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THE ARCHITECTURE ISSUE
The Chronicle Review's yearly look at architecture examines buildings on and off campuses. Above, Caltech's new Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, designed by Morphosis. (Chronicle photograph by Lawrence Biemiller)
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U. of Tennessee Landmark to Move to Nearby Location
New campus buildings
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Pomona's Skyspace
The artist James Turrell turned a Pomona College courtyard into a work of art worth waking up at dawn for.
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About Buildings & Grounds
Buildings & Grounds is written by Scott Carlson (left) and Lawrence Biemiller (right). Scott Carlson writes about architecture, facilties, energy, and sustainability, among other topics. Lawrence Biemiller writes about architecture and facilities and contributes to Notes from Academe. What's happening on your campus? Let us know.
Can Colleges and Local Governments Work Together on the Sustainability Agenda?
Raleigh, N.C. — The closing panel at the national conference for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education grappled with the ways that sustainability advocates can work with local governments to push sustainability efforts.
Jim Elder, the director of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy, was the panel’s moderator. He opened the discussion by saying that sustainability offices at colleges and universities are largely underfunded and marginalized. He asked the panel how higher education can help government and how government can help colleges.
Harvey Ruvin, the clerk of the courts from Miami-Dade County, Fla., said that he looked to local professors for expertise on how to deal with climate change in south Florida. He has sought information from professors of urban planning and geology, who research how to urban areas will deal with rising seas, a big threat in his region.
Kevin Foy, the mayor of Chapel Hill, N.C., said that his city, with its zoning authority, had played a role in guiding the University of North Carolina to sustainability. “The university at times has been more like a developer that needs to watch the bottom line,” he said. “The fact is that there was a time when they needed some prodding.” The city’s zoning, he said, has helped the university grow more sustainably. At the same time, he said, he has relied on the political power of the university to push projects, like getting more efficient streetlights.
Debra Rowe, a professor at Oakland Community College who is famously involved in countless sustainability organizations and efforts, said that many campus career offices don’t tell students about the sustainability jobs that city governments will need to fill in the future. Sustainability advocates, she said, should use that potential demand to push sustainability education on campus.
She also said that students should be engaged in projects and learning opportunities in local communities to improve their education. That kind of hands-on learning would not only help the local community but also provide more vital lessons for students.
“Cities can get students out of these dumb assignments where we have students jump through hoops,” she said. —Scott Carlson
Scott Carlson | Wednesday November 12, 2008 | Permalink | Contact usComments
Previous: Sustainability Conference: How to Get Off Energy Credits and On Offsets
Next: Guest Blogger: Are American Colleges Living Labs for Renewable-Energy Use?
College stores are often at the forefront of the green movement on campuses because the college-aged crowd that makes up their primary customer base has always had a heightened interest in environmentally friendly products and practices. A National Association of College Stores (NACS) Student Watch™ Survey found that 64 percent of college-bound high school females and 57 percent of college-bound males listed “caring about the environment” as being important to them.
NACS is a proud member of the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and supports members’ green efforts through an official sustainability policy aimed at using sound business practices to provide tools and support for environmentally friendly operations. Examples of how stores make operational choices that support the environment, and how to promote green products to students include:
• The University of New Mexico Bookstore’s dedication to offering eco-friendly pens and clothing made from recycled bottles and organic cotton
• Numerous plastic bag reduction initiatives, including New York University’s creative Save-A-Bag program, which has reduced plastic bag use while raising more than $5,000 for charity
• Increased use of biodegradable bags at the University of Western Ontario (Canada) and the University of Waterloo (Canada)
• UCLA’s comprehensive sustainability policy that has helped the store reduce waste, conserve energy and water, and reduce chemical use
• The University of Alaska Anchorage Bookstore’s decision to sell biodegradable plates and utensils made from sugarcane fiber and potato starch
This is in addition to efforts by many stores to reduce their carbon footprints through cutting use of print advertising and Styrofoam packaging, selling rechargeable batteries, use of reusable mugs and utensils in the office, cutting down on printed reports and other documents, and selling used textbooks.
— Charlie Schmidt Nov 12, 08:35 AM #
As an attendee at the AASHE Conference in Raleigh I am highly impressed with the quality of the program and the committment of attendees to doing what is necessary to counter the effects of global warming and builid a healthy future for current generations and generations to come.
Ruvin, Foy, and Rowe’s comments addressed the need for colleges and universities to work with their local and regional communities to respond to the challenges of global warming. Each panelist advocated for direct engagement and action. Action oriented learning experiences provide students with experience of making a difference and how to make a difference in the face of the largest challenge our species has collectively faced.
There has never been a more important time for educators and students to practice collaboration skills as we work together and with community members to preserve a healthy global ecology.
— Paul Smith Nov 12, 10:43 AM #
By far the greatest sustainability issue facing UNC and Chapel Hill is the planned Carolina North campus. The University administration has a tremendous opportunity to develop a transit-oriented campus there including car-free zones, but has failed to take advantage of it.
— James Coley Nov 12, 02:34 PM #