MIT Debuts 'Reverse Vending Machine'
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has partnered with Greenbean Recycling to pilot a Reverse Vending Machine. Students can type their phone number on a touch screen and deposit recyclables into the vending machine to be sorted for recycling. A bar-code reader inside counts the number of deposited items and uploads the data to the Greenbean website. Students can track their progress online and engage in friendly competition with fellow classmates on a recycling leaderboard. Greenbean is also offering prizes and other rewards to help increase recycling rates among students.
Oberlin College Music Conservatory Awarded LEED Gold
Oberlin College's (OH) new music conservatory has earned LEED Gold certification. Completed in 2010 for $15.5 million, the 37,000-square-foot Bertram and Judith Kohl building was designed to achieve an energy performance 50 percent beyond the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) baseline. It features a geothermal heating and cooling system, and a green roof for stormwater management. Construction materials were regionally manufactured and sustainably harvested, and 90 percent of the construction waste was transported to a local recycling facility.
San Francisco State U Awarded $1.1 M from Department of Energy
San Francisco State University (CA) has received a new five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy totaling $1.1 million for the continuation of the School of Engineering's Industrial Assessment Center. The center provides students with training to improve the energy efficiency of manufacturing plants with a focus on reducing carbon footprints, conserving energy and cutting costs.
Student Debt, Rising Tuition Protests Heat Up in U.S. and Canada
A recent story in The Christian Science Monitor profiles the wave of protests on U.S. college and university campuses that are being held in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. With rallies and walk-outs from classes, students are protesting rising costs of tuition, student debt and weak job prospects. Stating that students at more than 120 institutions have participated in protests so far, the article compares the galvanizing issue to the civil rights and Vietnam War student protests of the 1960s. On the West coast, the University of California, Davis was home to one of the most controversial incidents as students staging a peaceful sit-in were pepper-sprayed by police officers. Students at the University of California, Berkeley who were setting up an Occupy tent city on campus were beaten and arrested by police in riot gear who broke up the encampment. On the East coast, protesters from the Occupy Boston movement, local unions and area colleges marched with the message that higher education is becoming too costly for all but the privileged. Roughly 50 New Jersey City University faculty, staff and students also rallied in protest of state cuts to higher education and the high cost of student loans. In Canada, tens of thousands of university students in Quebec recently demonstrated against a proposed tuition increase of $325 a year over a five-year period. Tuition fees have been frozen for 33 of the past 43 years in Quebec. The planned hike would provide the province with $850 million more in operating revenues. Students boycotted classes during the largely peaceful protest.
SUNY Oswego Creates New Sustainability Minor
The State University of New York, Oswego has approved a new sustainability minor to provide students with greater knowledge and experience in environmental issues and the growing job market related to sustainability. Requirements include core courses in geology, economics and political science.
Temple U Fraternity Participates in Energy Audit
As part of a partnership between Temple University's (PA) Office of Sustainability and the Intrafraternity Council's Greeks Go Green organization, members of Kappa Delta Rho recently participated in an energy audit of their fraternity house. The fraternity members will replicate the energy-saving tasks they learned from a representative at the Philadelphia-based Energy Coordinating Agency in nine other fraternity houses in the Interfraternity Council.
U California Berkeley Stadium Strives for Zero Waste
The University of California, Berkeley has announced that its renovated California Memorial Stadium will reopen in September 2012 as a zero waste zone. The effort is a collaboration between the university's Cal Athletics, Campus Recycling and Refuse Services, along with recycling collection company Recology. To help reach the goal, concessions, catering and merchandise partners will modify their menus and packaging, and bins for recycling and composting will replace trash containers.
U Chicago Diverts One-Third of Homecoming Waste
During its recent annual homecoming celebration, the University of Chicago (IL) diverted approximately one third of the event waste from the landfill with a compost program. An effort of the university's Dining Services and Green Campus Initiative, guests were encouraged to bring their plates, cups, utensils and extra food to compost stations.
U Denver Renovation Receives EPA Energy Star Certification
The University of Denver's (CO) three-year overhaul and energy upgrade of the Johnson-McFarlane residence hall has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star certification. Buildings that earn the certification typically use an average of 35 percent less energy and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide than their peers. The renovation includes better insulated windows, an upgraded heating system, more efficient hot water exchangers and upgraded lighting.
Western Michigan U Receives $700K for Solar Panels
Western Michigan University has received a $700,000 grant from the Department of Energy to install solar panels on campus. The energy generated will be used for electric car charging stations and additional energy will be fed back into the university’s electrical grid.
Yale Medical School Actively Recruiting Gay Applicants
In an effort to increase an underrepresented demographic group as physicians, Yale University's (CT) School of Medicine is actively recruiting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender applicants for the first time. The university has created a brochure aimed at those applicants and is considering adding a section to the application where students can identify their sexual orientation.
Yale U Debuts Online Sustainability Campus Tour
The Yale Visitor Center has collaborated with Yale University's (CT) Office of Sustainability to launch an online sustainability tour of campus. Featuring Gardens & Grounds, Buildings and Energy sections, the tour highlights campus green roofs, LEED buildings, renewable energy installations, compost tea studies and rainwater capture systems.
Yale U Students Perform 'Energy Blitz'
As part of an environmental studies course assignment, a group of students at Yale University (CT) recently performed an "Energy Blitz," monitoring outdoor light sources across campus over a 24-hour period. In addition to increasing student awareness and involvement in energy-related issues, the assignment aims to determine what changes can be made to the current outdoor lighting system to use less energy. Once the data is collected and analyzed, the students will present their findings to the Office of Facilities to implement energy saving measures.
Average Student Loan Debt Grew 5% in 2010
A recent report by the Project on Student Debt has revealed that students who graduated from college in 2010 with student loans owed an average of $25,250, up 5 percent from the previous year, reports The New York Times. The report is based on data from more than 1,000 colleges, representing half of all public and private nonprofit four-year schools. The article points out that the average amount of debt would be even higher if the report included profit-making schools, where almost all students take out loans and, according to federal data, borrow about 45 percent more than students at nonprofits. The average debt - once again the highest on record - came as the class of 2010 faced an unemployment rate for new college graduates of 9.1 percent, the highest in recent years. The burden of student loans and the rising default rate has become a central concern of the nationwide Occupy protests.
Brandeis U Sustainability Fund Receives $25K Gift
Brandeis University (MA) has received a $25,000 Gift of Inspiration for Education from National Office Furniture. The gift will boost the university's Student Sustainability Fund, enabling the Sustainability Fund Committee to implement larger investment projects and allow students greater opportunities to further campus sustainability initiatives.
DePauw U Creates Campus Farm for Students, Community
DePauw University (IL) students, faculty and staff are in the midst of creating a campus farm for students to learn more about food, the environment and related socioeconomic issues. Sodexo, a main partner on the project, plans to use much of the produce in the university’s dining halls to increase the amount of local and sustainable food available to students. Inspired by President Obama’s Food Security Initiative, the university's Office of Spiritual Life aims to use the farm to reduce hunger in the area as well as teach the community how to grow and preserve their own food.
Ecotech Institute Appoints First Director of Career Services
Ecotech Institute (CO), a college focused on preparing America's workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainable design, has appointed its first director of career services to help graduates find green jobs. In her new position, Susan Pawlak will focus on creating long-term relationships with renewable energy and sustainable companies to match graduates with employers.
Florida A&M U Debuts Socially Responsible Apparel
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University’s bookstore has introduced a new socially responsible clothing line by School House. The company’s founder started the company as a student while studying ethical manufacturing in Sri Lanka. School House’s founding mission is to pay workers a fair living wage. All of the company’s production takes place in the U.S.
Harvard U Cuts Dining Hall Waste by 56.5%
A fall 2011 audit of food waste at Harvard University (MA) has revealed a 56.5 percent drop in the average annual weight of food waste in each dining hall since 2005. The audit also showed a 21.6 percent decrease in food waste since last spring, representing a one-semester dip of more than 50,000 annual pounds per dining hall.
Harvard U Faculty Club Works to Eliminate Bottled Water
Harvard University’s (MA) Faculty Club has partnered with the Office of Sustainability to reduce the club’s environmental footprint by cutting the emissions and waste from the delivery of bottled water. The club has installed new machines that dispense filtered carbonated or still water and has provided employees with reusable clear glass bottles. The university expects that the new machines will eliminate the use of more than 15,000 plastic and glass bottles per year.
Harvard U Lab Renovation Earns LEED Platinum
The renovation of Harvard University's (MA) Vlassak Laboratory in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has achieved LEED Platinum certification. The 2,540-square-foot facility features a heat recovery (enthalpy) wheel in the exhaust system that transfers both heat and humidity into the incoming air, reducing the energy needed to condition the air by up to 75 percent. The renovation also includes digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) systems that allow for time of day control, daylight harvesting, off-hours zone control, occupancy sensors and dimming.
Indiana U Debuts Green Dorm Room Certification Program
In its inaugural month, the Green Dorm Room Certification Program at Indiana University Bloomington has yielded 40 "green" dorm rooms. The self-certification program gives students access to 40 criteria for earning a “green” certification. The initiative aims to connect students to sustainability-related community and campus organizations, and provide a framework for educating their peers about sustainability.
Kirkwood CC Implements Campus Recycling Program
Kirkwood Community College (IA) has launched a new recycling program, Kirkwood Comingles. The program aims to make recycling easy for students and employees by accepting all materials in a single bin. The college expects the new initiative to help toward its goal to divert 75 percent of campus waste from the landfill by 2014.
Occupy Movement Comes to California Campuses
Arguing that banks created the country's economic collapse that decimated state budgets and led to massive tuition hikes in recent years, a union-backed group recently organized protests at more than a dozen college campuses in California. The protests are calling on leaders of California's public universities to pledge support for higher taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals as a way to restore funding for jobs and education.
Penn State U Awarded $2.3 M for Organic Agriculture Research
Pennsylvania State University has received a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate how certain cover crops and rotations can improve the production of organic commodities. The study’s goal is to determine whether diverse cover crop mixtures can enhance ecosystem functions. The university’s project is one of 23 in 18 states chosen for funding.
Santa Clara U Announces New Rideshare Social Network
Santa Clara University (CA) has announced a partnership with Zimride to connect drivers in the campus community with riders looking to carpool to class or work. Zimride is a social network that interfaces with Facebook, allowing students, faculty and staff to share commutes or one-time road trips. The university hopes the service will help reduce campus traffic, parking difficulties and provide cost savings to the campus community.
Stanford U Receives $150 M Gift to Tackle Global Poverty
Stanford University (CA) has received a $150 million donation from an MBA alum and his wife to establish an institute aimed at alleviating global poverty, reports a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Known as SEED, the Stanford Institute on Innovation in Developing Economies will work to develop innovations that improve the lives of people in developing countries and support entrepreneurs as they expand their businesses to solve problems in areas such as transportation, health care and mobile communications.
Student Aid Petition Gathers Thousands of Signatures
A "Statement of Support" from the Student Aid Alliance that calls on Congress to protect Pell Grants, student loans and other financial aid programs from budget cuts has gathered more than 37,000 signatures. The petition will soon be delivered to members of the Super Committee, a bipartisan panel charged with cutting $1 trillion from the nation's budget by the end of November. Signers include students, faculty and administrators from all sectors.
U British Columbia Debuts Sustainability Living Laboratory
The University of British Columbia has opened the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability, a $37 million living laboratory aimed at advancing research and innovation on global sustainability challenges. Built to exceed LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge standards, the facility includes a theatre with visualization and interaction technologies to engage audiences in sustainability and climate change scenarios; indoor environmental quality and building simulation software labs; a building management system that shares building performance in real-time; and a cafe that uses no disposable packaging and serves local and organic food.
U Charleston Announces 22% Tuition Cut
In a deliberate move to attract students who might otherwise be unable to afford college, the University of Charleston (WV) has announced a tuition cut of 22 percent for next year's incoming first-year and transfer students. The university is also guaranteeing at least $5,500 in aid for all returning students.
U Chicago Earns National Honors for Green Grounds Management
The University of Chicago (IL) has received a 2011 Green Star Grand Award from the Professional Grounds Management Society. The Green Star Awards program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence, including demonstrated sustainable practices and methods.
U Denver Reduces Waste with Water Filling Stations
Tracking software on eight water filling stations recently installed at the University of Denver (CO) has revealed an estimated reduction of 72,077 plastic water bottles so far. The university is planning the installation of more stations throughout the rest of the academic year.
U District Columbia to Undergo Energy Efficiency Upgrades
The University of the District of Columbia has been awarded a $65,000 incentive grant from a local utility company for campus energy efficiency upgrades. The university will install new energy-efficient light fixtures and a lighting management program for an estimated energy savings of up to 15 percent.
U Idaho Announces Student Sustainability Project Grants
The University of Idaho's Sustainability Center has awarded grants totaling $7,500 to three student-led sustainability projects. The selected projects include the installation and maintenance of a major sub-irrigation system to increase water use efficiency in the university’s nursery; research on the effects of adding biochar, a soil amendment, to compostable wastes; and the purchase and installation of headlights and taillights for student bicycles. The projects will be completed by May 2012.
U Illinois Chicago Debuts Online Campus Ride-Matching Service
With the goal of reducing the amount of solo campus commuters by 30 percent, the University of Illinois at Chicago's Office of Sustainability and Commuter Student Resource Center have partnered with iCarpool. The online ride-matching service helps connect students and employees who drive a similar daily route to campus, or find others to share the costs of a longer trip.
U Kansas Center Wins North America Sustainable Design Award
The University of Kansas' Center for Design Research was recognized along with 10 other projects in a North American competition by the Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. The center, which will seek LEED Platinum certification, was awarded an Acknowledgement Prize for sustainable strategies including rainwater collection and reuse, a living wall, wind turbines, solar collectors and an electric vehicle charging station.
U Kentucky Partners with Socially Responsible Apparel Company
The University of Kentucky has announced that its bookstore will sell a brand of clothing that has committed to higher standards of social responsibility. Alta Gracia manufactures collegiate apparel in overseas factories committed to providing all employees with benefits and a living wage sufficient to cover monthly costs for a family of four.
U Kentucky to Debut 'Systems Thinking for Sustainability' Program
The University of Kentucky has received $200,000 from the National Science Foundation to implement a three-year curriculum project, "Systems Thinking for Sustainability." As members of collaborative teams, undergraduate students will develop solutions on a variety of scales that tackle challenges involving complex systems where economic, social and technical factors interact.
University Chefs Participate in National Eat Local Challenge
From homemade cheese to white-corn-and-squash-stuffed bell peppers, chefs on college and university campuses nationwide got creative with local ingredients for Bon Appétit Management Company’s recent seventh annual Eat Local Challenge. The initiative encourages chefs to buy all food products from small, owner-operated farms and producers within a 150-mile radius of their locations, with the exception of salt.
Utah State U Opens Green Fee to Student Projects
Utah State University has announced that it will allot about $30,000 toward its new Blue Goes Green Grant Program, designed to fund student proposals for sustainability projects on campus. The funding will be collected from the university's Blue Goes Green Fee, a student-approved fee of $3 per student. The fee is expected to generate $94,000 for the entire academic year.
Washington State U Launches Sustainable Ag Newsletter
Washington State University's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences has launched Green Times, an e-newsletter focused on organic and sustainable agriculture. Directed toward the regional agricultural community, the free resource includes current research news, events, and profiles of farmers and other regional industry professionals.
Western Technical College Building Receives LEED Silver
Western Technical College's (WI) Kumm Center has achieved LEED Silver certification. Green building features include energy-efficient lighting and controls, and materials that are non-toxic and high in recycled content.
Yale School of Management Forms Diversity Advisory Group
Yale University's (CT) School of Management has launched a Diversity Advisory Group with the goal of boosting diversity in the student body. Composed of 21 students, three faculty advisers and the associate director of admissions, the new committee will be driven by students from multiple areas of the school who will work with administrators to create and implement policy.
12 Nebraska Institutions Create Civic Engagement Group
Twelve Nebraska colleges have formed Nebraska Campus Compact in an effort to integrate service learning and civic engagement into campus and academic life. Nebraska is the 35th state to affiliate with the national organization, Campus Compact.
40 Campuses Complete Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Thirty-eight signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on June 21, 2011. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. In alphabetical order, new inventories were submitted by: Arizona State University; Bentley University (MA); Carleton College (MN); Cedar Valley College (TX); Centre College (KY); College of Charleston (SC); College of Saint Rose (NY); Colorado State University; Hampshire College (MA); Heartland Community College (IL); Labette Community College (KS); Loyola University New Orleans (LA); Massachusetts Maritime Academy; Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI); Montgomery County Community College (PA); New Mexico State University Dona Ana Branch; Pomona College (CA); Pratt Institute (NY); Rochester Institute of Technology (NY); Rogue Community College (OR); Santa Clara University (CA); Southern Connecticut State University; State University of New York College at Cortland; State University of New York College at Geneseo; State University of New York at Stony Brook; The Ohio State University - Columbus Campus; The Universities at Shady Grove (MD); Truckee Meadows Community College (NV); University of Central Missouri; University of Louisville (KY); University of Minnesota-Duluth; University of Southern Maine; University of Southern Mississippi; University of Tennessee, Knoxville; University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; University of Wisconsin-River Falls; Virginia Commonwealth University; and Western Connecticut State University. In related news, Yale University (CT) and Bowdoin University (ME) have released greenhouse gas reduction progress reports.
Appalachian State U Expands Sustainable Teaching Farm
Appalachian State University (NC) students now have the chance to live and work at the university's new Sustainable Development Teaching and Research Farm. The program has relocated to the larger property with a three-bedroom residence and turkeys and cattle, giving students the opportunity for around-the-clock livestock research. The student caretakers have also received a grant to make their residence 90 percent solar-powered with the installation of solar thermal and solar photovoltaic panels on the roof.
Birmingham-Southern College Dorms Achieve LEED Certification
Birmingham-Southern College’s (AL) Lakeview North and Lakeview South residence halls have achieved LEED certification. A 15,000-gallon water storage cistern buried between the buildings captures rainwater from the roof to use for landscape irrigation. Additional sustainable features include low-flow plumbing, high performance windows, heavily insulated walls and passive solar design.
Calif State U San Bernardino Health Science Bldg Earns LEED Gold
California State University, San Bernardino’s Health Science Facility has earned LEED Gold certification. The building’s sustainable strategies include on-site drainage basins to recharge the aquifer; controllable day lighting and automated lighting controls; cool roofs and reflective paving; and an interactive kiosk that displays the building’s sustainable features.
