three-year sustainable construction management technology program. The program has already received support from the Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of British Columbia and major construction firms. The other half of the donation will cover capital costs for the college's Centre for Excellence.

Rasmussen College (MN) has announced an 11 percent reduction in tuition for its for medical administration degree program. In effect starting in April, the tuition decrease is in response to President Obama's call to institutions to reign in college costs. In early 2011, the college also lowered the credit cost of its medical assisting associate degree program.

Rutgers University (NJ) has partnered with the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group’s Energy Service Corps for a “Green the Greek” initiative. The program targets on-campus sorority and fraternity houses for weatherization projects, and teaches residents the basics. Once completed, sorority and fraternity members help with additional energy audits around campus.

Saint Louis University (MO) has launched an accelerated Master of Sustainability degree program. The Center for Sustainability gives undergraduate students a head start on the program with the option to complete up to one full year of graduate coursework prior to enrollment, allowing them to complete the degree in one year.

San Jose State University (CA) has received a grant from the Valley Transportation Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bay Area Quality Management District to launch a regional bike sharing program this spring. The program will include 400 bicycles and 40 bike share stations.

Stanford University (CA) has been recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters by the National Center for Transit Research for the ninth consecutive year. The university also received the "Best Of" award in the Best Workplaces for Commuters 2011 Race to Excellence.

With 168 buildings participating in the recent winter break energy curtailment effort, Stanford University (CA) has reported a savings of $266,000 in operating costs. This is a 32 percent increase from 2010. Since 2001, the winter curtailment program has saved about $2.5 million.

Organized by its Wesley Foundation and Community Renewal, Texas Christian University is providing students with resources to learn about indoor gardening. Students pick their own seeds and plant them in containers for their rooms as part of a "Garden in a Tight Spot" workshop.

In an effort to encourage bus ridership to campus, the University at Albany (NY) has implemented a new GPS tracking system on their bus fleet. The wireless system allows the university community to see the location of buses via smart phone or monitors placed around campus. The university received a $166,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the NYS Department of Transportation for the project.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have started projects to develop and deploy systems to modernize the nation’s electrical grid system into one that relies on renewable energy. The "smarter, greener electric grid for the future" would enable drivers to plug their cars into a grid predominately powered by solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. The research will work toward California Gov. Jerry Brown’s call to install 12,000 megawatts of renewable power generation in the state by 2020.

The University of California, Berkeley’s College of Chemistry has received a $3.5 million gift from the Dow Chemical Company Foundation to design a new curriculum based on the principles of sustainability and green chemistry. The lab curriculum will be revised to incorporate sustainability into every experiment. The funding will also be used to renovate the teaching labs to be more energy-efficient.

The University of Iowa's State Hygienic Laboratory has earned LEED Gold certification. The building's grounds feature xeriscaping, which uses plants suited to the climate so that no special watering is needed. Ninety percent of the building has access to natural light and more than one-third of the building products are made from recycled content.

The University of Maryland College Park has announced $130,000 in Sustainability Fund awards. Supported by a student sustainability fee, the fund will aid composting, wind, green roof, food recovery and aquaponics research this year, among other projects.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, recognized as a Carnegie Engaged Institution for its work in the community, has announced plans to revise its tenure and promotion guidelines to include community planning research, reports Inside Higher Ed. If approved, community engagement will qualify for promotion and tenure in the research, teaching or service category.

The University of Oregon's Office of Sustainability is promoting sustainability awareness on campus with a new campus-wide Green Office certification program. Offices can earn points in areas including energy and water use, purchasing and managing materials, computer and electronics usage, lighting, heating and cooling, transportation and special events to become bronze-, silver-, gold- or platinum-certified. The program also features an office-level transportation survey that generates automated reports for staff and a space-heater exchange.

Wake Forest University (NC) has implemented a new building dashboard to monitor energy use and energy reduction efforts in 39 buildings across campus. The Lucid Design Group dashboard monitors water and kilowatt usage, carbon dioxide emissions and energy costs.

Washington University in St. Louis (MO) is profiled in a recent College Planning & Management article for its pilot "blue cleaning" program. Coined by ARAMARK, the phrase refers to the elimination of chemical cleaners in favor of electrically activated water. After a successful year, the college is in the midst of a comprehensive training program to aid its transition entirely away from chemical cleaners.

Western Washington University students have designed and proposed a sustainable dorm pilot program. The project would work to get energy-efficient lights, low-flow faucets, power meters and new appliances installed in a test room. If approved, the room would serve as an educational space for students.

Over the next year, Yale University (CT) will compare a gas-powered transit van with a new all-electric van with zero emissions to determine if a permanent switch will be beneficial. A new charging station will monitor usage information including the electric van's kilowatt usage.

California’s 112 community colleges reported that revenues from student fees are $107 million below projections for the current fiscal year as more economically strapped students seek and receive fee waivers, reports a recent article in the Los Angeles Times. In addition, property tax revenues also fell short of estimates by about $41 million. The state’s community colleges chancellor said the shortfall would result in the further reduction of course sections, additional borrowing and staff reductions. Student fees will also be raised from $36 to $46 per unit this summer.

The University of California, Office of the President has released its annual report on sustainability practices in its system. To date, highlights include 87 LEED certifications (including new construction, renovations, homes and existing building certifications; more than $32 million in annual cost savings from energy efficiency projects; and nine campuses that are diverting at least 50 percent of municipal waste from landfills. The University of Winnipeg’s (MB) Board of Regents has approved a comprehensive new sustainability plan aimed at strengthening sustainability-minded practices in all aspects of campus life. Ten specific goals will guide actions over the next four years including the reduction of water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and diverting 65 percent of all waste through composting and recycling by 2014. McGill University (QC) has embarked on Vision 2020: Creating a Sustainable McGill, a year-long consultation process to build an overarching sustainability vision and action plan for the entire university community. The conversation will happen online and at various events on its two campuses throughout 2012. The collaborative, student-driven initiative is being carried out with funding from the university's Sustainability Projects Fund. Yale University's (CT) Office of Sustainability has released its 2011 Strategic Plan Progress Report, outlining long-term goals and the progress made to date. Progress in 2011 included a 20 percent reduction in campus waste, a 15.3 percent reduction in campus energy consumption since 2005 and $39,825 awarded to campus sustainability projects through its new microloan program. Michigan State University has unveiled its Energy Transition Plan, a strategic document to help the university toward 100 percent renewable energy. With this plan, the university will pursue aggressive, sustainable energy conservation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; invest in sustainable energy research and development; and work to become an educational leader in sustainable energy. The University of Michigan's Office of Campus Sustainability has released its 2011 Annual Sustainability Report covering more than 170 environmental metrics. Highlights include the completion of a Campus Sustainability Integrated Assessment and subsequent goals to reduce its environmental impact; an 8 percent reduction in campus energy use; and 3 percent drop in total waste production from fiscal year 2010.

A graduate student Environmental Design Team at Clarkson University (NY) recently earned the first place platinum award at the 2012 International Capstone Design Contest on Renewable Energy Technology in South Korea for its integrated food and waste management system. Housed in a passive solar building with an aeroponic growing system, LED lights and extensive sensors and controls for energy efficiency, the cold climate greenhouse converts campus food waste into heat, electricity and fertilizer. The international competition is sponsored by Mokpo National University and Offshore Wind Energy Center.

Nine District of Columbia university presidents have joined Mayor Vincent C. Gray to sign his College and University Sustainability Pledge (CUSP). An effort to help drive city-wide engagement and progress toward a sustainable city, the pledge is an agreement to pursue sustainability measures related to energy use and buildings, green education, transportation, waste reduction, grounds maintenance, purchasing, and the management and reporting of progress. Each higher education signatory will implement its own commitments and goals for sustainability by the pledge's Dec. 31, 2012 deadline, when the District of Columbia aims to declare itself the “Greenest College Town in America.”

Florida A&M University has passed a new Student Green Energy Fund. Between 25 cents and $1 per credit hour will be paid by each student toward energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on campus. The fund is sponsored by the university’s Green Coalition, which works with campus officials to create a more sustainable campus.

Furman University's (SC) Center for Corporate and Professional Development has introduced a new online process that allows businesses to identify, benchmark and reduce their energy, water and waste management operating costs. The BEST (Businesses Engaged in Sustainability for Tomorrow) program generates a series of recommendations and estimated costs and savings through a custom dashboard specific to each business.

Illinois State University’s Department of Management and Quantitative Methods has announced a new minor in business environment and sustainability. The program is designed to help organizations hire trained and competent professionals to champion sustainability initiatives within the organization. Course subjects will include foundations in sustainability, environmental systems and social systems.

Members of Iowa State University’s ActivUs student organization recently held a press conference urging administrators to eliminate the burning of coal on campus. The organization has collected 2,500 signatures calling for the use of renewable energy resources instead.

Iowa's Board of Regents has released a strategic plan to improve the higher education retention and graduation rates of underrepresented minority students by 2016. Key components include providing academic guidance, building a cohort group of fellow students to act as a support network, scholarship programs and targeted summer orientation. The University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa will work to close the gap between the six-year graduation rates of underrepresented minority students and nonminority students by 50 percent.

Michigan State University has started saving thousands of dollars in construction costs by using recycled concrete for campus projects. The university is keeping the discarded concrete from the landfill by using it mainly as a sub-base beneath sidewalks and asphalt parking lots.

Based on student concerns, Northeastern University (MA) has announced that it won't consider restaurant chain Chick-Fil-A for a spot in the student union. Based on reports that the company has donated to groups that lobby against measures that promote equity for gay people, the Student Government recommended the ban.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst's Permaculture Committee, recently featured in AASHE's Sustainability Student Diary series, is one of 15 finalists in President Barack Obama's Campus Champions of Change Challenge. Online voters will choose five projects that "best embody the president's goal to win the future." Other finalists include a program that provides local produce, breads and dairy to faculty and students at Brown University (RI); a food pantry for students in crisis at the University of Arkansas; an educational reform coalition at Princeton University (NJ); and a mentoring program for youth at the University of Missouri.