AASHE seeks interested candidates to serve on its Board of Directors, Advisory Council and STARS Steering Committee that will help inspire and catalyze higher education to lead the global sustainability transformation. These groups bring together leaders from diverse backgrounds to identify the opportunities and challenges facing sustainability in higher education. Applications are being accepted through Oct. 23.

AASHE STARS liaisons and other STARS users are invited to participate in a new study by Smith College on STARS and organizational learning. The aim of the study is to assess the impacts of STARS across the U.S. and Canada. Survey participants will answer questions  institutional characteristics and history of campus sustainability on their campus, learning at their institution in general, and campus sustainability and STARS on their campus. Completion of this online survey is estimated to take less than 20 minutes. Respondents can enter to win a complimentary registration pass to the 2018 AASHE Conference & Expo.

Interested parties may submit a paper for the 2018 Symposium on Universities and the Sustainable Development Goals, April 11, 2018, hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University (U.K.). The event will focus on integrating, promoting and catalyzing higher education institutions in the global efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. The deadline to submit an abstract is Sept. 30.

The National Wildlife Federation’s EcoLeaders Program is offering a new institutional membership opportunity, EcoLeader Campus Partners. Among other things, participating institutions receive discount on EcoLeader Certification for their students; free registration to the annual EcoCareers conference for students, faculty and staff; and free access to the EcoLeader career planning. Colleges and universities that sign up to be an EcoLeader Campus Partner by Oct. 31 will receive a $250 discount on an AASHE STARS subscription (new STARS subscribers only).

Applications are open for the Zero Impact Fund, which offers up to $10,000 to start an impactful sustainability program on campus. Any college or university that has a direct or indirect contract or a direct agreement to sell PepsiCo products can apply. Proposals and applications should focus on creating environmental, economic and/or social impacts that support the school’s zero-impact journey. The deadline to apply is Dec. 19.

The Food Solutions Challenge by Net Impact invites students to host an event to raise awareness and generate solutions about food loss, meaning food that never makes it to the consumer. Net Impact will provide students with resources to hold the event. Teams will submit solutions to Net Impact for a chance to travel to a paid capstone event to sharpen design thinking skills and refine their solutions. The top team will win $5,000. Deadline to apply is Jan. 15.

The latest journal issue features articles about incorporating education for sustainable development into higher education curriculum and professional development, as well as articles about campus sustainability tours and living laboratories.

The issue brief details the key elements of the Trump administration’s “DACA Rescission Memorandum” and how it will impact students and campuses. Along with talking points, this brief attempts to help campuses prepare to assist students and speak to their congressional delegations about the importance of acting now to protect DACA recipients.

The report highlights links between universities and the fossil fuel industry through research funding, and the relationship between members on university boards and companies with significant business in fossil fuels. The report was released by Fossil Free Universities, which is run by environmental organization 350.org and university divestment groups.