-------------  ------------- AASHE Bulletin Contents for 10.19.06 NEWS 1. Arizona State University Launches School of Sustainability 2. Los Angeles Community College District Announces Major Solar Initiative 3. Universities Come Together to Fight World Hunger 4. Goshen College to Offer MA in Environmental Education 5. Plymouth State University Opens Energy Efficient Dorm 6. 3 Pennsylvania Campuses Receive Energy Harvest Grants 7. University of Washington to Create Endowed Professorship in Sustainability 8. University of Toronto Begins Local Food Partnership 9. Seattle University Signs Seattle Climate Partnership 10. Penn State Creates Biomass Energy Center 11. University of Washington Promises Free Tuition to Low-Income Students 12. Milwaukee Area Technical College Planning On Campus Wind Turbine Installation 13. EPA to Release New Tool to Help Campuses Improve Environmental Compliance 14. Lakeshore Technical College Receives Energy Performance Award 15. University of Toronto Begins Carsharing, Bike Locker Programs NEW RESOURCES 16. Special Issue of Chronicle of Higher Education on Sustainability 17. Truth on Campus 18. Activist Training In The Academy: Developing A Master's Program In Environmental Advocacy 19. Cornell Sustainable Computing Guide OPPORTUNITIES 20. Cleantech Innovation Challenge JOBS & INTERNSHIPS 21. Professor of Environmental Policy and Planning, University of California at Los Angeles EVENTS 22. Chronicle of Higher Education Live Discussion on Sustainability with Tony Cortese 23. CFP Deadline Extended: Rocky Mountain Sust. Summit: Forging Solutions at Colleges and Universities 24. National Wildlife Federation Greener Campus Teleconference on Campus Climate Challenge 25. AASHE Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop News 1. Arizona State University Launches School of Sustainability Arizona State University has announced the creation of a new degree granting School of Sustainability. The new school is at the center of a university-wide, interdisciplinary initiative to find solutions to the most pressing sustainability issues the planet faces. The School, which begins enrolling students in January, will offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in sustainability. Within five years, the school expects to have 450 undergraduate students and 50 students each in its master’s and doctoral degree programs. The curriculum builds upon an existing base at ASU that includes 300 courses, 80 degree programs and 170 research projects that involve sustainability. http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200610/20061004_sustainability.htm http://www.aacu.org/aacu_news/AACUNews06/October06/feature.cfm 2. Los Angeles Community College District Announces Major Solar Initiative Los Angeles Community College District has announced plans to install 1 MW of solar generating capacity on each of its 9 campuses. The solar panels should provide enough electricity to completely power each campus. The district also plans to build a renewable energy Central Plant and add "sustainability curriculum" at each campus. The plans were announced at the Solar Power 2006 conference in San Jose. http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_290182549.html Listing of campus solar installations: http://www.aashe.org/resources/solar_campus.php 3. Universities Come Together to Fight World Hunger More than 30 universities have joined together over the past year in a coalition focused on combating world hunger. The Universities Fighting World Hunger initiative was formally announced recently in an event on World Food Day in Washington D.C. To highlight the role of the university in dramatically reducing hunger domestically and globally, a World Food Day Teleconference featured a documentary entitled Universities Fighting World Hunger. The new initiative is headquartered at Auburn University, which will be the host of the Universities Fighting World Hunger conference in February. http://www.auburn.edu/event/hunger/publish.php?doc_id=1 4. Goshen College to Offer MA in Environmental Education Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College has announced the launch of a Master of Arts in Environmental Education program. All of the courses for the degree will be taught at Merry Lea and the requirements for the program will be completed in one calendar year – starting in July and ending the following June. The degree program is built around three major components: core courses, an extensive practicum and a project. A central theme of the curriculum is the integration of ecological learning and the development of pedagogical skills. Additionally, students will focus on many practical concepts that are needed in delivering quality environmental education programs from land management to administration. The first cohort of students begins July 2007. http://www.goshen.edu/news/pressarchive/10-11-06-enviro-ed.html http://www.goshen.edu/merrylea/eemasters/graduate.html 5. Plymouth State University Opens Energy Efficient Dorm Plymouth State University recently dedicated the Langdon Woods Residence Hall. This $29 million new building features a layout that follows the contour of the land on-site, preserving wetlands and other water elements while allowing maximum sunlight exposure for energy conservation. The brick, wood and glass building is outfitted with energy and water conserving fixtures and systems, including some waterless urinals. Heat is provided through a co-generation plant housed next door. These features will mean 58 percent less energy use and a 36 percent reduction in water use than an equivalent conventional building. PSU intends to pursue LEED Gold certification for the building. http://www.plymouth.edu/thirdtier/fullstory.phtml?number=5081 Listing of green residence halls (AASHE members only): http://www.aashe.org/resources/residence_halls1.php 6. 3 Pennsylvania Campuses Receive Energy Harvest Grants Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell recently announced $5.1 million to support 27 projects that will advance the deployment of clean energy technologies, lessen the nation’s dependence on foreign fuels, and significantly reduce air and water pollution. Among these were three campus projects. West Chester University of Pennsylvania received a $248,458 for a ground-source (geothermal) heat pump heating and cooling system for a 50,000-square-foot building renovation. Dickinson College received $250,000 to construct a 60.28-kilowatt array of photovoltaic cells on the roof of the College’s Facilities Management building. Susquehanna University received $ 150,000 to purchase and demonstrate an innovative steam/condensate pre-insulated piping system to save energy and reduce emissions. http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=457019 7. University of Washington to Create Endowed Professorship in Sustainability University of Washington has announced that it will create an endowed professorship in sustainability within the College of Architecture and Urban Planning. The professor will be expected to take a multidisciplinary approach, linking the sustainable design activities of the departments of architecture, construction management, landscape architecture, and urban design and planning with the environmental work of other schools and colleges at the university. Funding for the professorship comes from the Seattle architecture firm Mithun and the Russell Family Foundation. http://www.djc.com/news/en/11183004.html?cgi=yes 8. University of Toronto Begins Local Food Partnership University of Toronto has announced a partnership with Local Flavour Plus, a not-for-profit organization that certifies local farmers and processors who produce food in environmentally and socially responsible ways and links them with purchasers. Under the partnership, a number of residences and cafeterias on the St. George campus will serve seasonably available, fresh items and dishes made with these certified ingredients. U of T is the first Canadian university to establish a partnership with Local Flavour Plus. http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/060919-2573.asp http://www.localflavourplus.ca/node/85 9. Seattle University Signs Seattle Climate Partnership Seattle University recently signed the Seattle Climate Partnership, a voluntary agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The University has already taken a number of steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including purchasing 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. In addition, energy conservation measures undertaken by the University have saved more than eight million kilowatt hours since first adopted in 1993. http://www.seattleu.edu/home/news_events/news/news_detail.asp?elID=1011200642907&elYear=2006 10. Penn State Creates Biomass Energy Center In an effort to enhance coordination and collaboration among the many and varied green energy research projects under way and planned across the University, Penn State recently created the Biomass Energy Center. An interdisciplinary initiative that also includes the Eberly College of Science, the College of Engineering and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, the center will be housed in the College of Agricultural Sciences' Environment and Natural Resources Institute. The focus of the Biomass Energy Center will be to coordinate and facilitate research and outreach across the university, building teams to address the complete value chain of biomass energy systems. http://live.psu.edu/story/20199 11. University of Washington Promises Free Tuition to Low-Income Students University of Washington has announced a new scholarship program guaranteeing full payment of tuition and fees for students from the state of Washington who come from low- and lower middle-income families. The new program, called "Husky Promise," guarantees full tuition and fee scholarships for students attending the University who are residents of Washington state and who qualify for Pell Grants or State Need Grants. Students whose family incomes are at or below 65 percent of the state median income -- currently 235 percent of the federal poverty level -- will qualify for the scholarships. In general, a family of four with an income of $46,500 or less will be able to send their children to the University of Washington tuition free. The program will start next fall with the 2007-08 academic year. The University expects to support some 5,000 students a year in this program, comprising approximately 20 percent of the total number of undergraduates at its three campuses in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma. All full-time undergraduates who qualify financially are eligible, whether they entered the University as freshmen or transfer students. http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article.asp?articleID=27325 12. Milwaukee Area Technical College Planning On Campus Wind Turbine Installation Milwaukee Area Technical College has received approval from a local planning commission to install a 160-foot tall, 90 kW wind turbine on its Mequon Campus. The installation is a Renewable Energy Technology Education Center initiative designed to educate students and the public about renewable energy technologies. The wind tower, which is expected to provide about 8 percent of the campus’ electricity, will cost about $150,000, with about $57,000 coming from a grant from the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation. The college expects to recoup its investment within eight years or less at current energy prices. As a separate demonstration and educational piece, RETEC also will include two 1-kilowatt solar cell panels. Construction is expected to begin this fall. http://matc.edu/matc_now/retec.html 13. EPA to Release New Tool to Help Campuses Improve Environmental Compliance The EPA has announced plans to develop a compliance assistance center to help colleges and universities understand and comply with environmental laws. The center is part of an agreement between EPA and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). Under the agreement, EPA will provide $65,000 under phase one of the project, and up to $350,000 over the next five years. The compliance assistance center will use the internet to provide tools and information for improving environmental management on campuses. It will also offer a virtual campus tour online that will enable users to quickly and easily target priority issues. Other national education associations involved in the development of this new resource include the Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence; the Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association; and the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers. US EPA article 14. Lakeshore Technical College Receives Energy Performance Award Lakeshore Technical College was one of six Wisconsin technical colleges to receive an energy performance award from the Wisconsin State Technical College System (WTCS). In 2005-06, LTC decreased its energy consumption by 19% through a variety of energy savings measures such as purchasing energy-efficient lighting, maintaining interior room temperatures at 70 degrees, insulating vestibule ceilings, replacing power-operated doors in vestibules, and others. WTCS tracks energy usage at each of the 16 Wisconsin technical colleges and recognizes those colleges that annually use less than 85,000 BTU/sq.ft. This year, an energy management committee was formed to decrease campus-wide energy consumption through education, conservation, and energy management. http://www.gotoltc.com/press/Oct_06_8.htm 15. University of Toronto Begins Carsharing, Bike Locker Programs In an effort to reduce demand for parking, the University of Toronto has begun renting 4 of its parking spaces to Zipcar, a car-sharing company. The University is Zipcar's first Canadian partner. U of T is also partnering with the city of Toronto in a pilot project for the installation of bicycle lockers. A total of eight heavy gauge plastic lockable units, each capable of holding two bikes and accoutrements such as a helmet or knapsack, have been installed. For $10 a month, users get a weatherproof reserved parking space, with a place to store books and a change of clothes. http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/061011-2618.asp New Resources 16. Special Issue of Chronicle of Higher Education on Sustainability This week's issue for the Chronicle of Higher Education focuses on sustainability. Articles focus on student activism for sustainability, the emergence of "sustainability science," and new degree programs in sustainability, among other things. http://chronicle.com/free/v53/i09/09a01001.htm 17. Truth on Campus Truth on Campus is a coordinated project helping colleges and universities increase the positive outcomes from their screenings of An Inconvenient Truth. The project aims to help campus organizers connect film audiences to opportunities to participate in local and national solutions to the climate crisis and other sustainability challenges underway on campus and in the local community. In particular, the project hopes to introduce audiences to efforts like the Campus Climate Challenge and Focus the Nation. Campuses are encouraged to chronicle the impact of the film on their campus and community by posting dispatches to the project’s blog. http://www.truthoncampus.org/index.shtml 18. Activist Training In The Academy: Developing A Master's Program In Environmental Advocacy Steve Chase, the Director of Antioch University's Environmental Advocacy and Organizing Program has published his doctoral dissertation online. Activist Training in the Academy: Developing A Master's Program In Environmental Advocacy provides a discussion of the key theoretical issues facing educators who might want to create activist training programs at their own colleges and universities. The report also includes a detailed case study of the development process and curriculum design of the master's program in Environmental Advocacy and Organizing at Antioch University New England. http://www.antiochne.edu/directory/page.cfm?page_id=230&id=1800014802&Type=Page 19. Cornell Sustainable Computing Guide Cornell University's Facilities Services Computer & Network Support office has produced a guide and accompanying website to promote "sustainable computing." The guide provides information on reducing energy consumption by computers and associated technologies; disposing of computers and other electronics in a responsible manner; and purchasing more efficient computers with fewer hazardous components. http://computing.fs.cornell.edu/fsit/Sustainable/FSSustainableComputingGuide.pdf http://computing.fs.cornell.edu/fsit/sustainable/fsit_sustainability.cfm Opportunities 20. Cleantech Innovation Challenge The Robert H. and Beverly A. Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at Leeds School of Business has announced the Cleantech Innovation Challenge. This competition seeks plans that capitalize on emerging market conditions and propose business concepts that promise significant financial reward while enhancing ecological sustainability. The international event is designed to be the premier student competition showcasing emerging opportunities in the cleantech sector. A minimum of $25,000 in prize money will be awarded to the winning teams. The top-ranked team with a clean energy technology business plan will be invited to present its business plan at the 20th annual National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Industry Growth Forum in Fall 2007. November 3 is the Intent to Compete submission deadline. http://leeds.colorado.edu/entrep/interior.aspx?id=295,411,484,1889 Jobs & Internships 21. Professor of Environmental Policy and Planning, University of California at Los Angeles The UCLA Urban Planning Department and the UCLA Institute of the Environment are jointly recruiting applicants for a tenured or tenure-track faculty position in environmental policy and planning. The successful candidate for this position will have, at the senior level, a distinguished research career consistent with a major research university as well as, for all levels, a well-developed research agenda; a track record of excellent teaching or the potential for outstanding teaching; and should hold a PhD in planning or a related field by the time of appointment. For full consideration, applicantions are due by November 30, 2006. http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000478574-01&pg=s&cc= Events 22. Chronicle of Higher Education Live Discussion on Sustainability with Tony Cortese October 19, at 2 pm Eastern The Chronicle of Higher Education is hosting a free, live Web chat on campus sustainability. The guest speaker will be Anthony D. Cortese, a founder of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and president of Second Nature. A transcript will be posted after the discussion. http://chronicle.com/live/2006/10/cortese/ 23. CFP Deadline Extended: Rocky Mountain Sust. Summit: Forging Solutions at Colleges and Universities February 22-23, 2007; University of Colorado at Boulder The Rocky Mountain Sustainability Summit will provide a networking forum for representatives from campuses in the Rocky Mountain region (CO, NM, UT, WY, MT, ID, AZ) to learn about a variety of environmental issues facing institutions, explore ways of improving campus practices and policies, and ultimately work toward boosting the triple bottom line of environmental, social and economic sustainability. The Summit will feature sessions, workshops and facilitated discussions on institutionalizing and operationalizing sustainability, as well as creating a culture of sustainability. A Call for Presentations is currently underway. Submissions are due by October 25, 2006. http://ecenter.colorado.edu/rmss2007/cfp.pdf 24. National Wildlife Federation Greener Campus Teleconference on Campus Climate Challenge October 26, 2:00pm Eastern The National Wildlife Federation's Greener Campus Teleconference Series gives NWF Campus Ecology members the opportunity to hear from leading campus sustainability practitioners and provides a forum for questions and discussion. The first teleconference will focus on the Campus Climate Challenge: How to Engage Students and Gain Support from the Administration and will feature speakers from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Rice University, University of North Florida, and Williams College. To participate in the conference call, contact Kristy Jones at Jonesk@nwf.org. 25. AASHE Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop Jan. 11-12, 2007; Emory University, Atlanta, GA AASHE's Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership workshops are for faculty leaders of all disciplines who wish to develop curriculum change programs around sustainability on their campuses. Through an intensive two days of presentations, exercises, discussions, reflection, and planning, participants will become familiar with the philosophy of change in higher education developed through the Ponderosa Project at Northern Arizona University and adapted at Emory in the Piedmont Project. Participants will also experience of range of workshop strategies, hear local experts, enjoy outdoor place-based activities, and dialogue with faculty from around the country as they gain help in adapting this model to their own campus. The workshop leaders, Peggy Barlett and Geoffrey Chase, are editors of Sustainability on Campus: Stories and Strategies for Change and have helped more than 200 faculty revise courses in a wide array of disciplines. Workshop tuition is $350 for AASHE members and $390 for non-members. Applications to participate are due by November 10, 2006. http://www.aashe.org/profdev/curriculum.php AASHE Bulletin is a weekly service of AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. 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 _______________________________________________ Subscribe/unsubscribe: http://lists.efswest.org/mailman/listinfo/efswnlist 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 _______________________________________________ Please send items for inclusion in AASHE Bulletin to Julian Dautremont-Smith, Associate Director, at: julian [AT] aashe.org. |