Black Hills State U Dining Receives Green Certification
Several of the university's dining services facilities have recently been designated as 2-Star Certified Green Restaurants by the Green Restaurant Association through sustainability work in the areas of water efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable furnishings and building materials, sustainable food, energy, disposables and chemical and pollution reduction.
Seven Schools Receive 'Canada's Greenest Employers' Recognition
Now entering its 8th year, the Canada's Greenest Employers competition recognizes the employers that lead Canada in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their organizations. The seven schools are Georgian College, Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology, Red River College, University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Northern British Columbia, and York University.
U Maryland College Develops Sustainability Plan
The university's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences new sustainability plan complements its Climate Action Plan and was designed to serve as a guide for other colleges to join BSOS in this effort to improve the sustainability of the campus and community as a whole. The publication features the vision and background, objectives, implementation plan and metrics.
Dalhousie U Releases Natural Environment Plan
The new plan represents four years of collaborative research that will formally recoginize vegetation, beneficial wildlife, water and air quality in campus natural environment management activities. Using surveys and interviews to determine management priorities from constituents, the plan is organized into three sections: planning, implementation, and operation and management review.
U Buffalo Releases Sustainability Dashboard
A key component to help the university achieve its commitment to become climate neutral by 2030, the recently launched dashboard tracks real-time electricity use in more than 145 buildings, and uploads monthly data on water consumption, solar-power generation, natural gas use.
Wake Forest U to Develop Well-Being Survey
The university’s administration and a few faculty members have been working on a survey that is designed to determine whether the college is helping its students find meaning and purpose in their lives. The university has six main areas it wants to explore: self-reported well-being; the level of meaning and purpose students find in their lives; “belongingness”; commitment to others; grit and perseverance; and physical health.
Building Green Initiative Names Ten Greenest HBCUs
(U.S.): The Building Green Initiative at Clark Atlanta University ranked Historically Black Colleges and Universities based on administration, energy efficiency, green building, recycling, renewable energy generation, food, transportation, purchasing and student involvement. Of the 43 respondents to the survey, the top ten are (public schools) University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University; Elizabeth City State University; North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University; and (three-way tie) Morgan State University, Bowie State University and Mississippi Valley State University; (private) Spelman College; Howard University; Morehouse College; Livingstone College; and (tie) Claflin University and Clark Atlanta University.
Seattle U Publishes First Sustainability Report
(U.S.): The recently released four-year sustainability progress report highlights the institution's climate action plan and its goals for academics and research, co-curricular education, environmental justice, operations, and strategies for the future.
U Hawai'i Manoa Hires First Sustainability Coordinator
(U.S.): Aurora Winslade, previous director of sustainability at the University of Hawai'i West O'ahu, is now charged with moving Manoa's sustainability efforts forward as directed in its strategic plan, and hopes to empower campus leaders, staff, faculty, students who care about campus sustainability.
Ursinus College to Form Sustainability Committee
The new committee's primary mission will be to oversee the integration of sustainability into the life of the college and to help guide and oversee the implementation of the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan. Some of the subcommittees are tree care, sustainable student experience, sustainable facilities and energy conservation, and membership on the committees is open to campus members.
Bucknell U Creates Sustainability Council
At the university's recent Sustainability Symposium, the president promised a ten-fold increase in green project funding and the creation of a President's Sustainability Council to address large-scale initiatives at the highest administrative level.
Calicut U Institutes Green Campus Awards
(India): The university's new award program will select the most environmentally-friendly and sustainable campus among its 421 campuses, and will be based upon initiatives implemented on the campus including water conservation, number of students engaged in environmental activities, campus greening activities, and environment-related academic activities.
U Washington Lab Receives Green Lab Certification
(U.S.): The university-developed certification recently delivered a bronze achievement to an on-campus lab for its efforts to reduce energy consumption, divert waste from the landfill, and signage that educates technicians about lab sustainability.
Central College to Develop Strategic Sustainability Vision
The college's soon to be developed plan for undergraduate sustainability education will include support for course development, student research opportunities, faculty workshops, and the integration of carbon reduction activities that stimulate citizenship skills.
Humboldt State U Produces Virtual Residential Room
The new website encourages healthy and sustainable living habits through its interactive website that allows users to get more information about green cleaning, ridesharing, buying reused items, indoor air quality, energy efficiency and waste reduction.
Lehigh U Hosts Regional Campus Sustainability Conference
Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC), a consortium of six private colleges and universities, recently offered a regional Campus Sustainability Conference with focused workshops on divestment, climate change, green theatre, strategies for sustaining sustainability and environmental leadership.
Illinois Wesleyan U to Open Social Justice Center
The university's new Center for Human Rights and Social Justice will host programs and activities to enhance opportunities for collaboration and exchange of ideas that tie the theme to the academic mission of the institution.
Swarthmore College Hires Sustainability Director
In her role as director of sustainability, Laura Cacho will help organize courses focused on sustainability, invite outside speakers to raise awareness about environmental issues, progress climate action goals, and help the various departments of the college become more sustainable.
U Maryland Certifies First Green Office
The university's Center for Young Children was certified Gold through the Green Office Program, which includes children charting lunch waste on certain days, composting, reusing art material, installation of power strips that eliminate phantom loads, and usage of indoor plants to improve air quality.
U Alberta Introduces Green Lab Certification
(Canada): As part of the university's Green Spaces certification, the newly developed process specifically tailored toward lab classes recently accredited 22 biology teaching labs, which recognizes best practices in areas such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, chemical handling and water use.
EPA Releases Quarterly List of Top 30 Green Power Partners
The latest quarterly report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency highlights the top 20 colleges and universities using power from renewable energy. They are University of Pennsylvania, University of Oklahoma, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University, Oklahoma State University, Drexel University, Northwestern University, University of Utah, University of Phoenix, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University at Buffalo, University of Wisconsin, The City University of New York, American University, University of Missouri, Texas A&M System, The Catholic University of America, Western Washington University, Quinnipiac University, University of St. Thomas, Santa Clara University, University of Central Oklahoma, Bentley University, Syracuse University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Adelphi University, Union College and Columbia College at Chicago.
Harvard U Earns Green Restaurant Rating
All 13 undergraduate dining halls have earned either two or three-star recognition from the Green Restaurant Association. Sustainable features of the university's Dining Services include energy-efficient HVAC, lighting, refrigeration, and exhaust; organic, sustainable, cage-free, and vegetarian or vegan menu options; low-flow water management devices; recycling, composting and reusables for waste management; and compostable or recycled material disposables.
U Hawai'i Regents Adopt Sustainability Policy
In the wake of the inaugural Hawai‘i Sustainability in Higher Education conference last spring, the new policy was added to the system's mission and purpose and incorporates seven goals in the areas of social, cultural, environmental and economic sustainability in operations; education, research and service; planning, administration and engagement; and cultural and community connections.
San Diego State U Achieves LEED Platinum, Smoke-Free, LGBT Center
The university's recently completed LEED student union is designed with retail space, community areas, an outdoor courtyard and recreation areas. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender resource service center recently opened its doors to offer student support and a sense of community.
Princeton U New Sustainability Website Goes Live
The university's new website is an online sustainability platform where the campus community can get involved, explore the campus as a living lab, view live data, and read news and announcements.
Cornell U Hosts Climate Change Website
(U.S.): The newly released website houses university research and outreach program information, issue-specific pages to help farmers, local government and youth educators, a climate change forum, videos and question and answer section.
Georgetown U Invites Campus Input on Sustainability Plan
(U.S.): After recently establishing its Office of Sustainability, the university held a sustainability planning workshop soliciting engagement from students, faculty and staff members in the areas of food systems, transportation, water, buildings, energy, solid waste, grounds and procurement.
U Oman to be Built on Sustainable Premise
(Oman): The yet-to-be-built university will use best practices for environmentally-friendly design and offer fossil-free transportation systems. Academic themes will include Energy, Resources and Sustainability, Systems Design and Technology, and Community Development and Wellness.
Roosevelt U Appoints New Sustainability Committee Members
The university's Environmental Sustainability Committee recently appointed the members to help advance its campus sustainability agenda including waste diversion, energy use, sustainable land use and water management, green transportation options and green building guidelines.
McGill U Students Release Sustainability Plan
Officially adopted in October 2013, the McGill Post-Graduate Students' Society recently compiled the 5-year report for actions that can be incorporated into the Thomson House building.
Roosevelt U Unveils Sustainability Website
The website for sustainability encapsulates many of the university's finished and ongoing endeavors, provides sustainability education for the campus and community, and recent news.
U North Carolina Chapel Hill Releases New Sustainability Report
The university's recently released report explicitly outlines goals, progress and strategies in water management, climate, food, wellness and health, education and curriculum, affordability and diversity, innovation and entrepreneurship, research, and engagement.
York U Releases First Sustainability Report
The newly released report summarizes progress of the President's Sustainability Council and the Environmental Sustainability Report, which covers energy usage, waste diversion and other tracked indicators of sustainability. The document also highlights new recommendations that form the core of the university's sustainability plan.
Coalition formed for Green Schools
(U.S.): Announced at the Greenbuild Conference & Expo and called the Global Coalition for Green Schools, 29 founding members have committed to establishing and leading a national coalition for green schools, within each of their respective countries, that will share best practices, resources and case studies, provide tools and infrastructure to the growing network, and introduce programs, initiatives and campaigns that can be replicated around the world.
Eastern Michigan U SGA Creates Sustainability Committee
The university's Student Government Association created the new Energy and Sustainability Committee to focus on campus policies regarding energy and sustainability and community service involvement among the student body.
U Illinois Urbana-Champaign to Debut New Sustainability Institute
Evolving out of chancellor-led campus planning exercises and pending Board of Trustees and Illinois Board of Higher Education approval, the Center for a Sustainable Environment will soon be the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and the Environment. Launching with a $500,000 annual budget, the campus-wide research enterprise is projected address globally significant challenges.
Sierra, Princeton Review Announce Coordinated Reporting Deadline
AASHE has collaborated with Sierra Magazine and The Princeton Review to allow institutions to report all data in one place using the new and improved STARS 2.0. The new version of STARS offers a basic level of access at no cost to institutions. Simply follow these steps: 1) register for STARS (at the basic or full level of access), 2) report your data in the STARS Reporting Tool, and 3) save a “snapshot” to also share with Sierra Magazine and The Princeton Review. To help further address survey fatigue, Sierra Magazine and The Princeton Review have coordinated their deadlines. Register for STARS 2.0 and submit your data by Feb. 28, 2014 to be included in Sierra’s “Cool Schools” list or The Princeton Review's “Guide to Green Colleges.”
SUNY System Commits to Local Food
The university system recently committed to increase the procurement of fresh and minimally processed New York-grown produce by SUNY dining services at a competitive price that provides a sustainable profit margin for farmers. It will include an educational campaign to increase awareness among campus faculty, staff, and students on the benefits of purchasing locally grown fruits, vegetables, and meat.
