AASHE Bulletin – April 7th edition

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

April 7, 2021

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AASHE is pleased to announce three upcoming professional learning opportunities that will help you sharpen your skills while remaining COVID-safe. Opportunities include a workshop about facilitating organizational change, a sustainability change leaders retreat and a cli-fi (climate fiction) book club. Register for one or all three opportunities today.

News of the Week

Santa Clara U Achieves Carbon Neutrality
The university recently announced having achieved carbon neutrality of energy used for campus operations in 2020. In addition to decreasing energy use per square foot by 42 percent, the university purchased carbon credits to offset the greenhouse gas emissions associated with campus energy use.

Amherst College to Phase Out Fossil Fuels by 2030
The board of trustees announced in late March a plan to divest from fossil fuel investment funds by 2030. Furthermore, the college will instruct managers of separately managed accounts not to acquire or hold on the college’s behalf direct investments in fossil fuel companies.

Academics
Misericordia U Launches Environmental Studies Major & Minor

Operations
MIT Releases Climate Resiliency Dashboard
U New Haven Building Earns LEED Gold
U Virginia Students Develop Facilities Training for Fuel Efficiency
Virginia HEIs to Phase Out Single-Use Plastics After Executive Order Signed
Stanford U Launches Zero Waste Building Pilot
U Wisconsin Green Bay Becomes Bee Campus USA Affiliate

Planning & Administration
Dozens of HEIs Sign the Nurses Climate Challenge

Opportunities

AASHE 2021 Sustainability Change Leaders Retreat
The Sustainability Change Leaders Retreat, happening June 21 – 24, aims to help sustainability professionals advance their vision, energy, capabilities and support systems as a sustainability change agent. The deadline to register is June 21.

AASHE Online Workshop: Facilitation for Organizational Change
This three-hour Facilitation for Organizational Change Workshop, taking place May 6, teaches sustainability professionals about effective meeting facilitation with fun, hands-on activities. The deadline to register is May 6.

Climate Fiction Book Club for College Educators & Sustainability Advocates
This short course using climate fiction (cli-fi) is designed for college educators and sustainability advocates to explore key themes through book discussion. Beginning in June, this interdisciplinary short course in literary fiction will take place over six monthly meetings, first introducing participants to the emergent genre of climate fiction, and then reading selected novels. The deadline to register is June 3.

AASHE Sustainability Awards Call for Submissions
Applications and nominations are encouraged for a 2021 AASHE Sustainability Award. Twelve award winners will be selected from across five categories recognizing individuals and initiatives that are advancing sustainability in higher education. New this year is the Racial Equity and Sustainability Collaborations Award, honoring higher education institutions for successfully integrating racial equity and social justice with sustainability. The deadline to submit is May 21.

Power Shift Convergence 2021 AASHE Network Discount
This digital convergence taking place April 16 – 25 will make space for youth activists to get trained on critical skills and grow powerful campaigns for climate, environmental and social justice for the coming decade. It will center the impacts of structural oppression, such as environmental racism and the effects of climate disasters particularly in low-income communities and communities of color. AASHE Bulletin readers can take advantage of a 25 percent discount by registering at this link (code is ps21aashe).

Beyond Waste Student Summits 2021
The Beyond Waste Student Summits are half-day summits bringing together students to understand the systemic impact of waste, from extraction to disposal. There are two summits remaining: April 10 (food) and May 1 (fashion).

AASHE Member Discount: 10% Off Reusable To-Go Containers
AASHE members can receive a 10 percent discount on Preserve 2 Go reusable to-go containers.

New Resources

March AASHE Webinar Recordings
The following AASHE webinar recordings recorded in March are available in the Campus Sustainability Hub:

The Black Experience in Higher Education: A Compilation
Inside Higher Ed published a free compilation that pulls together eight articles that explore the Black experience in higher education, covering topics such as faculty diversity, admissions barriers for Black students, curriculum and academic life, government funding and policies, and the status of Black staff and senior administrators.

Shared Equity Leadership: Making Equity Everyone’s Work
The University of Southern California and the American Council on Education released a paper indicating that the work of improving equity outcomes of students of color is at its most effective when leadership teams across campus take collective responsibility in developing and moving the diversity, equity and inclusion agenda forward.

Events

Environmental Justice Symposium: Meaningful Engagement Between Communities & HEIs
April 10, 2021; 1-4:00 p.m. Eastern; Online

Safety & Sustainability: Reusables During COVID-19
April 15, 2021; 2:00 p.m. Eastern; Online

Getting to Green: The Business Office Role in Achieving STARS Success
April 23, 2021; 1:00 p.m. Eastern; Online

Climate Action Plans 101: How Higher Education Institutions Can Lead the Charge Toward A More Sustainable Future
April 26, 2021; 2:00 p.m. Eastern; Online

Visit the Sustainability Events Calendar

Jobs & Internships

Sustainability Program Manager
Arizona State University

Education Intern
AASHE

STARS & Resources Intern
AASHE

Marketing Intern
AASHE

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The AASHE Bulletin is a weekly e-newsletter that shares best practices and communicates innovative and high-impact achievements related to sustainability in higher education.

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