Table of Contents

1. Green Priorities at the U.S. Department of Education
2. ACUPCC Introduces New Training and Education Program for Signatories in 2010
3. Presidents Make the Case for Climate Neutrality at Council of Independent Colleges Presidents' Institute
4. Nine Maine Elements of a Sustainable Campus

Green Priorities at the U.S. Department of Education

This is an exciting time for those of us who care deeply about the role of higher education in building a more sustainable world, and I would like to express my appreciation for the work of the organizations and institutions involved with the ACUPCC. Before joining the U.S. Department of Education as Under Secretary I served as chancellor of the Foothill - De Anza Community College District in California and was a member of the ACUPCC Steering Committee. I understand the important work that each of you perform for your institutions every day, and would like you to know that the Department of Education is a strong leader and partner in these efforts. We are developing a 'Green Team' to help facilitate environmental literacy efforts, and President Obama has placed resources in the 2011 education budget specifically to support environmental literacy. Read more...

ACUPCC Introduces New Training and Education Program for Signatories in 2010

Among the important resources provided by the ACUPCC are training and educational opportunities to assist signatory schools with meeting the goals of the commitment. With more than half of the signatory colleges and universities in the process of developing their climate action plans this year, we will continue to focus our training efforts on all topics related to climate action planning in 2010. Based on your feedback from our training survey and Implementation Liaison networking meetings in 2009, we'll be focusing the training program on the process of climate action planning, communicating your climate action plan, stakeholder engagement, how to compare mitigation projects, and more. The ACUPCC will be covering these topics with both in-person workshops and online webinars throughout the year. Read more...

Presidents Make the Case for Climate Neutrality at Council of Independent Colleges Presidents' Institute

The American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) has become the most ambitious collective effort by higher education since the Second World War. In slightly over two years the ACUPCC has grown from a compelling idea into a nationwide phenomenon with almost 700 signatories. And many others are eager to learn more about the effort. Interest in the ACUPCC was widespread at the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) annual Presidents' Institute in early January 2010 on Marco Island, Florida. Although the journey toward climate neutrality is not easy and there remains much work to be done, the tone and tenor of the meeting at the CIC Institute revealed that the momentum behind the effort is growing and that the misperceptions about it are diminishing. That the CIC Presidents' Institute devoted so many sessions to the ACUPCC demonstrates the significance of the initiative. That so many presidents participated in the sessions suggests how important the subject is to them and their campuses. Sustainability is no longer a fad or something peripheral to the mission of higher education. It has become an animating example of the ways in which a campus community can embrace a compelling global issue in holistic and fulfilling ways. And have fun in the process. Read more...

Nine Maine Elements of a Sustainable Campus

Unity House at Unity College

Unity College in Unity, Maine is organizing its efforts according to President Mitchell Thomashow's Nine Elements of a Sustainable Culture - as highlighted in Kyoto Publishing's Climate Neutral Campus Report. We're proud to be a part of a statewide culture in higher education that values sustainability. In fact, 75% of the college students in Maine are enrolled at ACUPCC signatory institutions (compared to 33% nationally). At a recent retreat of the Maine Higher Education Council, presidents from around the state focused on sustainability leadership. Maine's 33 higher education institutions can operate as a pretty close bunch, engaging in consortia and sharing information and resources in a way that might prove difficult for college networks in other regions. Campus sustainability achievements from around Maine are highlighted here under each of President Thomashow's Nine Elements. Read more...