By Stephen Muzzy, Program Manager, Second Nature

Continuing with the accumulation of great resources and information to support your ACUPCC implementation efforts I am pleased to share with you the work of the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC). As an official endorser of the ACUPCC, HEASC collectively promotes and shares ACUPCC resources and events with their members.

With the growing trend of diverse coalitions forming on campuses to work on sustainability initiatives, professional higher education associations recognized the importance of joining together to model and support the sustainability work both of their constituencies and of the higher education system as a whole. Entering its 4th year the HEASC network includes 16 professional higher education associations (HEAs) ranging from operational professionals in facilities, housing, and procurement to senior administrators in the presidents and business offices, to student affairs directors, working in concert to support and advance sustainability throughout the higher education sector. You may have noticed that faculty was not mentioned. Not to worry - they have their own network called the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability (DANS). Many synergies exist between the two networks and collaborative projects are being explored.

As an official endorser of the ACUPCC, HEASC collectively promotes and shares ACUPCC resources and events with their members. Below you will find a list of ACUPCC resources developed by HEASC members as well as examples of individual associations' actions to build their institutional capacity to support the higher education sustainability movement.

We encourage you to share the consortium's work with your colleagues. Many of them may be unaware that their professional association belongs to such a consortium and may be very excited to learn of the news! HEASC looks forward to supporting your ACUPCC efforts and welcomes your feedback on how it can make your actions most effective.

For more information on HEASC and its members visit www.heasc.net

For general questions on the consortium contact Stephen Muzzy at smuzzy@secondnature.org

HEASC Developed ACUPCC Resources

Webcasts:

AGB/SCUP

Environmental Sustainability as a Strategic Policy Issue: What Governing Boards Need to Know

This program is designed to provide a fundamental understanding of sustainability issues within higher education and how boards can work together with their administrations and executive staffs to be informed leaders about sustainability. Participants will learn how trustees can engage effectively and appropriately on sustainability at a policy level, how sustainability can relate to institutional mission and strategic planning, and how it can become a regular part of a board's long-term agenda.

APPA

Reducing Greenhouse Gases and Achieving Climate Neutrality

This presentation describes the organizational ingredients necessary for building a successful campus energy program, emphasizing energy conservation, green building design, green power purchasing, and renewable energy generation—strategies central to any campus effort designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or achieve climate neutrality. Other topics covered include energy policies, green computing, energy awareness, working with ESCOs, obtaining top level support, the key role of facilities managers, and developing climate action plans.

NACUBO

Creating a Greenhouse Gas Inventory – What Does it Take?

This webcast explains the general principles of conducting a GHG inventory, while providing examples from two contrasting campuses that have used different methods. Experts at Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) and the Association of the Advancement of Higher Education (AASHE) participate. You will also hear stories from the University of California-Berkley and Unity College about how they conducted their GHG inventories.

Commit to Change: Leading Your Campus Towards Climate Neutrality

Three CFOs and a facilities director speak about the strategies they have employed to lead their campus team toward climate neutrality. Their presentations will also provide an ACUPCC overview and implementation refresher, discuss the far reaching impact of the Commitment, and approaches for financing sustainability on your campus.

SCUP

Campus Sustainability Day (CSD)

CSD celebrates sustainability in higher education. CSD is devoted specifically to the achievements of and challenges for the tens of thousands of students, faculty, and staff working to instill sustainability principles in higher education institutions and their surrounding communities.

Publications:

AGB

Sustainability: What is the Trustee's Stake?

APPA

The Educational Professional's Practical Guide to Reducing the Campus Carbon Footprint

This resource for facilities managers provides pragmatic assistance to effectively implement a carbon reduction plan.

The Green Campus: Meeting the Challenge of Environmental Sustainability by Walter Simpson

Sustainability and the ACUPCC by E. Lander Medlin with Anthony D. Cortese

NACUBO

Alternative Energy Economics by Michael Philips and Lee White

The Business Case for Renewable Energy: A Guide for Colleges and Universities by Andrea Putman and Michael Philips

Boldly Sustainable: Hope and Opportunity for Higher Education in the Age of Climate Change, co-written by Andrea Putman and Peter Bardaglio (Due out in March 2009)

Conferences:

NACUBO/AASHE/APPA/SCUP

Smart & Sustainable Campuses Conference

The 4th Annual Smart & Sustainable Campuses Conference

Environmental consciousness is at an all-time high and colleges and universities are experiencing increased pressures from stakeholders to lower carbon outputs, green campus operations, and graduate students equipped to lead sustainability initiatives in all sectors. Join NACUBO, in partnership with several other higher education associations, for a comprehensive symposium on sustainability, including operational solutions, smart growth policies, and strategies for achieving climate neutrality.

Institutional Structures & Professional Development:

ACUHO-I

Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC)

The SAC works closely with the Director of Sustainability to provide the Association with recommendations on sustainable initiatives and to provide the membership with educational, social, and economic sustainability education and information.

NACUBO

Sustainability Advisory Panel (SAP)

The SAP is appointed by the NACUBO President. The principal charge of the SAP is to advise the NACUBO Director for Environmental Leadership with regard to the following issues on campus: financing sustainability projects, operational issues such as energy, dining services, transportation, green buildings and design, leadership and governance, and smart growth and campus planning.

APPA

Facilities Management Strategies for Campus Sustainability

Special programming will focus on the current state of campus involvement in this growing movement and the drivers behind higher education's response to global climate change. This program will explore the emergence of campus sustainability principles, policies, positions, organizations, and communications strategies. Creative and innovative practices related to green building design and energy management will be discussed and attendees will have a rich offering of sustainability electives from which to tailor their learning experience.

The following HEASC members currently have or are in the process of creating an instutional structure: AACC, AASCU, ACPA, AGB, NAEP, SCUP.

Please visit the HEASC Resource Center to learn about all of the member associations' sustainability efforts.