AASHE Bulletin A weekly service of AASHE - www.aashe.org Contents for 03.30.06 NEWS 1. Santa Clara University Hires First Sustainability Coordinator 2. Indiana University to Create "Carbon Grove" to Honor William Ruckelshaus 3. Central Michigan University Saves Money with Biomass Fuel 4. University of Miami Students End Sit-In for Labor Rights with Agreement 5. New Organic Dairy at UNH to Help Regional Farmers Go Organic 6. St. Louis Community College to Open New Green Campus 7. University of Saskatchewan Planning LEED Gold Addition 8. Drake University to Open Eco-House NEW RESOURCES 9. 2006 Ecological Design Education Survey 10. Exercising Ownership: Responsible Investing at the University of Toronto 11. New Book on Institutionalizing Community-University Engagement OPPORTUNITIES 12. Collaborative Science And Technology Network For Sustainability Grants 13. Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility JOBS & INTERNSHIPS 14. Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, Duke University 15. Director of Sustainability Initiatives, Emory University 16. Executive Director, Cascadia Green Building Council EVENTS 17. CFP: AASHE 2006 Conference 18. Sustainability Education Advanced Summer Institute 19. Workshop on the Certification of Sustainability Practitioners 20. Sierra Student Coalition Summer Programs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Save the Date: AASHE 2006 Conference - Oct. 4-6, 2006 - Arizona State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News 1. Santa Clara University Hires First Sustainability Coordinator In an effort to continue to improve upon its environmental sustainability programs, Santa Clara University has hired its first Sustainability Coordinator. Lindsey Cromwell, a 2004 SCU alumna, recently joined the Environmental Studies Institute at SCU with the mission of coordinating and promoting the implementation of the university’s Comprehensive Policy on Sustainability. Lindsey will help advance campus sustainability efforts by connecting existing sustainability efforts and will also develop and implement sustainability resources and workshops for students, faculty, and staff. http://www.scu.edu/sustainability/newsandevents/index.cfm 2. Indiana University to Create "Carbon Grove" to Honor William Ruckelshaus In recognition of the 35th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency, Indiana University is taking the unique step of creating a "carbon grove" to honor former EPA leader William Ruckelshaus. The project consists of planting trees and prairie vegetation on two plots, each about one acre in size. A third area will be left undisturbed to serve as a control plot. The trees and grasses are expected to capture enough carbon to offset the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the travel of speakers and attendees to an April 19 celebration of the EPA's anniversary at which William Ruckelshaus will be speaking. The grove will provide a research and teaching opportunity for IU faculty and students. http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/3143.html 3. Central Michigan University Saves Money with Biomass Fuel In response to rising natural gas prices, Central Michigan University began using woodchips for fuel in 2002. The wood chip fueled boiler provides about 60-65% of the University's steam at less than a third of the cost of natural gas produced steam ($4 per 1000 lbs. of steam vs $14 per 1,000 lbs. of steam). The salvaged wood chips are provided by a local timber operation. http://www.news.cmich.edu/news/index.asp?id=1248 Campus newspaper article Local newspaper article 4. University of Miami Students End Sit-In for Labor Rights with Agreement University of Miami students ended a 13-hour sit-in in the admissions office early Wednesday morning after the University agreed to: put out a statement saying it would not tolerate intimidation or coercion of workers; encourage Unicco and the union to reach an agreement over the labor dispute; and would host a meeting within 48 hours involving the union, Unicco, faculty and student groups. UM janitors and other contract workers of Unicco Services Co. seeking union representation with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have been on partial strike for over four weeks. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/email/news/breaking_news/14210704.htm http://www.yeswecane.org/ http://www.uniccotruth.com/ 5. New Organic Dairy at UNH to Help Regional Farmers Go Organic An organic dairy farm currently under development at the University of New Hampshire is intended to help save family farms in the region by helping the farmers transition to organic production. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/03/26/unh_sees_organic_future_for_farms/ 6. St. Louis Community College to Open New Green Campus St. Louis Community College will open a new campus in Wildwood in fall 2007. The initial building is being designed for LEED certification, and will incorporate a green roof. http://www.stlcc.edu/ww/ 7. University of Saskatchewan Planning LEED Gold Addition A new addition to the College of Law building at the University of Saskatchewan is being designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification. The addition is anticipated to be complete by Fall 2007. In related news, the University of Saskatchewan Student Union recently adopted a sustainability policy that, among other things, sets principles regarding ethical purchasing practices for the Student Union. http://www.thesheaf.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1564&Itemid=44 8. Drake University to Open Eco-House Drake University in Iowa will open a new "eco-house" next fall for environmentally conscious students. To live in the eco-house, students will pledge to live as sustainably as possible and will be expected to perform at least one community improvement project per semester. The house will accommodate 6 students. http://www.drake.edu/artsci/ENV/current/EcoHouse_App.html New Resources 9. 2006 Ecological Design Education Survey Graduate and undergraduate students in accredited architecture, landscape architecture, and planning programs on the West Coast are invited and encouraged to take the 2006 Ecological Design Education Survey. The goals of the survey are to: assess student interest in and demand for ecological design education; gather student perspectives on ecological design education opportunities on the West Coast; measure student exposure to ecological design through academic, extra-curricular, and related learning opportunities. Survey organizers – AASHE, the NW Alliance for Ecological Design Education, and Good Company - hope that the results of this survey will provide students with a valuable resource when choosing advanced study in design, as well as spur institutions to integrate, expand and improve their offerings in ecological design education. The survey is open until April 6th. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?A=121476394E57647 10. Exercising Ownership: Responsible Investing at the University of Toronto The Responsible Investment Working Group, a group of University of Toronto students dedicated to improving the environmental, social and governance performance of university endowment and pension funds, has released an 80-page report that describes how University of Toronto could become a leader in responsible investing. Among other things, the report recommends that the University: actively vote and disclose proxy votes, form an Advisory Committee on Responsible Investment, become active participants in institutional investor coalitions, and engage with investment managers in discussions on responsible investment. http://www.responsibleinvestment.ca/ Toronto Star article Listing of Socially Responsible Investment Policies adopted by Institutions of Higher Education (AASHE members-only): http://www.aashe.org/resources/investment_policies.php 11. New Book on Institutionalizing Community-University Engagement Creating a New Kind of University, a new book edited by Stephen L. Percy, Nancy L. Zimpher, and Mary Jane Brukardt, explores institutional transformation through university-community collaboration. This book examines engagement from historical and comparative perspectives and provides a spectrum of practical ideas for and solutions to the real-world challenges of "doing" engagement. It concludes with a challenge to higher education from a group of national leaders who believe it is time for colleges and universities to take action. More about the book Opportunities 12. Collaborative Science And Technology Network For Sustainability Grants Through the Collaborative Science and Technology Network for Sustainability, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development is seeking applications proposing innovative regional projects that apply science to decision-making to address a stated problem or opportunity relating to sustainability. Projects should bring together diverse sets of partners to explore and learn about new approaches for environmental protection that are systems-oriented, forward-looking, and preventive and also link to economic and social dimensions. Approximately 7 awards totaling $2 million will be made. US-based institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. The closing date for applications is May 17, 2006. http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2006/2006_star_cns.html 13. Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility The Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility states: "I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work." It has been used in some form at over 100 institutions of higher education. The schools involved include small liberal arts colleges (Colgate and Skidmore); large state universities (Oregon and Utah), and large private research universities (Princeton and Stanford). Graduates who voluntarily signed the pledge have turned down jobs with which they did not feel morally comfortable and have worked to make changes once on the job. http://www.graduationpledge.org/ Jobs & Internships 14. Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, Duke University Duke University is seeking applicants for the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator position. The Sustainability Coordinator will develop, coordinate and administer programs and advise policies within the area of sustainability at Duke University. Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree. A recent Duke graduate is preferred. Sam Hummel, Duke's current Environmental Sustainability Coordinator recently announced that he is ready to pursue some of his other career goals. Job description http://www.duke.edu/sustainability/2006-03-10departure.html 15. Director of Sustainability Initiatives, Emory University Emory University is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Director of Sustainability Initiatives. Reporting jointly to the Offices of the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost), the Director will have direct responsibility for overseeing all University initiatives related to sustainability. The Director will be expected to function as a visionary leader and organizational strategist to help Emory become a national model for sustainability in higher education. The Director will also create the strategy to integrate sustainability into both the operational and academic functions of the University, network with and facilitate internal and external resources to accomplish that goal, and evaluate the needs of the University community. The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree in an appropriate field and five to ten years of progressive experience and leadership in the area of sustainability, resource management and/or related initiatives. The expected start date for this position is September 1, 2006. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. Position filled: Ciannat Howett 16. Executive Director, Cascadia Green Building Council The Cascadia Region Green Building Council is seeking a visionary leader to inspire sustainable communities and green building stewardship in the Pacific Northwest. The new Executive Director will direct the operations of a growing non-profit organization with a current annual operating budget of over $600,000. Applicants should have demonstrated experience as an Executive Director or equivalent, managing staff, budgets, contracts, fiscal reporting, fundraising and marketing. Applications are due by April 21, 2006. https://www.usgbc.org/chapters/cascadia/docs/pdf/CascadiaEDPositionFinal.pdf Events 17. CFP: AASHE 2006 Conference AASHE is pleased to invite submissions of abstracts for AASHE 2006: The Role of Higher Education in Creating a Sustainable World. The conference is open to participants from every sector of higher education, as well as businesses and community leaders. AASHE 2006 aims to significantly advance sustainability efforts in higher education, with an emphasis on “next steps” and “beyond the low-hanging fruit.” Particular emphasis will be on social dimensions of sustainability and the need to consider all dimensions of sustainability - not just the environment – in decision-making. The conference will provide for active exchange of ideas and knowledge through interactive forums, informal networking, and open discussion. Abstracts are due by May 22 and may be submitted under the following tracks: Education & Research, Operations & Facilities, Community Service & Outreach, and Institutional Transformation. http://www.aashe.org/cfp06.pdf 18. Sustainability Education Advanced Summer Institute July 10-14, 2006; New York, NY This 5-day advanced workshop, organized by the Cloud Institute, is specifically designed to deepen new habits of mind and to develop new skills and tools for sustainability education. Registration is $725 per person, with discounts for team registrations. Space is limited, so register early. http://www.sustainabilityed.org/TheCloudInstituteAdvancedSummerTraining2006.html 19. Workshop on the Certification of Sustainability Practitioners April 17, 2006; George Washington University, Washington, DC This workshop will explore the kinds of criteria needed to support a Certified Sustainability Practitioner protocol. The intent of this workshop would be to evaluate the need/benefits for such a professional certification process and to scope out what a professional working in sustainability actually does. Breakout groups will then examine what different criteria might be established to judge the competency of an individual working in sustainability. The workshop is organized by Sustainability Now!, in partnership with George Washington University's Environmental and Social Sustainability Initiative, Five E’s Unlimited, greentrack strategies, and The Institute for Sustainability Education & Action. The deadline for registration is Monday, April 10. http://www.sustainability-now.org/workshop_notice.htm 20. Sierra Student Coalition Summer Programs The Sierra Student Coalition’s Student Environmental Leadership Trainings, led by leading student activists, are week-long sessions where participants learn basic organizing, campaign planning, and communication skills. Trainings are being held in North Carolina (June 19-25), Minnesota (June 26-July 2), Washington (July 17-23), Pennsylvania (August 15-20), and Puerto Rico (Dates TBA). In addition, a training focused specifically on Environmental Justice will take place in Los Angeles (July 24-30). The subsidized cost of the program is set up on a sliding scale, from $150-180 and covers tuition, room and board, and local transportation to and from the site, and a year-long membership in the Sierra Club. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until programs are full. http://www.ssc.org/t/sprogs.htm Production of AASHE Bulletin is made possible with funding from our members. If you enjoy AASHE Bulletin and your school is not currently a member of AASHE, please encourage your school to join. Membership dues support AASHE’s core activities and enable us to provide vital benefits and services like AASHE Bulletin. Membership information is available at http://www.aashe.org/membership/description.php _______________________________________________ Send items for inclusion in the next posting to: julian@aashe.org AASHE-Bulletin Archives: http://www.aashe.org/archives/bulletin.php Calendar of events related to campus sustainability: http://www.ulsf.org/resources_events.html Partner Lists: http://www.aashe.org/lists/lists.php _______________________________________________ -- Julian Dautremont-Smith Associate Director Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (971) 544-1755 julian [AT] aashe.org www.aashe.org |