Member Spotlight

Washington State University (Pullman, WA) is our current spotlight campus! University Recreation at WSU has made a commitment to sustainability by posting a sustainability statement, current practices, and sustainability goals on their website. Also featured is how students, staff, and faculty can help them reach those goals. Learn more Spotlight your campus

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Table of Contents for 5/11/09:

NEWS
Buildings 1. Emory U Building Awarded LEED Gold
2. Berea College, Emory U Complete Green Hotel Renovations
Campus Sustainability in the Media 3. Jesuit Colleges Newsletter & Magazine Feature Sustainability
Climate 4. ACUPCC Releases Annual Report
5. 18 New Institutions Sign Presidents' Climate Commitment
Co-Curricular Education 6. Hartwick College Gives Energy Theme to 2009-10 Academic Year
7. Denver U Plants Campus Garden
Energy 8. Cal Poly Students Install Energy & Water Efficient Dishwasher
Funding 9. Northland College Students Vote to Double Green Fee
Grounds 10. Wheaton College Plants Apple Orchard
11. U Georgia Uses Recycled Water in Fountains
Human Resources 12. George Washington U Requires All New Food Service Hires Be Unionized
Research 13. DOE to Establish Energy Research Centers at 31 Universities
14. U California Berkeley Profs Receive Carbon Capture Research Grant
15. U Wyoming Receives $3M for Clean Coal Technology
Sustainability Institutionalization 16. Bucknell U Releases Environmental Assessment
17. Yale U Releases Sustainability Video
Transportation 18. SUNY Oswego Launches Car Share Program
19. St. Clair County CC Purchases Electric Car

NEW RESOURCES
20. Podcast: U Kentucky Dir of Campus Rec on Green Exercise Machines
21. Customizable Book on Campus Sustainability

OPPORTUNITIES
22. AASHE Campus Sustainability Leadership Awards
23. Summer Institute in Sustainability
24. Lifecycle Building Challenge Competition
25. Green Power Leadership Awards

JOBS & INTERNSHIPS
26. Prgm Director, Sustainable Design, U California, Berkley
27. Prgm Dir, Food Studies, Chatham U
28. Chair, Sustainable Enterprise, Case Western Reserve U
29. Fellow, Sustainable Urban Food Studies, The New School
30. Subject Matter Expert, Graduate Sustainability Courses, South U
31. Asst Prof, Sustainable Energy Science, Eastern Connecticut State U
32. Adjunct Faculty, Env'l Science, Intl Academy of Design & Technology

EVENTS
33. Energy Star Higher Education Quarterly Networking Meeting
34. Webinar: Affording Sustainability in the Current Climate
35. Lean and Green: The Sustainability Path in a Tough Economy
36. 2009 Upper Midwest Campus Sustainability Conference
37. Green School & University Virtual Conference and Expo
38. Promoting & Marketing Alternative Transportation Options Webcast

News

Buildings

1. Emory U Building Awarded LEED Gold
Emory University (GA) has received LEED Gold certification for East Village, a student residential complex completed in 2008. The structure features a system that collects rainwater from the roof and the surrounding streets to use as irrigation water during dry periods. Other green elements include the use of natural daylight, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and a highly efficient heating and cooling system.
See also: List of Green Residence Halls (AASHE member only)

2. Berea College, Emory U Complete Green Hotel Renovations
Berea College (KY) has completed the renovation of Boone Tavern, the campus' hotel. The structure features reserved parking spaces for fuel-efficient vehicles, outlets to recharge electric cars, low VOC paint and carpet, dual flush toilets, and natural daylighting. In addition, the hotel offers fair-trade coffee; ceiling fans and windows that open in all rooms; environmentally friendly shampoos, soaps, and cleaning products; and food grown by Berea College students or bought from Kentucky farmers. Berea plans to register the hotel for LEED Silver certification. The Emory University (GA) Conference Center Hotel has completed a new addition. The new development is registered for LEED Silver certification.
See also: Emory U Article

Campus Sustainability in the Media

3. Jesuit Colleges Newsletter & Magazine Feature Campus Sustainability
The Association of Jesuit Colleges and University featured sustainability as the major theme of its April 2009 newsletter, "Connections." In addition, Company Magazine, a magazine for Jesuits, featured campus sustainability in its Winter edition. The section, "Green Times," includes articles on sustainability projects at Saint Joseph's University (PA), Seattle University (WA), Santa Clara University (CA), Loyola University, Chicago (IL), Fordham University (NY), Xavier University (OH), Fairfield University (CT), Rockhurst University (MO), and John Caroll University (OH).
See also: 'Green Times'

Climate

4. ACUPCC Releases Annual Report
The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment has released its 2008 Annual Report. The document describes the impact the Commitment has had and highlights initiatives in the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District (CA), Arizona State University, and Furman University (SC), among others.
See also: AUCPCC 2008 Annual Report (pdf)

5. 18 New Institutions Sign Presidents' Climate Commitment
18 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Dr. William W. Destler of Rochester Institute of Technology (NY); Karen Lawrence of Sarah Lawrence College (NY); Richard F. Celeste of Colorado College; Patrick J. Schloss of Valdosta State University (GA); Dr. Lloyd Jacobs of University of Toledo (OH); Dr. David Fuller of Minot State University (ND); Dr. Stephen B. Jones of Urbana University (OH); Dr. Christopher Blake of Mount Mercy College (IA); Gary A. Lewis of Shasta College (CA); Dr. Thomas Ramage of Parkland College (IL); Jean Conway of Eastfield College (TX); Dr. Richard W. Cummins of Columbia Basin College (WA); Dr. E. Joseph Lee of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine; David L. Levinson of Norwalk Community College (CT); Dr. Gena Proulx of Joliet Junior College (IL); Russell A. Davis of Gloucester Community College (NJ); Dr. J. Larry Keen of Fayetteville Technical Community College (NC); and Barbara Woodlee of Kennebec Valley Community College (ME). 633 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.

Co-Curricular Education

6. Hartwick College Gives Energy Theme to 2009-10 Academic Year
Hartwick College (NY) has named "Energy" as the theme for its 2009-10 academic year. Over the year, the College community will engage in discussions, events, and lectures that center on the increasing relevance of energy policies, carbon footprints, greenhouse gas inventories, and how the decisions made today about energy production, consumption, and conservation will affect the future. In addition, the campus will explore patterns of energy use and apply lessons learned to enhance energy conservation on campus and in the regional community.

7. Denver U Plants Campus Garden
Students and community members have planted a community garden on the Denver University (CO) campus. The garden will include vegetables, herbs, and flowers. All editable food will either be donated to a local homeless shelter or used in a local foods meal at DU.

Energy

9. Northland College Students Vote to Double Green Fee
The student body at Northland College (WI) has voted to double its Renewable Energy Fund fee to $40 each semester. The funds are collected by the Northland College Student Association (NCSA) for sustainability projects of the students' choice.
See also: List of Students Fees for Sustainability

Grounds

10. Wheaton College Plants Apple Orchard
Wheaton College (MA) has planted an apple orchard on its campus. The Murphy Apple Orchard features 60 trees and will be maintained by two student interns throughout the summer and three student employees during the academic year. The orchard's steering committee hopes to expand the orchard and create a produce exchange with local colleges in the future.

11. U Georgia Uses Recycled Water in Fountains
The University of Georgia has begun using recycled water in two campus fountains. UGA officials turned off the fountains during the 2007 drought and in the spring of 2008, a group of engineers redesigned the fountains to use rainwater collected on campus. The system also captures air-conditioning condensation to use in the fountains.

Human Resources

12. George Washington U Requires All New Food Service Hires Be Unionized
George Washington University (DC) has signed a contract with Sodexo that prohibits the food service provider from leasing space to subcontracted vendors that do not have to employ unionized workers. The new contract will affect 35 employees.

Research

13. DOE to Establish Energy Research Centers at 31 Universities
The White House has announced the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science will invest $777 million in Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) over the next five years. Out of 46 new Centers, 31 will be located at Universities. Supported in part by funds made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the EFRCs will bring together groups of leading scientists to address fundamental issues in fields ranging from solar energy and electricity storage to materials sciences, biofuels, advanced nuclear systems, and carbon capture and sequestration. Over 110 institutions from 36 states plus the District of Columbia will be participating in the EFRC research. In all, the EFRCs will involve nearly 700 senior investigators and employ, on a full- or part-time basis, over 1,100 postdoctoral associates, graduate students, undergraduate students, and technical staff.
See also: List of New EFRCs (pdf)

14. U California Berkeley Profs Receive Carbon Capture Research Grant
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded grants to two professors at the University of California, Berkeley for carbon capture and sequestration research. Professors Berend Smit and Donald DePaolo will get $2 million and $4 million a year, respectively, to seek better ways to remove carbon from the emissions of power plants and natural gas wells. Smit will work on more efficient scrubbing of carbon dioxide from power plant plumes and DePaolo will focus on how to better store carbon dioxide underground where it won’t leak out of porous rocks and into the air again.

15. U Wyoming Receives $3M for Clean Coal Technology
The University of Wyoming's School of Energy Resources Clean Coal Technology Center has received a $1.5 million gift from the Arch Coal Foundation and a matching grant from the State of Wyoming. The $3 million will be used to support students and faculty who are dedicated to the development of improved technologies for the extraction of energy from coal.

Sustainability Institutionalization

16. Bucknell U Releases Environmental Assessment
Bucknell University (PA) has released "A Comprehensive Environmental Assessment of Bucknell University." The goal of the document is to establish a baseline of existing conditions, provide a basis for improved sustainability, promote environmental awareness through the assessment process, and create an educational resource. The 226-page document covers administration and policy, education, energy, water, waste, purchasing, dining, built environment, and landscape.
See also: 'A Comprehensive Environmental Assessment of Bucknell University' (pdf)

17. Yale U Releases Sustainability Video
Yale University (CT) has releases a video entitled, "Sustainability at Yale." The video features an introduction by President Richard C. Levin and an overview of the sustainability initiatives taking place on campus.
See also: 'Sustainability at Yale' video

Transportation

18. SUNY Oswego Launches Car Share Program
The State University of New York at Oswego has signed a contract with Zipcar to provide two self-service cars to the campus community. The two vehicles, one of which is a hybrid, can be reserved online and are available to all faculty, staff, and students ages 18 and older. Faculty, staff, and students can join Zipcar for $35 and can drive for $8 per hour or $66 per day.
See also: List of Campus Car-sharing Programs

20. Podcast: U Kentucky Dir of Campus Rec on Green Exercise Machines
AASHE has posted a podcast and written transcript of an interview with Ron Lee, the Director of Campus Recreation at the University of Kentucky. In the interview, Lee discusses the University's 14 elliptical machines that have been retrofitted to generate energy for the Recreation Center.

21. Customizable Book on Campus Sustainability
Great Gifts 4U has released a customizable book that contains tips for students on what they can do to make their campus more sustainable. Topics include green purchasing for campus living, how to reduce water and energy use, and sustainable transportation. Institutions can insert their logo and a welcome letter into the publication.

Opportunities

22. AASHE Campus Sustainability Leadership Awards
AASHE is now accepting applications for its 2009 Sustainability Leadership Awards, to be presented the Greening of the Campus VIII Conference (Sept. 20-23 in Indianapolis, IN). Four Campus Sustainability Leadership Awards will be presented. The Campus Sustainability Leadership Award recognizes the institutions that have made the greatest overall commitment to sustainability as demonstrated in their education and research, campus operations, and administration and finance. Applications are due July 1, 2009.

23. Summer Institute in Sustainability
July 20-24, 2009; University of British Columbia; Vancouver, Canada
The University of British Columbia invites participants to its 2009 Summer Institute in Sustainability. The Institute is an intensive professional development program targeted to administrators in universities and colleges, local and provincial governments, and corporations who are working to integrate sustainability as a core value in their organization. The event will include seminars, case studies, guided field trips, open space café sessions, and optional networking time.

24. Lifecycle Building Challenge Competition
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency invites submissions for its 3rd annual Lifecycle Building Challenge. The competition is a web-based competition open to students and professional architects, designers, engineers, planners, reuse professionals, contractors, builders, educators, and environmental advocates. Lifecycle designs are sought in two categories: building and product. Professionals may submit both built and unbuilt work while students may only submit unbuilt work. Teams of up to 5 contestants can enter. The submission deadline is August 30, 2009.

25. Green Power Leadership Awards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) invite nominations for the 2009 Green Power Leadership Awards. The awards seek to recognize the actions of individuals, institutions, companies, and organizations that are significantly advancing the development of renewable electricity sources through green power markets. Nominations are due May 29, 2009.

Jobs & Internships

26. Prgm Director, Sustainable Design, U California, Berkley
The University of California, Berkeley seeks a Director of the Sustainable Design Program to be responsible for the academic quality of sustainable design programs, the development of new courses and curricula, and the evaluation and oversight of current courses. S/he will also recruit, select, orient, evaluate, and supervise course and program instructors. Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience or training. A Master's Degree in Environment Design or Management is preferred.

27. Prgm Dir, Food Studies, Chatham U
Chatham University (PA) seeks a Program Director for its new Master of Arts in Food Studies to begin in January 2010. The successful candidate will build the program into one that promotes understanding of food policies and practices that will benefit people and the planet. The ideal candidate will have a broad background in environmental, sustainability, and food studies; international interests and experience; administrative experience in budgeting, program development, faculty evaluation, and day-to-day management of academic programs; excellent communication skills; and flexibility. A doctoral degree is required.

28. Chair, Sustainable Enterprise, Case Western Reserve U
Case Western Reserve University (OH) is seeking a preeminent scholar who is internationally recognized for her/his research and educational impact in Business Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship to serve as the Char and Chuck Fowler Chair in Sustainable Enterprise. The Professor/Associate Professor holding this position is expected to teach and provide leadership for a research program in the Weatherhead School's Center for Sustainable Value. Candidates should have a Ph.D. or DBA in a related topic. The position will remain open until filled.

29. Fellow, Sustainable Urban Food Studies, The New School
The New School (NY) seeks a Post-Doctoral Fellow in sustainable urban food systems for the 2009-2010 academic year to assist in research, curriculum development, and public programming coordination within the University's new Environmental Studies Program. Under the supervision of one or more Environmental Studies faculty members, the fellows will develop and teach a survey course and one course based on their area(s) of expertise and dissertation topic. A Ph.D. in Urban Planning, Policy, Environmental Studies, or a related discipline is required. The position is open until filled.

30. Subject Matter Expert, Graduate Sustainability Courses, South U
South University (FL) is seeking a Subject Matter Expert to be responsible for the design and development of online course content in Sustainability. The Subject Matter Expert will work closely with a team of South University Academic Affairs personnel, instructional designers, media developers, education experts, and platform developers to create high-quality, outcomes-driven course content within time and resource budget requirements. A terminal degree in Sustainable Organizations, Sustainability, Conservation, or a closely related business field is required.

31. Asst Prof, Sustainable Energy Science, Eastern Connecticut State U
Eastern Connecticut State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Sustainable Energy Science. The successful applicant will demonstrate the ability to teach and develop undergraduate general education courses in sustainable energy studies as well as advanced sustainable energy courses for geoscience students. A Ph.D. is required. The position is open until filled.

32. Adjunct Faculty, Env'l Science, Intl Academy of Design & Technology
The International Academy of Design and Technology (FL) seeks an Adjunct Faculty of Environmental Science to provide and sustain an effective learning environment for every student through well prepared classes, relevant assignments, fair and holistic assessment of learning, clear documentation of student progress, and support of academic success of at-risk students. Documented expertise in Environmental Science is required. The position is open until filled.

Events

33. Energy Star Higher Education Quarterly Networking Meeting
May 13, 2009; 2-3pm Eastern; Online
Energy Star invites participants to a Higher Education Quarterly Networking Meeting. Participants will look at the ARRA funding streams available to public institutions of higher education and learn how to incorporate existing ENERGY STAR resources into an energy efficiency strategy. The session will also include a presentation from Al Lewandowski, Energy Manager of the University of Texas at Austin, on UT’s history in ENERGY STAR efforts as well as its recent energy efficiency initiatives and programs. There is no charge for the event.

34. Webinar: Affording Sustainability in the Current Climate
May 21, 2009; 1-2:30pm; Online
EH&E will host a webinar entitled, "Affording Sustainability in the Current Climate: Financial Strategies for Achieving GHG Reductions." The event will cover the following topics: the establishment of revolving loan funds for sustainability; government and utility tax incentives and rebates; renewable energy grants; student self-assessed fees; sustainability endowments; life cycle costing and real value engineering; third-party financing of energy conservation and renewable energy; and latest stimulus fund opportunities. The webinar is designed for signatories of the ACUPCC, LEED Project Managers, Sustainability Coordinators, Directors of Facilities and Energy Management; Directors of Purchasing; and Environmental Health and Safety professionals.

35. Lean and Green: The Sustainability Path in a Tough Economy
May 27-29, 2009; Boston, MA
Academic Impressions will host "Lean and Green: The Sustainability Path in a Tough Economy," a conference that will offer sustainability coordinators and those charged with organizing sustainability efforts across campus the skills to create a roadmap for promoting a culture of sustainability on campus. The conference will teach participants how to develop and increase sustainability efforts, think and plan strategically for carbon neutrality, develop creative financing strategies for sustainability initiatives, implement innovative strategies for engaging students, faculty, and staff, and track the progress of sustainability efforts on campus.

36. 2009 Upper Midwest Campus Sustainability Conference
May 31-June 2, 2009; University of Minnesota; Morris
The Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability invites participants to its 2009 Higher Education Conference. Attendees will share sustainability practices; view new models for low carbon energy production; and network. Speakers will include Deborah Swackhammer, Co-Director of the Water Resources center at the University of Minnesota and Julia Nerbonne, the Environmental Sustainability Program Director for the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs.

37. Green School & University Virtual Conference and Expo
June 24, 2009; 10:30am – 6pm Eastern; Online
American School & University invites participants to "Green School & University: A Virtual Conference & Expo," a free event dedicated to green/sustainable practices in education institutions. Participants will learn strategies, tactics, and best practices on green design and planning, green buildings, and green cleaning and operations.

38. Promoting & Marketing Alternative Transportation Options Webcast
July 14, 2009; 1-2:30pm Eastern; Online
Academic Impressions will host a webcast entitled, "Promoting and Marketing Alternative Transportation Options." The event will teach participants to analyze the campus culture; craft a message about transportation alternatives; consider how to effectively communicate the message; and identify communication channels and tactics that will be effective for your campus. The webinar will be led by Holly Parker, Director of Sustainable Transportation Systems at Yale University (CT).