April 14, 2021

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News of the Week

75 HEIs Urge Biden Administration to Support a 2030 US Climate Target
Second Nature recently sent a letter to the White House signed by 75 higher education institutions calling on the Biden-Harris Administration to adopt a target of at least 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. The 75 institutions span 29 different states, in all regions of the U.S., and represent a wide diversity of institution types.
More Coordination & Planning News | Coordination & Planning Resources

U Pennsylvania Announces Zero GHG Emissions From Investments
The University of Pennsylvania Office of Investments recently announced the goal of reducing the net greenhouse gas emissions from Penn’s endowment investments to zero by 2050.
More Investment & Finance News | Investment & Finance Resources

Stevens Institute Technology to Source 100% Renewable Energy
The institution will purchase all electricity needed from regional wind, hydropower or solar energy sources beginning on Oct. 1, 2021.
More Energy News | Energy Resources

Academics
Gonzaga U Launches Center for Climate, Society & the Environment
Babson College Adds Socio-Ecological Systems Curriculum for All Students

Engagement
PepsiCo Announces $40M Program to Support Black & Hispanic Students

Planning & Administration
Babson College to Integrate Environmental, Social & Governance Factors in Investments
MA Dept of Higher Ed Awards $1.27M for Racial Equity on Campuses
U North Carolina Asheville Signs Carbon Commitment

Submit sustainability news & information from your institution

Opportunities

Call for Authors: Racial Equity & Social Justice Anthology
No Sustainability Without Justice: An Anthology on Racial Equity and Social Justice is a compilation of essays written by members of the higher education community that demonstrate how racial equity, social equity, diversity and inclusion are integral components to sustainability and are particularly relevant for those working within higher education. AASHE is seeking new authors to write original pieces on how racial equity, social justice and sustainability are all interconnected. Submit your interest to author by May 10.

Earth Day Photo Opportunity
For Earth Day this year, AASHE is seeking pictures depicting sustainability in action, whether that is cleaning up a local river, planting trees, starting a compost bin or something else. Pictures shared on Twitter using @AASHENews may be retweeted, and pictures submitted to the Campus Sustainability Hub by April 30 may be included in a future blog post.

NAAEE 2021 Call for Presentations
The North American Association for Environmental Education invites proposals for the annual conference, happening Oct. 12–15, and the research symposium, happening Oct. 7–8. The conference theme is Power of Connection. Conference organizers are seeking compelling proposals that focus on the power of connection—building on lessons learned about how education helps bring people together from all backgrounds and disciplines to solve the most pressing problems and create more just and sustainable communities. The deadline to submit is May 7.

CEE-Change Fellowship Program
The North American Association for Environmental Education invites applications for its Civics and Environmental Education (CEE) Change Fellowship Program through May 17. Participants will learn civic engagement skills together with environmental education skills, and look at how the two fields can collaborate more deliberately.

Green Power Leadership Awards
The 2021 Green Power Leadership Awards recognize exceptional achievements and leading actions in green power use that accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. The deadline is April 16.

New Resources

Examination of US University Sustainability & Recovery Activities
Released by the Resource Recycling Systems, the new report provides an overview of recycling, organics recovery and sustainability activities on U.S. university and college campuses. Key findings include 63 percent of schools sampled (312) have an established recycling program on campus; 33 percent of schools sampled have some type of composting available on campus, however, programs vary in type of accepted materials; and of the schools sampled, the average recycling rate was 24 percent, and the diversion rate, including recycling and composting, was approximately 45 percent.

Educating the Next Generation of Sustainable Investment Leaders Report
This report from the Intentional Endowments Network compiles information on the 40 sustainably invested student-managed investment funds (SMIFs) engaged in The SIILK Network (IEN’s student and faculty facing work), and highlights the assets under management, fund structure, and sustainable investing strategies used by student-managed investment funds.

Environmental Justice Timeline & Teaching Resources
The environmental justice timeline, compiled by Earthday.org, spans over 200 years from 1720 to 2020 and features major scientific achievements, environmental policy, heroes, contamination and extinction setbacks, and other events that were cemented into history. While not exhaustive, the timeline serves as a starting point for students to explore the history, understand the connections, and start a conversation on environmental and climate justice. There are activity instructions, and a PDF and slide deck of the timeline.

Restore Our Earth Climate Education Week Toolkit
Earthday.org acknowledges Climate Education Week from April 19-23 with Earth Day on Thursday, April 22. This toolkit provides a daily focus for Climate Education Week related to the 2021 theme of Restore Our Earth. It is designed for educators, parents or motivated students who want to explore ways to learn more about the local impacts of climate change and how people can work together to restore our earth through individual and community civic action.

RealCollege 2021: Basic Needs Insecurity During the Ongoing Pandemic
This report examines the pandemic’s impact on the college students who were able to continue their education in this challenging environment. Released by The Hope Center, this report analyzes results from the 2020 #RealCollege Survey, completed by more than 195,000 students attending 202 colleges and universities in 42 states.

Events

AASHE Live Session: Mindfulness for Alleviating Climate Anxiety
April 14, 2021 (3:00 p.m. Eastern) – Online

The Next System & the Academy: Systemic Crises, Movements, & Change in the 2020s
April 21, 2021 (5:00 p.m. Eastern) – Online

AASHE Webinar: Using Natural Aqueous Ozone As an Alternative to Traditional Cleaning Chemicals
April 28, 2021 (3:00 p.m. Eastern) – Online

AASHE Workshop: Facilitation for Organizational Change (with Zoom!)
May 6, 2021 (2-5:00 p.m. Eastern) – Online

2021 Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit
May 17, 2021 – May 20, 2021 – Online

ISCN 2021: Accelerating Climate Action & Sustainability in Education
June 2, 2021 – June 4, 2021 – Online

AASHE Course: Climate Fiction Book Club for College Educators & Sustainability Advocates
June 3, 2021 (2:45 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern) – Online

AASHE Workshop: 2021 Sustainability Change Leaders Retreat
June 21, 2021 – June 24, 2021 – Online

Visit the Sustainability Events Calendar

Jobs & Internships

Education Intern
AASHE

STARS & Resources Intern
AASHE

Marketing Intern
AASHE

Outreach Associate Director, Environmental Innovations Initiative
University of Pennsylvania

Senior Associate Transit Director
University of Pennsylvania

Environmental Innovations Initiative Fellow
University of Pennsylvania

Visiting Assistant Professor of Sustainability
Wells College

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