Why sustainability?
Sustainability is simply about making the world a better place for future generations through education and programs and services. Therefore, sustainability is part of our mission as campus community builders and the Association for campus community builders.
ACUI’s efforts in this area promote sustainability as a broad concept that includes civility, tolerance of diversity, environmental protection, responsible energy use, and many other areas. Few would argue that these teachings are not already a part of college unions’ and student activities’ educational missions.
Publications
Sustainability Smarts: Best Practices for College Unions and Student Activities
Check out ACUI's Sustainability Smarts, a publication dedicated to sustainability in college unions and student activities. Topics covered include sustainability rating systems, college tours, sustainability blogs, fair trade, green cleaning, and so much more.
Download Sustainability Smarts [pdf] or visit this link.
Generation E: Students Leading for a Sustainable, Clean Energy Future
Recently, ACUI sponsored the National Wildlife Foundation report “Generation E: Students Leading for a Sustainable, Clean Energy Future” publication, which highlights the unique and critical role college students are playing in reforming sustainability programs that lower their campus’ carbon footprint. The resource features 165 campuses and covers 35 categories of creative student effort.detailing sustainable initiatives on college campuses.
Members are able to download this resource for free.
ACUI programs
Through online programs, ACUI provides learning opportunities that are economical and have low environmental impact. Check out these webinars related to sustainability:
ACUI and AASHE
ACUI is a supporter of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's forums. AASHE launched a suite of Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums covering key topics in education and research, campus operations, and campus planning, engagement, and administration.
ACUI encourages anyone interested in learning about or contributing to the growing body of knowledge on campus sustainability to participate in the forums. Visit the AASHE forums today!
Excellence in Innovations for Sustainability
This award recognizes programs, initiatives, and services on college campuses that have achieved a new level of sustainability. The first recipient was The Ohio State University's Ohio Union in 2008. During the demolition period to make way for a new building, the Ohio Union recycled building materials and equipment by either donating to Habitat for Humanity or selling as memorabilia. The $45,000 profit from those items sold was also given to Habitat.
In 2009, the University of Vermont's Dudley H. Davis Center was given this award. Then a recently-opened building, the Davis Center achieved LEED Gold certification and acts a a leader for campus-wide environmental and social justice issues.
The recipient of this award in 2010 was the University of Rochester Biodiesel. Students at the university initially just entered an entrepreneurial contest with the idea of creating a biodiesel lab; today, the group produces 30 gallons of biodiesel fuel each week, which is used to power the campus “Green Line” buses.
Learn more
What can you do to help?
STARS
ACUI served on the Strategic Advisory Committee in the collaborative effort to develop the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS). Spearheaded by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, STARS is the first-ever rating system uniquely for higher education and that includes more than environmental considerations.
STARS is designed to:
- Provide a framework for understanding sustainability in all sectors of higher education.
- Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
- Create incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability.
- Facilitate information sharing about higher education sustainability practices and performance.
- Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community.
Institutions earn points in three main categories: Education & Research; Operations; and Planning, Administration & Engagement. Each of these categories includes subcategories such as Purchasing, Curriculum, Energy, and Human Resources. There is also an Innovation category to recognize pioneering practices that aren’t covered by other STARS credits.
ACUI members have responsibility for many of these areas, and the system can be a tool in helping to track and assess progress toward improving sustainable efforts on campus.
Updated April 16, 2010