GCSE Member of the Month

Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) has been on the forefront of sustainability action since 2006. It was the first community college district in Arizona to hire full-time staff for its sustainable operations. Since 2008, the MCCCD Governing Board committed to the Sustainability Resolution and adopted the “Triple Bottom Line” to address sustainability through environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic measures.

• Maricopa has converted all of the exterior lighting across its ten colleges to LED lighting and is in the process of converting all interior lighting to LED by the end of 2021. Through this effort, lighting costs will be reduced by 50%.
• Water conservation is one of the most important projects for the MCCCD community in Arizona. Their water conservation program includes xeriscaping, installation of low-flow fixtures, and connecting to the local water canals, which will save 40 million gallons of water annually.
• With over 40 electric vehicle charging stations across all colleges and 50% reduced fare bus and light-rail passes for full-time students and employees, MCCCD is ready for the future travel needs of its students and employees.
• The MCCCD annual E.A.R.T.H. Forward event, which focuses on Education, Adaptation, Resiliency, Technology and Humanity, provides a platform for students to showcase their talent and innovations. The 2021 event took place virtually with more than 200 participants. 
• Arizona is one of the sunniest states in the US, and DCCCD is always working with its local utilities to expand solar installations across their colleges. Currently four of their ten colleges have solar installed, producing up to 60% of the needed daily energy for each location.
• Each college has established a Food Bank to better support the daily needs for students. The Office of Sustainability is supporting these efforts through grants wherever possible, including a $5000 grant for South Mountain Community College. 
• All ten of the DCCCD colleges offer a variety of classes on sustainability. They offer a number of degree and certificate programs related to sustainability and the environment. Their sustainability course catalogue is constantly growing, and they partner with local universities to ensure a smooth transition for students to their future academic endeavors.
 

Did you know?

Maricopa’s own Dr. Sian Proctor, geology faculty at South Mountain Community College, is giving lectures on how to make space flight more sustainable and will be travelling to space herself with Space X in September 2021. 

Tennessee State University, located in Nashville, TN, has been a long-time member of GCSE. Through the College of Agriculture and the Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (IAGER), TSU conducts a considerable amount of research on soil, water, plants, and animals to sustain and enhance natural resources. The College of Agriculture promotes student training in the environmental sciences and brings together faculty from across the campus through an Environmental Sciences Focus Group to discuss and promote environmental awareness and programs at the university.

One of 19 HBCU Land-Grant institutions, TSU proudly commits to sustainability and the environment through various projects such as:

• The Dream Machine Recycling Rally, a nationwide school recycling program designed to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and encourage students to make recycling part of their everyday lives. Since its inception in 2010, the initiative has recycled over 2 million pounds of plastic across 34 states.

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  Research seeking to understand how climate change factors alter soil microbial processes and the degree to which these changes influence long-term carbon and nutrient cycling in soils and terrestrial ecosystems (e.g., bioenergy cropland).
• Interdisciplinary research integrating field and laboratory observations and modeling approaches to address questions that intersect external disturbances and terrestrial biogeochemical cycles.
• Improving soil model predictions in response to climate warming through research in thermal variations on mineralization of soil organic matter in croplands and assimilating long-term field and incubation data.
• Assessment of the use of cover crops in the Brassicaceae family in conjunction with soil solarization, an environmentally friendly process of using solar energy to kill soil pathogens and control Phytophthora nicotianae in boxwood production. The results of this research will help to promote the adoption of biofumigants by documenting their effects in multiple nursery systems and demonstrating their potential as a sustainable field-grown nursery production system for nursery producers in the Southern region.
• Identifying agricultural and environmental sciences in its long-term strategic plan to maintain its leadership in providing quality education and to have vital programs for recruiting and retaining students. The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences includes 51 faculty, 20 of whom are involved in the Environmental Science concentration.

The university also supports several sustainable living projects through the Family and Consumer Sciences program, such as sustainable living community workshops and encouraging locals to “go green” and make environmentally friendly life choices. As part of a USDA Capacity Building Grant, the department led the “Go Green North Nashville HUD” initiative, which provided 100 Nashville homeowners with energy retrofits such as programmable thermostats, weather stripping, and storm windows to educate homeowners on the cost savings of sustainable living. Additionally, TSU participates in paper, cardboard, and electronic shredding and recycling programs.

Did you Know? 

Since 2010, the TSU Greenhouse Plastic recycling initiative has helped recycle over 250 tons of greenhouse plastic in the middle Tennessee region.

University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) has committed to strategic integration of research, education, and engagement around sustainability and resilience; anti-racism and racial equity; climate resilience; health equity; sustainable food; and water security through a series of institution-wide initiatives during the last two years, such as the N2025 Strategic Plan, the UNL Environment, Sustainability, and Resilience Master Plan, and the Grand Challenges Framework.

The Chancellor's Environment, Sustainability and Resilience Commission (CESRC) was reinvigorated in 2018. It provides strategic recommendations and ongoing advice to the Chancellor related to the environmental, social, and economic well-being of University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) and its stakeholders. The CESRC promotes the socially responsible stewardship of resources and the creation of resilient systems that are adaptable and recoverable to short- and long-term environmental and technological changes. The CESRC developed the 2020 Environment, Sustainability, and Resilience Master Plan that identifies ten aspirational goals related to many facets of sustainability and resilience that are applied across campus.  

In a year that held many unprecedented challenges, UNL staff, facility, and students remained dedicated to their work to promote sustainability in their campus communities. 

• A new Recycling Renovation Pilot Project was initiated in 2020 to help standardize the recycling process on campus. The new recycling stations are each made from about 1,000 recycled plastic milk jugs! At the end of the station’s life, the material can be recycled again.
• An “Infusion of Sustainability and Resilience into Curriculum” workshop was held for the second time to help teachers integrate sustainability into their coursework. This program has impacted nearly 25 teachers. This program aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4.
• In April 2021, students organized EarthStock, a month-long celebration preparing for Earth Day. Each week highlighted different campus groups and diverse topics. Events included a clothing swap, a sustainable roundtable, and an international sustainability talk. 
• In 2021, biodigesters were installed in some on campus dining service locations, diverting 50,000 pounds of food waste from local landfills. Dining also utilizes reusable OZZI containers and works with local farmers, producers, and manufacturers in their Nebraska. Local. Program. 

Did you know?

UNL has been a foam free campus since 2016. The sale, procurement or distribution of foam packing or polystyrene (EPS), such as Styrofoam in food and packaging containers is prohibited, and the policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, and vendors. 

The University of California San Diego has been a member of GCSE for 13 years. Established in 1960, UC San Diego has been shaped by exceptional scholars who aren’t afraid to push boundaries, challenge expectations, and redefine conventional wisdom in order to make our world better, including pioneers of climate change research like Roger Revelle and geochemist Charles David Keeling of the Keeling Curve. UC San Diego has built upon that visionary legacy to become a leader in sustainable solutions.

To do this, UC San Diego has established and acknowledges a set of Principles of Sustainability. These principles guide sustainability efforts across the ten campuses and other university facilities in ten areas of sustainable practice: climate protection, clean energy, green building, transportation, sustainable operations, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable procurement, sustainable foodservice, sustainable water systems, and standards for UC Health.

Sustainability highlights include:

• At the end of 2020, our campus had 250 electric vehicle charging stations powered by renewable energy that serve commuters, the general public, and travelers. Over the past four years, UC San Diego has become San Diego County’s largest multipurpose hub of EV charging plazas by delivering 2.5 GWH to more than 5,500 unique drivers.
• Housing*Dining*Hospitality launched the Triton2Go Mobile Ordering App and Reusable Container Program, which replaced the use of 75,000 disposable containers during Fall Quarter 2020
• UC San Diego Fleet Services maintained a 70% or better sustainable vehicle fleet for the past three years and was recognized 15th greenest fleet by 100th Best Fleets Government Fleet Awards.
• A new on-campus residential area opened Fall Quarter 2020 and the neighborhood is expected to become the fifth LEED Platinum project on campus. The project received a 10th Annual Sustainable Innovation Award from the USGBC LA Chapter.
• The campus reduced total water consumption by approximately 110,000,000 gallons (17% reduction) compared to the previous year.
• UC San Diego's Green Labs program helps laboratories reduce their environmental footprint without compromising research or safety.
• UC San Diego has signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and is committed to reaching carbon neutrality.

You can read more highlights on our sustainability website.

Did you know?

In May 2021, UC San Diego earned its fourth Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements. Only 170 colleges and universities worldwide have this distinction.

To combat the growing environmental crises gripping the planet, Florida International University has assembled one of the largest teams of environmental scientists in the U.S. to create FIU’s Institute of Environment (IoE). More than 200 faculty members and more than 3,000 students are working in environmental resilience at FIU. With over $400 million in environmental resilience research in the past decade, FIU leads projects around the world to help ensure the long-term survival of key ecosystems, species, and the people and communities they support.

• The institute’s International Water Program has provided 87,000 people access to improved water and sanitation in the developing world. It is now home to the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Security and a new, dual-Ph.D. program with the University of Florence in Italy focused on resiliency.
• Researchers in FIU’s Institute of Environment lead Global Finprint — the world’s largest shark and ray census. They discovered widespread, and previously undocumented, population declines of sharks and rays in environmentally and economically important regions of the world.

  

• The FIU Medina Aquarius Program — which features the world’s only underwater research laboratory — serves as a base for researchers studying how to save imperiled coral reefs and seagrasses and for NASA astronauts training for future space missions.
• FIU scientists, working with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, set the Phosphorus limit for the Florida Everglades more than 20 years ago — a criteria still in place today to preserve the iconic River of Grass. 
• When thousands of fish died in Florida’s Biscayne Bay in the summer of 2020, institute researchers were among the first to respond. They worked alongside partners and government officials to determine the cause and identify solutions for the massive fish kill, and developed ongoing partnerships.

The world is taking notice. FIU is the No. 1 university in the U.S. where students can make a difference in the climate crisis, according to College Magazine. FIU is ranked No. 9 in the world on Impact on SDG 6, Life Below Water, their ecology program is in the Top 50 among public universities according to U.S. News & World Report and their environmental programs are in the Top 50 among public universities according to QS World University Rankings.

Did you know? From microscopic to global, FIU is making critical contributions for the environment in research, management, policy and education. 

Texas A&M University (TAMU) has been a member of GCSE for 15 years, with a long history as a leader in research and education in sustainability. 

Texas A&M defines sustainability as the efficient, deliberate, and responsible preservation of environmental, social, and economic resources to protect our earth for future generations of Aggies, the Texas A&M University community, and beyond. Consequently, sustainability is not only important, but rather, it plays an integral role in every dimension of our designation as an American Association of Universities Tier 1 Research University; our designation as a Land Grant Institution since 1876, and subsequent Sea Grant and Space Grant designations; and the three pillars of our academic mission – Teaching and Learning; the Discovery, Integration, & Application in Research and Creative Work; and the Engagement with Practice, Outreach, and Service.

The 2018 Sustainability Master Plan (SMP) envisions the next generation of sustainability work across the University. The SMP both builds upon successes of the last decade and aligns with other recent planning efforts at the University.The SMP also aims to: advance TAMU as a sustainability leader among its peer institutions; balance efforts and impacts of sustainability initiatives; identify metrics to evaluate sustainability successes; and establish the parties who will play critical roles in ensuring future successes. 

The Aggie community is deeply committed to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same, with a focus on the environment, social equity and economic prosperity. Three examples of the scope and nature of this commitment include:

• Aggie Campus Initiatives from diverse administrative units and academic Colleges and Departments are actively taking steps towards sustainability. Learn more about campus initiatives. 
• The Aggie Sustainability Alliance (ASA) is open to all faculty and staff, engaging participants in fostering a campus culture of sustainability through their voluntary contributions to sustainable energy and water use, transportation, food and purchasing, waste minimization, and social sustainability.

   

• Student Organizations are actively helping TAMU move forward through student projects and competitions. Learn more about student initiatives.

Did you know?

Texas A&M University Residence Life earned an AASHE Innovation Credit for its development of a Residence Life Sustainability Plan. TAMU Residence Life was the first housing department in North America to dedicate resources to establishing a comprehensive plan.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a new member of GCSE. NUS is committed to protecting the environment and incorporating sustainability in all aspects of our campus life – from research to education to campus operations. 

In research, the university has adopted an integrated approach that brings together researchers from diverse fields with an emphasis on eight research clusters, of which Integrative Sustainability Solutions is one. This cluster conducts research that is optimized for tropical, urban and Asian settings. The NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI) is a key research institute that focuses on developing solutions relating to environmental surveillance and treatment; environmental and human health; green chemistry and sustainable energy; impact of climate change on the environment and food, energy and water nexus in urban farming. It collaborates actively with government, industry, NGOs and leading academic partners to address global climate challenges.

In education, NUS offers specialized sustainability-related degree programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, programmes at residential colleges and short courses. Sustainability-related degree programmes include the Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, and the Master of Science in Environmental Management programme, a multi-disciplinary integrated programme hosted by the School of Design and Environment, and taught by faculty members from eight other NUS schools including business, law, science and public policy, amongst others. In addition, NUS’ newest Residential College, Ridge View Residential College, offers a two-year living-learning experience with a focus on industry readiness and sustainability. 

In campus operations, the campus masterplan is developed to meet academic, research, entrepreneurial, and student life needs, and to incorporate environmental sustainability considerations. Notable infrastructural highlights include:

• University Town, a mixed-use residential, sports, educational and research development, which is a sustainably designed, built and operated precinct, and which retains much of its original lush tropical terrain. It was awarded Singapore’s 1st Green Mark district.
• SDE 4, Singapore’s first purpose-built net-zero energy building which is designed to be climate responsive, energy efficient and environmentally friendly, and only consume as much energy as it creates. It is the first university building in the world to achieve WELL Certified™ Gold in 2019, and the first building in Singapore to be conferred this prestigious WELL Certification.

NUS is also embarking on its journey to become Carbon Neutral by 2030 by deploying more renewable energy, actively reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency, as well as exploring carbon sequestration and carbon offset options. It also endeavors to cool its ambient temperature by 4 degrees celsius by 2030 (“Cool NUS”), as part of its broader Sustainability and Climate Action strategy.

Fun Fact : Did you know that NUS has completed planting 10,000 trees on campus, and will be planting another 100,000 more by 2030 ? 

The University of Rhode Island (URI) has been a GCSE Member for 12 years. URI’s campus culture is one that embraces principles of sustainability in all of its practices. Integrating sustainability in curricula and research agendas, supporting community programs and incentives, hosting the largest solar array in the state on a capped waste disposal site, and designing buildings that reduce our impact on the environment are just a few examples of Sustainability@URI initiatives. URI also partners with the State of Rhode Island and southern New England regional communities on several large-scale initiatives that highlight the state's 400 miles of coast and its contribution to a mission of supporting ocean awareness, understanding, and sustainability.

In the past decade, URI and its regional community have played key roles in meaningfully implementing offshore wind energy solutions and combating plastic pollution as part of its broader research theme of understanding the emerging contaminants that enter our ocean. As the world launches the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, URI aims to grow its local to global collaborations and collective impacts in these areas. With a surge in the use of plastics during the pandemic, URI and its partners, including GCSE, are eager to accelerate solutions to plastic pollution.

Across colleges, disciplines, and seas, URI provides global resources and leads several nationally funded projects to expand knowledge and solutions for challenges that threaten our oceans. One of the top oceanography schools in the world, URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) hosts cutting-edge research facilities and ocean exploration technology on the URI Bay Campus including the Coastal Resources Center (CRC), the Inner Space Center for ocean exploration and education, Superfund Program STEEP (Sources, Transport, Exposure & Effects of PFAs), URI Diving Safety and Research Program, and the oceanographic research vessel, the R/V Endeavor, which is soon to be replaced with a state-of-the-art Regional Class Research Vessel that is currently under construction.

Ocean sustainability requires a multi-disciplinary approach, of course, and URI research teams across campus from the College of Environment and Life Sciences (CELS), College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Business are contributing to global ocean sustainability challenges via undergraduate education, graduate training, equitable community engagement, literature, effective and inclusive environmental communication, and globally recognized research.

Over the past decade URI’s faculty and students in CELS’ Department of Marine Affairs and GSO’s CRC have played pivotal roles in convening stakeholders to understand sustained ecological and social impacts of the historical siting and implementation of offshore wind energy just off the RI coastline. Through a five-year, $19 million statewide grant from the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research program, URI connects engineers, scientists, designers, and communication experts from eight of the state’s higher education institutions to develop new approaches to assess, predict, and respond to effects of climate change on coastal systems. In the past two years, URI has been aligning its capabilities and capacity across the state to launch its Plastics: Land to Sea Initiative with the UN Decade of the Ocean. Top researchers will work closely with industry, policy experts, and local to global nonprofits to co-create research efforts that will inform society, guide policy, and accelerate long-term solutions to reduce ocean plastic pollution and ensure ocean sustainability. Across all of these approaches, URI’s goal is to prepare a future workforce trained in sustainability principles and practices.

Did You Know? URI’s Metcalf Institute has been advancing informed conversations about science and the environment since 1998. In 2018, the Institute launched the Inclusive SciComm Symposium to expand inclusive approaches to science communication, from formal classroom settings to museums to journalism. URI is a leader in this growing inclusive science communication movement to ensure that ocean science and policy draw on the insights of all people to provide equitable solutions.

Montreal’s Concordia University is a new NCSE Member—one that just launched a comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan. The Plan was born out of extensive consultations with students, faculty, staff, and the community. It  focuses on actions that the university can take by 2025 to improve its performance in five main areas: climate change, food, waste, research, and curriculum.

For over two decades, Concordia has ranked highest in its category for energy efficiency in Québec, according to provincial government statistics. Concordia has also worked to ensure that renovations and new constructions meet top efficiency ratings, including seeking LEED Gold certification for the newly completed Applied Science Hub. 

It also has established an expansive composting and recycling program, including a creative reuse initiative that has diverted over 18,000 kilograms of materials away from landfill and into the hands of artists and members of the maker community. In 2019 alone, the university planted 185 new trees and ensured that landscaping work was undertaken using indigenous plants, water-capture techniques, and a focus on pedestrian traffic over cars.

More than 200 full-time Concordia faculty members are involved in research related to sustainability. Research units include the Next Generation Cities Institute, the Institute for Water, Energy and Sustainable Systems, the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre, and the Centre for Zero Energy Building Studies, which is about to complete its new Field Research Facility for Buildings of the Future. 

Sustainability engagement is another university priority, with support for student, research, and institutional initiatives. Concordia’s Office of Sustainability seeks to bring different parties together through events, project coordination, and tools and resource sharing. The Sustainability Governance Framework brings students, faculty, and staff together to take part in shared planning and decision-making around strategic sustainability initiatives.

In fall of 2019, Concordia became a signatory of the climate emergency declaration and announced that its foundation will divest from investment in fossil fuels by 2025. In October 2020, Concordia signed on to the University Global Coalition, joining the decade of action to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Did You Know? Concordia phased out the sale of plastic water bottles at all university-controlled campus restaurants and vending machines in 2011.

North Carolina State University (NC State) in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been an NCSE Member for 12 years. NC State believes that successful sustainability pursues balanced, ethical solutions that are economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially just. Ranked as fourth in the nation for the study of natural resources and conservation (College Factual, 2021), NC State’s College of Natural Resources graduates students equipped to be environmental stewards and leaders in natural resources. Across its broad array of undergraduate and graduate programs, the College provides the technical expertise and hands-on experience students need to shape environmental policies, manage wildlife, implement sustainable forest and land management techniques, engineer everyday products from renewable resources, create sustainable recreation and tourism programs, and more.

The College’s award-winning research faculty work across disciplines to find innovative solutions to global environmental challenges and partner with industry and government to put solutions to work. Through outreach, extension and continuing education, experts team with community and business leaders, policymakers, educators, students and members of the general public to spread knowledge and ensure sustainable and proper use of natural resources.

As the host university for the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, NC State brings together a breadth of expertise and capacity in natural, physical and social sciences as well as the management of natural and cultural resources. As part of the center, College of Natural Resources faculty gather scientific information and build the tools needed to help fish, wildlife, and ecosystems adapt to the impacts of changing climate and land use.

The NC State Center for Geospatial Analytics, housed in the College of Natural Resources, is the foremost interdisciplinary research and teaching center of its kind in the nation. Center faculty work alongside top researchers, policy experts and leaders in industry to apply data-driven spatial modeling and cutting-edge visualization to pioneer solutions to environmental and societal changes.

Did You Know? NC State is a Top 20 Green College for sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs (Princeton Review, 2019).