Cornell U Faculty Vote to Divest
By a 43-13 Faculty Senate vote, a resolution called for the divestiture by 2035 of all investments in the top 200 holding companies ranked by fossil fuel reserves.
Columbia U Introduces Green Fund
Aimed at improving sustainability of the university's campus, the new fund will support student-led projects selected by a committee of personnel and students.
New Mexico State U Receives $2M for Water Research
Realizing the valuable role that water research plays in the state, the governor's office recently announced additional funding allocated to the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, which will be distributed to several universities including the University of New Mexico and New Mexico Tech.
Simon Fraser U Launches Revolving Fund
The university's new initiative, Sustainable Utilities Revolving Fund, is a self-replenishing fund that supports energy and water initiatives that generate cost savings.
College of William & Mary Selects Green Fee Proposals
(U.S.): The university's Committee on Sustainability has selected 10 proposals to fund totaling nearly $52,000, including a paperless management system, funding for a garden intern, and a student outreach position for marine education.
Emory U Awards Sustainability Project Funding
(U.S.): This year the Office of Sustainability Initiatives funded 18 projects totaling $16,000 including an expansion of recycling and composting, hosting a day-long conference, development of food gardens for patient meals, and human-powered phone chargers.
Portland State U Initiates Green Revolving Fund
(U.S.): Aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower utility expenses and advance the university's climate action goals, the new $500,000 fund will be used towards projects that improve building conditions and reduce its environmental footprint. Savings are reinvested in the fund.
U Washington Offers Campus Research Project Funding
(U.S.): The university recently established the new Green Seed Fund to provide grants of $25,000 to $75,000 for proposals outlining research projects that provide practical solutions to helping the university reach its sustainability goals.
AACC Receives $1M Grant for Clean Technology Training
The recently awarded funding to the American Association of Community Colleges' Sustainability Education and Economic Development (SEED) Center will be used to expand training and sustainability education innovations at community colleges nationwide.
American Farmland Trust Awards Local Food Funding
The funding has been awarded to four SUNY campuses, University of Albany, New Paltz, Oswego and Oneonta, and aims to promote AFT's pilot project called Farm to College. The new program seeks to increase the use of fresh, frozen and processed vegetables raised by New York farmers by all SUNY colleges.
U Delaware Renewable Energy Credits Fund Graduate Position
A newly established three-year deal enables the university to sell its renewable energy credits from the university-owned wind turbine to a local municipality, with an annual floor of $35,000, which will fund a graduate-student fellowship within the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment.
Wesleyan U Students Pass Fossil Fuel Divestment Resolution
Proposed to further social and environmental justice on a financial level, Wesleyan Student Assembly recently passed the resolution calling for divestiture and citing the socioeconomic implications of condoning fossil fuels, and previous conscientious divestments.
Energy Department Awards $1.08M for Diversity in Solar Industry
The U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Diversity in Science and Technology Advances National Clean Energy in Solar (DISTANCE-Solar) program awarded funding to Delaware State University and the University of Texas at San Antonio. The DISTANCE-Solar initiative aims to drive solar innovation among underrepresented groups and spur new domestic job creation.
Naropa U Divests from Fossil Fuels
After recent unanimous vote by the university's endowment committee, the institution has fully divested from companies identified as having the highest potential greenhouse gas emissions. From gofossilfree.org, a 350.org campaign to divest from fossil fuels, Naropa is one of eight institutions that has committed to divestiture of fossil fuel holdings.
Foothill-De Anza CC Foundation Divests from Fossil Fuel Holdings
Citing the community college district's commitment to environmental sustainability and a thoughtful student campaign, the college's Board of Directors voted to discontinue direct investments in fossil fuel companies and minimize investments in commingled assets that include such companies. As of the date of this article, the foundation's holdings were valued at about $33 million, of which approximately one percent was invested in fossil fuel companies. From gofossilfree.org, a 350.org campaign to divest from fossil fuels, eight higher education institutions have committed to divestiture from holdings in fossil fuels.
Chatham U Receives $15M Gift
The Falk Foundation recently awarded the university funding that will support the university's School of Sustainability & the Environment through an academic endowment and help fund construction of the Eden Hall Campus. Further, the funding will be applied to student internships and expansion of the university's Rachel Carson Institute.
U Maine Farmington Receives $5,000 Grant for Curriculum
The university recently received the funding from Northern New England Campus Compact for integrating climate change and water quality community projects into students' regular coursework during the 2013-14 academic year.
Penn State Commences Sustainability Grant Program
Supporting collaborative projects that improve and expand campus sustainability at the university, the new Reinvention Fund will invest approximately $600,000 in projects proposed by teams from across all of the University's colleges, campuses and administrative units. Faculty can submit proposals under one of three different areas while student proposals will fall under the grant category student sustainability innovation.
Case Western Reserve U Receives $6M Gift
The Weatherhead School of Management received the gift from Fairmount Minerals for the newly formed Fowler Family Fellowships, a fellow program that supports MBA students who focus on application of the principles of sustainability in business.
Coastal Carolina U Receives $5M Donation
Along with supporting the university's athletic program and endowed scholarships, a portion of the donation from TD Bank Group will support the continued sustainability initiatives of the university.
Jacksonville State U Students Propose Green Fund
Inspired by other green fund campaigns in Alabama, two student clubs have teamed up with the Coalition of Alabama Students for the Environment to propose a new campus fund that would support student-designed projects for energy independence, efficiency, renewables and water conservation.
HKUST Receives Grant
(Hong Kong): The Ford Motor Company recently announced the university is the recipient of HKD500,000 for the Ford-HKUST Conservation and Environmental Research Grants which support postgraduate environmental and conservation science, and conservation engineering advancements. A maximum of 20 project will be supported during the 2013-14 academic year.
Portland State U Awards $25K to Cleantech Competition Winners
(U.S.): Sharing the award money to further their business plan, two teams were recently announced as final winners in the competition, which drives development an innovative product that conserves resources. One team engineered naturally derived solar materials while the second team focused on sustainable fisheries.
Western Kentucky U Glasgow Receives $5K Grant
(U.S.): The recently appointed funding from Farm Credit Mid-America will support agriculture and sustainability through expansion of the university's student-led Greentopper Program, an outreach program focusing on the environment, community and economy.
New Program Increases Community College Access
As the country grapples with how to make college more affordable, the new Benefits Access for College Completion program aims to help low-income community college students connect to social services support such as child care subsidies and food assistance. The three-year $4.84 million pilot initiative is funded by Ford Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, Lumina Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and managed by the Center for Law and Social Policy and the American Association of Community Colleges.
Portland State U Grant Supports Climate Modeling Computer
A recently awarded $350,000 grant from Murdock Charitable Trust supports research related to climate, air pollution and energy-efficient transportation systems. Additional support provided by Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science (MCECS), the Institute for Sustainable Solutions and PSU’s office of Research and Strategic Partnerships.
U Idaho Awarded $3.1M from National Science Foundation
Recently awarded from the NSF’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program, the five-year program allows the university to expand its interdisciplinary water resources degree program and provide financial support for its 24 doctoral students.
U Maine Partners for Offshore Wind-Wave System
A recent $983,997 grant from the National Science Foundation will allow university researchers to create a new wind and wave generating system simulating conditions in the Gulf of Maine. Data collected from the project will be used to develop test standards and understand the effects of ocean wind and waves on offshore wind turbines.
Energy Department Awards $7.9M Toward Transportation Technology
Building on President Obama's Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced nearly $8 million in funding to eight institutions of higher education for new projects that accelerate the research and development of vehicle technologies to improve fuel efficiency, lower transportation costs, and protect the environment in communities nationwide. Recipients include Regents of the University of Michigan, The Ohio State University, Arizona Board of Regents for Arizona State University, Mississippi State University, Johns Hopkins University, Michigan State University, The Pennsylvania State University and Northwestern University.
Energy Department Invests in Wave & Tidal Energy
As part of the Obama Administration’s strategy for American energy independence, the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $3.74 million in funding for projects that will increase the power production and reliability of wave, tidal and current power. Universities involved or awarded funding include Texas A&M University, University of Maine, University of Washington, Oregon State University and Florida Atlantic University.
Champlain College Initiates Green Revolving Fund
Encouraging environmentally sound technologies, the fund finances innovative activities that reduce the college’s environmental impact, contribute to education for sustainability, and generate financial returns, a portion of which support projects that lack monetary savings but are aligned with sustainability objectives.
Lawrence Technological U Receives $20M Gift
Supporting the planned Dr. Richard E. Marburger STEM Center, funding will bolster, in part, academic programming in sustainable design and energy systems, and support cross-disciplinary faculty training and instructional resources.
New York State Announces Awardees for Large Solar Projects
In an effort to boost the state’s solar capacity, $54 million was awarded under its NY-Sun initiative. Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the following colleges and universities were funded: State College of New York Cortland, Rochester Institute of Technology, Clarkson University and Cornell University.
Ray C. Anderson Foundation Awards $600K to Higher Education
In support of environmental initiatives and sustainability research, the recipients include Auburn University, Clark Atlanta University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, and University of South Mississippi.
U.S. Institute of Peace Announces Grant Recipients
The U.S. Institute of Peace and the Institute of International Education have awarded 58 institutions a mini-grant for peace-building events that advance and promote the understanding of peace-building and international conflict resolution.
3 Massachusetts Schools Receive $387K for STEM Programs
(U.S.): As part of the state’s Clean Energy Center Workforce Capacity Building Program, the grants will aid projects that help build science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs at Bristol Community College, Cape Cod Community College and Northeastern University. The schools will receive $100,000, $144,000 and $143,000 respectively. Bristol CC will provide STEM-related curricula to educators to increase students’ exposure to clean energy career paths. Cape Cod CC will build a college preparatory program to serve low income high school students who are interested in careers in the solar energy field. Northeastern U will offer a credit bearing, clean energy course for low income high school students.
Auburn U Receives $84K Grant for Waste Reduction
(U.S.): The grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management will be used to fund new recycling bins and Waste Reduction & Recycling Department outreach efforts. The university aims to foster a more convenient recycling environment and culture of waste reduction.
Nine Microgrid Projects Awarded $7.2M
(U.S.): In partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the state of Connecticut just announced funding for projects that are designed to keep critical buildings powered during electric grid outages. The University of Hartford will receive $4.33 million, the University of Connecticut’s Depot campus will receive $2.14 million, and Wesleyan University will receive $694,000.
Student Green Fund Awards Funding for 25 Projects
(England): Led by a student funding panel, the National Union of Students will fund 25 ethical and environmental projects which intend to drive sustainability across their campuses. Projects include greening of unions, sustainability curriculum and community work. The Students’ Green Fund is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Manchester U Receives Scholarship Donation
In recognition of the university’s high quality research and students of environmental studies, the Indiana Air & Waste Management Association has gifted $1000 in scholarship funds for two biology and environmental studies students.
U Oregon Receives $1M Gift for Environmental Law Center
The university's School of Law is using the Bowerman family contribution to double the number of student fellows in its Interdisciplinary Projects and Fellows Program. The program is focused on meeting the needs of today's environmental law field.
Jacksonville U Receives $10K for Sustainability Education
Half of the Siemens Industry Inc. grant will go toward monitoring and comparing a sustainable versus non-sustainable dorm this fall. Sustainability degree majors will be selected to live in the sustainable side of the dorm, adhering to efficient lighting and HVAC usage, recycling and more. The other side will not have sustainability initiatives in place. In their second year, the students will write a white paper comparing each sides of the dorm. The rest will go toward a rooftop garden where students will train homeless veterans how to garden.
