Boston U Faculty Encourages Fossil Fuel Divestment
245 university faculty have teamed together to sign a petition that encourages divestment from fossil fuel companies to combat climate change. The petition is now under review with the university's Board of Trustees.
Cornell U Aims to Revise Climate Neutrality Target Date
In an effort to achieve carbon neutrality, the university's Climate Neutrality Acceleration Working Group recently proposed moving the target date from 2050 to 2035 by enhancing education and engagement of student learning, faculty research and staff participation in an updated plan.
Forbes: STARS Must Know Resource
AASHE's STARS program was recently named as one business metric that is vitally important to use in the sustainably focused economy.
Higher Education Leaders Address Climate Change
A new initiative called Solution Generation was recently launched by ecoAmerica and MomentUS to provide communications tools, research and resources for higher education leaders to design and implement strategies to inspire, educate and engage their faculty, staff, students, peers and communities on climate change solutions.
Johns Hopkins U Increases Green Efforts
Over the past five years the university has implemented clean energy initiatives such as furniture recycling, compressed natural gas vehicles and installing water bottle-filling stations resulting in the elimination of 456,000 tons of CO2e.
Macalester College Pledges Zero Waste
In an effort to divert waste from landfills and incinerators, the university recently implemented campus wide composting, a new program to repurpose food waste and reusable take-out containers.
MacEwan U Recycles Furniture
The university introduced a new program called Re-Love Market this September that takes unwanted and gently used items for people to swap or buy items instead of throwing them away.
Two Institutions Submit STARS Ratings
University of California Santa Barbara and Saint Mary's College of California submitted and received ratings in AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) during August.
U California to Combat Climate Change
Through direct investments following United Nation guidelines and the establishment of a framework for sustainable investments and solar energy purchases, the university will continue to take steps toward carbon neutrality by 2025 for a cleaner environment through solar energy.
U Illinois Chicago Building Earns LEED Gold
The university's Mile Square Health Center earned certification due to aspects that include a green roof, high-efficiency flush fixtures and low-VOC carpet, paint and furniture to reduce chemicals and improve air quality.
U Maine Reduces Waste
The university recently reduced waste with a new unlimited meal plan for students where they no longer need to swipe for a lunch or dinner, which caused a significant decrease in food waste.
Appalachian State U Stadium Now Zero-Waste
To help the university meet its 90 percent waste diversion rate by 2022, a plan was recently developed for the 2014 season to include compost and recyclables waste collection areas each game day.
Carnegie Mellon U Starts New Sustainability Program
A new voluntary, self-guided initiative recently began to promote offices that are taking steps toward reducing their environmental footprint through conserving water, saving energy and minimizing waste.
College Idaho Provide Eco-House
A self-sustaining college sponsored residency provides opportunities for students to promote food consciousness and a more environmentally friendly lifestyle for a second year.
Emory U to Protect Bees
The university’s Office of Sustainability Initiatives recently released a new campus pollinator protection policy that will protect pollinators to further its sustainability vision to reduce the university's impact on the local environment.
Florida A&M U Introduces New Initiative
The university is focused on advancing the research, teaching and application of innovative solutions to global socio-economic, ecological and energy sustainability issues in which the new Sustainability Initiative will play a pivotal role toward helping the university to achieve this mission throughout the 2014/15 school season.
Gonzaga U Brings Local Food to Campus
Students can now expect more sustainable food options in the cafeteria thanks to a new partnership between the university and Local Inland Northwest Cooperative Growers. This partnership will contribute toward the Real Food Challenge pledge to source 25 percent of food from local providers by 2020.
Johnson C. Smith U Students Garden
In an effort to provide a sustainable garden and food source to the campus, the university had students plant fall crops for harvesting in November and December. This garden will also encourage healthy eating habits.
Penn State U to Increase Sustainability at Sporting Events
Throughout the upcoming football season, the university will work to achieve a 100 percent landfill diversion rate starting within the suite sections of the Beaver Stadium to surpass the 97 percent diversion rate accomplished in the 2013 season.
San Diego County Water Authority Promotes Conservation
Students are invited to participate in a new selfie contest of a picture with themselves and a magnet from the authority that says, “When in Drought” in a campaign to increase water conservation efforts such as turning off the water when brushing their teeth.
San Diego State U Conserves Water
The university will soon identify where water is being used to find ways in which water usages can be reduced, such as through the recent installation of a rainwater collection system toward a goal of cutting consumption by 20 percent.
Sustainable Endowments Institute Analyzes STARS [LINK UPDATED]
An analysis was recently released of STARS data from institutions that earned at least one of the six investment credits. AASHE was briefed about the research process, but the report was developed independently and AASHE has not partnered nor endorsed the report.
Temple U Unveils New Diversity Site
The university rolled out a new website to support its mission to maintain a campus climate that welcomes diversity and will provide easy access to information and resources for those interested in fostering diversity across the campus.
Three Institutions Support Expansion of Pittsburgh 2030 Program
This sustainable program recently expanded into Oakland, PA thanks to Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and others toward 50 percent reductions in energy consumption, water use and transportation emissions by the year 2030.
U Albany Launches Sustainability Campaign
New green initiatives at the university began recently including an effort to reduce electricity use around the campus, provide water through a water refill station to students and faculty and the implementation of a new ZipCar service.
Colorado State U Get Solar Panels
In order to increase solar energy, the university recently installed panels to increase the amount of sustainable energy 6,600 kilowatts with the ability to power approximately 1,200 homes to benefit the institution and the surrounding community.
DePauw U Names New Senior Advisor to Promote Diversity
Renee Madison, attorney and associate director of enforcement for the National Collegiate Athletics Association, will now serve on the university’s Cabinet as Senior Advisor to the President for Diversity and Compliance, announced the university’s president this September. She will lead university efforts to promote a campus culture of respect and inclusion.
Indiana U Purdue U Indianapolis Repurposes Food Waste
The university’s new student-led food rescue and distribution operation will turn wasted food into meals for those in need while creating opportunities for student leadership and empowerment, service learning opportunities and additional community partnerships, to promote sustainability throughout the campus to community.
Institutions Boost Sustainability Movement
U.S. News: Colleges and universities lead the charge to increase renewable energy efforts such as green residency buildings, clean energy courses and upgrades to promote fuel efficiency.
North Carolina State U to Save Trees
To prevent cankerworms from damaging university trees, volunteers will wrap and attach polyfill fabric and special paper around tree trunks this fall, and later they will slather the bands with a sticky paste to prevent eggs being laid.
Portland State U Boosts Recycling Bin Locations
Thanks to a grant from Keep America Beautiful and The Coca-Cola Foundation, 1,000 new recycling bins designed specifically for placement in its residence halls were recently installed to increase waste diversion efforts.
Two Emory U Hospitals to Divert Waste
Starting in the operating rooms, Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory University Hospital aim to reduce landfill waste by 65 percent by 2015 through recycling more and donating unused supplies.
U Louisiana Lafayette Works Toward Zero-Waste
The university recently piloted several programs to increase sustainability efforts in their zero-waste initiative around the campus that includes an increase in recycling bins, Goodwill donation bins to divert waste and the donation of leftover food.
