AASHE Interview: Cynthia Klein-Banai, U Illinois Chicago
AASHE has posted a new installment of its interview series. This week’s interview is with Cynthia Klein-Banai, who works as the associate chancellor for sustainability at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In the interview, Klein Banai discusses her work promoting sustainability, the many ways students are involved in the work of the sustainability office, and the different approaches UIC takes to raise money to support the sustainability efforts of the campus.
AASHE Interview: Sustainability Manager, U Washington
AASHE has posted a new iteration of its Interview Series. The new interview is with JR Fulton, who works as the Capital Planning and Sustainability Manager for Housing & Food Services (HFS) at the University of Washington. In the piece, Fulton offers advice to others in his position just getting started, discusses the areas he sees as the biggest room for growth in the campus sustainability field, and talks about how he is involved in efforts to advance sustainability in curricula at UW.
Green Campus Toolkit
Reverb has launched a new website that features its new Campus Consciousness Toolkit. The Toolkit lists organizations that offer funding resources, sustainability rating tools, how to guides, case studies, and student fellowships.
New Issue of Sustainability: Journal of Record
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. has released Volume 3, Number 1 of Sustainability: The Journal of Record. The new issue includes a roundtable on campus environmental activism; an interview with the sustainability coordinator at Universiti Sains Malaysia; a piece on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, & Rating System; and a sustainability program profile of Ball State University (IN).
The Green Awakenings Campus Report
Renewal, a Christian student environmental group, has released The Green Awakenings Campus Report along with an online directory. The report highlights growing environmental stewardship efforts on Christian campuses across the United States and Canada.
Recording of AASHE Focus Call: Campus Green Building
AASHE has posted a recording of "AASHE Focus Call: Campus Green Building," which took place on February 24, 2010. The conference call, which was aimed at under-resourced institution, offered three presentations on how campus green building can make a difference at colleges and universities, as well as time for questions and answers. The recording is split into two sections - one on the presentation and one on the question and answer portion of the call. Presenters included Amy Seif Hattan, director of strategic initiatives at Second Nature; Ashka Naik. program manager of the Advancing Green Building Initiative at Second Nature; and Jaime Van Mourik, the higher education sector manager at the U.S. Green Building Council.
New Issue of Sustainability: Journal of Record
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. has published Volume 2, Number 6 of Sustainability: The Journal of Record . The newest issue includes a round table entitled, "Reluctant Professors, How can higher education leaders persuade foot-dragging faculty members to incorporate sustainability into their classrooms?," a sustainability program profile on Earth University (Costa Rica), and articles on the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment and on the effects of climate and institution size on greenhouse gas emissions.
New Resource on Water Conservation Policies
AASHE has released a new resource on campus water conservation policies. The resource, which includes campuses from Australia, Canada, and the US, lists water conservation policies and procedures that exist independently of general campus sustainability policies. The resource is only available to AASHE Members.
New AASHE Resource: Green Athletic Centers
AASHE has released a new resource that lists green athletic centers in the U.S. and Canada. The resource contains environmentally-friendly health and fitness centers, football complexes, arenas, athletic complexes, and more. The resource is only available to AASHE members.
AASHE Resource on Surplus Property Recycling Programs
AASHE has released a new resource that lists institutions that have programs in place to reuse old material goods, whether through the sale, re-distribution, or donation of the items. The new resource is only available to AASHE members.
Audio Recording of AASHE Focus Call: Campus Energy Conservation
The audio recording of AASHE's Focus Call on "Effective Campus Energy Conservation" (1.26.10) is now available. The call featured two experts in the field of energy conservation and management: Walter Simpson, former energy manager at the University at Buffalo (NY) for 26 years, and Bob Kennedy, energy director at Einhorn Yaffee Prescott (EYP). The audience was under-resourced institutions, but content is applicable to all institutions. Part 1 (28 mins) contains the two talks, and Part 2 (25 mins) contains Q&A and discussion. Additional learning materials are available on the website.
New Book: Teaching Environmental Literacy
The Indiana University Press has published Teaching Environmental Literacy - Across Campus and Across the Curriculum . The book covers what an environmentally literate citizen should know; what teaching and learning strategies are most effective in helping students think critically about human-environment interactions and sustainability; and the critical content, skills, and affective qualities essential to environmental literacy.
Publications on the Sustainability Agenda of UK Business Schools
The Association of Business Schools, based in the United Kingdom, has published "Pillars of the Sustainable Economy: Sustainability and Current Market Realities." The publication features a snapshot of recent sustainability highlights, developments, and achievements of its members; several case studies on the sustainability agenda in UK business schools, and some key figures on business and management education.
Greening of the Campus VIII Proceedings & Keynote Videos
AASHE has posted the full conference proceedings and the keynote speaker and plenary session videos from the 2009 Greening of the Campus VIII Conference. Keynote videos include Jerome Ringo, president of the Apollo Alliance; Geoffrey Chase, dean of undergraduate studies at San Diego State University (CA); Ray Anderson, founder, chairman, and chief operating officer of Interface, Inc; and Frances Moore Lappé, democracy advocate and world food and hunger expert who has authored or co-authored 16 books. Plenary session videos include the Institutional Investments panel and the NCAA: Greening Athletics panel.
Recording of STARS Webinar: Measuring Campus Sustainability
AASHE has posted a recording of "Measuring Campus Sustainability: Reaching for the STARS," the webinar that formally launched version 1.0 of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The webinar addresses how STARS will help meet the needs of the campus sustainability community and features Dr. Paul Rowland, AASHE's Executive Director; Dave Newport, Director of the University of Colorado at Boulder Environmental Center; Nan Jenks-Jay, Dean of Environmental Affairs at Middlebury College (VT); and Chris O'Brien, Director of Sustainability at American University (DC).
AASHE Interview: Director of the Ctr for Sustainability, Furman U
AASHE has posted a new installments of its interview series. This week’s interview is with Angela Halfacre, Director of the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability and Professor of Political Science at Furman University (SC). In her interview, Dr. Halfacre discusses the many ways she is involved in advancing sustainability on Furman’s campus and surrounding community, advice she has for others in similar positions, and the area she views as having the largest potential for growth in the field.
New Book: Sustainability at Universities
The new book, Sustainability at Universities - Opportunities, Challenges, and Trends , produced as Volume 31 of the award-winning "Environmental Education, Communication and Sustainability" series on sustainable development, provides a concrete contribution towards the goal of fostering sustainability at universities, by especially focusing on opportunities, challenges, and trends. It contains a wide range of papers written by university lecturers, professors, students, and practitioners, as well as practical projects, which illustrate some of the latest trends and future perspectives related to sustainability in higher education. The book is meant to inform, inspire, and engage all members of the university community in the wide debate on how the principles of sustainable development may be implemented into practice.
Santa Clara U Video on Sustainable Living Project
Eco Company has posted a video of the Santa Clara University (CA) Sustainable Living Undergraduate Research Project (SLURP). The dorm floor composts, recycles, and completes a research project. This year's SLURP students are researching where SCU can place solar panels on campus, if compostable plates are better than reusable plates, and how to decrease the amount of lost reusable plates in campus dining halls.
AASHE Resource on Surplus Property Recycling Programs
AASHE has released a new resource that lists institutions that have programs in place to reuse old material goods, whether through the sale, re-distribution, or donation of the items. The new resource is only available to AASHE members.
Audio Recording of AASHE Focus Call: Campus Energy Conservation
The audio recording of AASHE's Focus Call on "Effective Campus Energy Conservation" (1.26.10) is now available. The call featured two experts in the field of energy conservation and management: Walter Simpson, former energy manager at the University at Buffalo (NY) for 26 years, and Bob Kennedy, energy director at Einhorn Yaffee Prescott (EYP). The audience was under-resourced institutions, but content is applicable to all institutions. Part 1 (28 mins) contains the two talks, and Part 2 (25 mins) contains Q&A and discussion. Additional learning materials are available on the website.
New Book: Teaching Environmental Literacy
The Indiana University Press has published Teaching Environmental Literacy - Across Campus and Across the Curriculum. The book covers what an environmentally literate citizen should know; what teaching and learning strategies are most effective in helping students think critically about human-environment interactions and sustainability; and the critical content, skills, and affective qualities essential to environmental literacy.
Live from Copenhagen Q & A Call Podcasts
AASHE has posted the podcasts from its first two 'Live from Copenhagen Q & A calls' on its website. The first call occurred at 3pm Eastern on Tuesday, December 8th and focused on initial perspectives and how to follow and use the negotiations process. The second recording occurred at 11am Eastern on Thursday, December 10th. The focus of this call was on youth and student perceptions of the conference. The final call will be Wednesday, December 16th, at 3pm Eastern and will focus on observations and lessons learned.
New AASHE Resource on Campus Bicycle Plans
AASHE has released a resource that lists implemented campus bicycle plans that exist independently from campus master plans. The new resource is only available to AASHE members.
Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives
The Rocky Mountain Institute, in partnership with AASHE, has released, "Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives: Breaking through Barriers." The new book is a practical guide for anyone working in a college or university setting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their campus. It explores the challenges, both real and perceived, to significant reductions, and provides successful examples, and resources necessary to address the challenges. The book is the culmination of numerous RMI activities including staff visits to twelve campuses to understand specific campus climate initiatives and challenges. Chosen for the diversity of their conditions, the participating institutions were: Colorado State University; Furman University (SC); Harford Community College (MD); Lakeshore Technical College (WI); Luther College (IA); Richland College (TX); Tufts University (MA); Unity College (ME); University of Minnesota, Morris; University of Missouri; University of Vermont; and Yale University (CT).
Green Classroom Website
Intellidemia has launched a new campaign, "Green Classroom," to target the reduction of resource waste and the introduction of computer-based learning platforms in the classroom. The initiative seeks to raise awareness surrounding course delivery and identify paper waste in the classroom through a new section on the company's website. In the areas of handouts, textbooks, syllabi, assignments, and examinations, the website explores technology platforms and tools to help instructors teach and students learn while protecting the environment.
Report on Growing the Green Economy through Green Chemistry and Design
The Green Chemistry and Commerce Council, National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell have released a report as a resource to assist states and higher education institutions in developing a green chemistry (GC) and design for environment (DfE) framework. "Growing the Green Economy through Green Chemistry and Design for Environment" defines a vision and an approach to use creative green chemistry and design for environment policy approaches as key economic tools. The report notes the roles of educational institutions in furthering GC and DfE as: educating the future workforce of the green economy; discovering new green chemistry and product options; supporting efforts to overcome application challenges; analyzing policy options; and serving as the host for needed dialogues between researchers and businesses and communities. The new publication also provides a GC and DfE information toolbox.
Publication: Financing Sustainability on Campus
The National Association of College and University Business Officers, in partnership with Second Nature, has published Financing Sustainability on Campus . In the new publication, the authors provide a guide to financing sustainability with real world examples, creative strategies, and clear explanations of a variety of financial tools and programs. The resource is available printed or as an e-book.
AASHE Interview Series: Food Systems Ed & Research Prgm Specialist
AASHE has posted a new installment of its Interview Series with campus sustainability professionals. In the most recent interview, Tim Galarneau, the Food Systems Education and Research Program Specialist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, discusses how he became involved in working to develop sustainable food systems, what he finds most challenging about incorporating local and/or organic food into campus dining, and how students are involved in his work.
Campus Green Builder Website for Under-Resourced Institutions
Second Nature, a national nonprofit that works to accelerate movement towards a sustainable future by helping senior college and university leaders in making sustainability the foundation of all learning and practice in higher education, has launched the Campus Green Builder, a new website that aims to help universities and colleges build and renovate sustainably on campus. The web portal is the first of its kind in the higher education sector, providing hundreds of links to green building-related web sites, directories of experts, and resources for training and funding opportunities. The site is relevant to all higher education institutions but is particularly geared towards community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, tribal colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, religiously-affiliated institutions, and other schools that in many cases have fewer resources and growing interest in 'green building.' The site presents case studies to serve as models. Additionally, under-resourced schools that visit the Campus Green Builder site will learn about special discounted offers to access BuildingGreen Suite and for membership in AASHE. They will also be able to take part in "Campus Green Building 101 for Building Contractors," where they can apply for technical assistance grants that offer training opportunities for the building professionals who work at their schools.
Green College Directory
Duke University (NC) has launched a free directory of environmental information at nearly 2,000 U.S. colleges and universities. The directory provides listings of environmental degree programs as well as environmental opportunities and organizations at campuses around the country. The directory was created by student volunteers at 40 campuses nationwide, including undergraduate and graduate students at Duke. It offers information on undergraduate, masters, and PhD degree programs and includes links to campus carbon inventories and recycling opportunities, environmentally focused student clubs and organizations, and environmental opportunities in the local community.
New Issue of Sustainability: The Journal of Record
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc Publishers has published a new issue of Sustainability: The Journal of Record . Volume 2, Number 5 contains an editorial entitled, "A New Era in Higher Education?" by Peter Bardaglio and Andrea Putman; an interview with Ciannat Howett, Director of Sustainability Initiatives at Emory University (GA); a roundtable on student engagement; a sustainability program profile of Green Mountain College (VT); the abstract of the winning project of AASHE's student research award; and profiles of AASHE's 2009 Campus Sustainability Leadership Award winners and Student Sustainability Leadership Award winner.
List of Campus Commuter Surveys
AASHE has published a new resource on campus commuter surveys. The new page lists institutions that have collected and calculated greenhouse gas emissions from faculty, staff, and student commuting through questionnaires. The resource is only available to AASHE members.
Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums
AASHE has launched a suite of campus sustainability discussion forums covering topics in education and research; campus operations; and campus planning, engagement, and administration. Anyone with an interest in learning about or contributing to the growing body of knowledge on campus sustainability may participate in the forums. The aim is to provide a central place for sharing ideas and best practices and asking and answering questions. Contributors are expected to be largely North American, but the forums are open to all. The forum topics parallel the 17 sub-categories in AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), released in September (STARS v.1.0 Early Release). The 17 topics are: co-curricular education, curriculum, research, buildings, climate, dining services, energy, grounds, purchasing, transportation, water, waste, coordination and planning, diversity and affordability, human resources, investment, and public engagement.
New Resource on Campus Hybrid Vehicle Fleets
AASHE has released a new resource on campus hybrid vehicle fleets. The resource, which is only available to AASHE members, alphabetically lists campuses in the U.S. and Canada that have one or more hybrid vehicles in their fleet.
Interview with Sustainability Mgr, U California Ofc of the President
National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology has posted an interview with Matthew St. Clair, the sustainability manager for the University of California Office of the President. In the interview, St. Clair discusses the challenge of acquiring staff time in the current economic climate, the difference between his job and that of an on-campus sustainability coordinator, and what he has learned about understanding and motivating people.
AASHE Interview with Purchase College Dir of Sustainability
AASHE has posted a new installment of its Interview Series. This interview is with Joseph Tripodi, the director of sustainability at Purchase College State University of New York. Tripodi was hired in 2009 and is tasked with coordinating the College’s efforts toward climate neutrality. In particular, his areas of focus are on alternative fuels and vehicles, sustainability education across the curriculum, renewable energy, energy-recapture technologies, and the recycling process. Previously, he worked as a high school administer in New York where he was involved in various sustainability initiatives. In the interview, Tripodi discusses how he got started in sustainability, what advice he would give to other in his position who are just getting started, and how he incorporates the social dimensions of sustainability into his work.
Paper on Sustainability in Law Schools
Widener University (PA) School of Law has published "The Essential and Growing Role of Legal Education in Achieving Sustainability." The article suggests that law schools need to play a leading role in the national and global effort to achieve sustainability, including the effort to address climate change. The article first describes the various drivers for sustainability in law schools and then describes a broad and growing range of sustainability activities - especially in curriculum and scholarship, but also in buildings and operations; outreach and service; student life; institutional mission, policy, and planning; and external stakeholders.
List of Campus Water Conservation Efforts
AASHE has published a list of water conservation efforts at higher education institutions in Canada and the United States. The new resource is only available to AASHE members.
Handbook of Sustainability Literacy
Green Books has published The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy: Skills for a changing world . The 224-page book, edited by Arran Stibbe, provides a reflection on the skills people need to survive and thrive in the challenging conditions of the 21st century. The book covers a wide range of skills and attributes from technology appraisal to ecological intelligence, and includes active learning exercises to help develop those skills. The publication is available online and in paperback.
Student Research on Campus Sustainability Database
AASHE has launched a database for student research on campus sustainability. The new resource allows users to search research projects by keyword, discipline, administrative department, publication date, paper type, and/or search term. The database is only available to AASHE members.
Study Finds Organic Coffee Market is Strongly Supported by Campuses
A new report from the Organic Coffee Collaboration, a project of the Organic Trade Association, has found that organic coffee is more available than ever on college and university campuses as a result of student and faculty demand. A variety of organic coffee companies around the country have seen sales go up. Institutions cited in the article for purchasing more organic coffee include University of Utah; Utah State University; the City College of San Francisco (CA); University of California, Berkeley; Columbia University (NY); University of Arizona; Wesleyan University (CT); Indiana University; University of Massachusetts; and the University of Vermont.
Peterson’s Releases Campus Sustainability Survey Results
Peterson’s, an education content provider, has released the results from a survey completed by 449 two- and four-year higher education institutions on the type of sustainability initiatives that exist on their campuses. The survey found that 85 percent of participating schools reported having a sustainability committee or advisory council supporting campus-wide participation in sustainability efforts and nearly 58 percent of schools employ a sustainability coordinator or director.
Student Sierra Coalition Releases 'Moving Campuses Beyond Coal'
The Sierra Club and the Sierra Student Coalition have released, Breaking Coals' Grip on Our Future: Moving Campuses Beyond Coal . The report describes the problem of using coal to power colleges and universities, highlights some of the campuses that rely on this power source, and shows examples of schools that are now transitioning away from coal and toward clean energy.
Climate Neutral Campus Report
The American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) has released Climate Neutral Campus Report , a collection of white papers, case studies, and interviews that address how the higher education sector is fighting the climate crisis. The Report includes ideas on topics ranging from the reorientation of student education to the re-design of campus operations, from the policy reforms that will enable colleges and universities to switch to renewable energy, to the emerging competition for carbon reduction in college sports.
New Issue of Sustainability: The Journal of Record
A new issue of Sustainability: The Journal of Record is now available. Volume 2, Number 4 features an editorial entitled "Carbon Neutrality and Athletic Tape," a roundtable discussion on how religious institutions can foster sustainability, an article on sustainable dining, and a sustainability program profile of Colorado State University.
Conf Call Recording on Psychological Resistance to Env'l Behaviors
Media Strategies for Sustainability has posted a recording of its conference call entitled "Understanding and Overcoming Psychological Resistance to Promote Environmental Behaviors. In this session, conservation psychologist Dr. Jessica M. Nolan discusses the three types of psychological resistance that may undermine message effectiveness and shares several techniques for overcoming resistance to promote sustainable behaviors on campus. The presentation is part of a national conference call series about media strategies for sustainability.
Podcast Interviews from ACUPCC Climate Leadership Summit
AASHE and Second Nature have posted three podcasts recorded during the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment Climate Leadership Summit. The podcasts feature interviews with Jesse Pyles, Sustainability Coordinator at Unity College (ME); Dr. Kathleen Schatzberg, President of Cape Cod Community College (MA); and Glenn Cummings, Assistant Deputy Secretary with the U.S. Department of Education.
Publication: Choices for Sustainable Campus Living & Study
Today's Campus has published "Choices for Sustainable Campus Living and Study: Ecovillages Provide College Students with Experiential Learning," a review of ecovillages at campuses in the U.S. The publication gives an overview of ecovillages at Berea College (KY); the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Clemson University (SC), and Pacific Union College (CA).
Conf Call Podcast: Students' Role in Adopting a Sustainability Policy at U Colorado
AASHE has posted a podcast of "The Students' Role in Adopting a System-Wide Sustainability Policy at University of Colorado," a recent conference call held on the organization's Open Space Conference Call Line. The conversation, led by student leaders on all four CU campuses, focuses on how individual student governments can affect campus sustainability policy and what policies would help the CU campuses achieve strong sustainability goals best.
Interview with Owner of Duke U's Green Campus Cafe
National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology has posted an interview with Laura Hall, the owner and operator of the Refectory, a café that serves local and sustainable foods at Duke University (NC). In the interview, Hall discuss how the café was opened; how the Refectory has been able to source produce, meat, and eggs from 30 local farms, all within 150 miles; and how the campus eatery uses food from the on-campus garden.
