University of Phoenix
Contact Information
Education and Research:
University of Phoenix believes that education is the key to creating sustainable households, businesses and communities. Through staff education, academic programs and demonstrative leadership, University of Phoenix endeavors to educate the environmental stewards of today and tomorrow.
University of Phoenix developed and launched the Go Green Campaign, featuring the Go Green Challenge, for all staff. The Go Green Challenge is a comprehensive communication and education program aimed at educating University staff about their impact on the environment. The Challenge included campus expositions, an online tutorial, a branded marketing campaign and communication from University leadership.
Go Green expos, held by University of Phoenix campus staff nationwide, educated staff about how they can make personal changes that have a positive environmental impact.The tutorial, Sustainability 101, educates staff about climate change, energy usage, renewable energy, water conservation, and provides tips about how they can reduce their environmental impact at home and at work. The interactive tutorial also shows each staff member what their personal carbon footprint is and how they can reduce it. Sustainability 101 is a required module in new employee orientation.
In addition to staff education, University of Phoenix is committed to providing academic programs that prepare current and future generations to apply sustainable business principles and practices to every industry, at every level. University of Phoenix offers undergraduate and graduate programs in sustainability, including Bachelor of Science/Green and Sustainable Enterprise Management, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, and Master of Business Administration/ Energy Management.
Campus Operations:
University of Phoenix has implemented operational changes to reduce its environmental impact, including waste diversion, building specifications and energy purchase practices.
In November 2008, University of Phoenix made an annual purchase of 46.5 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy certificates. This is equivalent to the amount of energy required to power 100% of its Phoenix facilities, or 27% of its more than 200 campus locations nationwide. The University’s renewable energy purchase is the largest in Arizona history and earned the University a 7th place ranking on the EPA’s “Top 20 College & University Partner” list.
In addition to the renewable energy purchase, University of Phoenix implemented a recycling program at its central administration location in Phoenix, AZ. Recycling bins provide paper, plastic and aluminum recycling and will soon feature single stream recycling with additional capabilities. Phoenix campus dining services provides tray-less dining on washable plates. Meals to go are provided with paper products made from post-consumer recycled material and corn-based utensils.
A green building standard policy dictates that all new buildings or leased space must adhere to outlined environmental specifications, including limits on volatile organic compound (VOC) contents, floor coverings, lighting efficiency, quality of air flow, Energy Star appliance requirements, and building orientation considerations. Many new projects have been LEED Silver certified and LEED specifications will continue to play an important role in the University’s growth.
The grounds at central administration were designed to capture rainwater runoff and use drought-tolerant landscaping to minimize the need for additional watering.
Administration and Finance:
University of Phoenix believes in supporting research to advance environmental technologies and teaching modalities. The University has partnered with the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (AzRISE), a global institute created by University of Arizona to develop and implement practical solar technology, improve educational opportunities in this growing field, and design outreach programs to engage the public in dialogue about solar energy solutions. University of Phoenix is also supporting the University of Arizona’s submission to the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon this fall in Washington, DC. Through other partnerships, such as Earth Day Network and Keep America Beautiful, the University helps to support community education, awareness and improvement projects. Additionally, the University is assessing the environmental impact recognized when higher education adopts online modalities of teaching, learning and course material delivery. Preliminary research demonstrates a significant environmental savings in the areas of emissions, fuel usage, trees and landfill space.
University of Phoenix was founded on an agenda of social responsibility to provide educational access to underserved populations. University of Phoenix was one of the first schools in the country to tailor their programs and services specifically for populations historically underserved by the U.S. system of higher education, including working minorities. As a result, more minority students earn degrees from University of Phoenix than from any single university in the country, according to data aggregated from Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s most recently released analysis of top degree producers for students of color. Additionally, University of Phoenix’s student body and faculty are more diverse than those in higher education at large. Our African American student enrollment is more than double the national average; our Hispanic student enrollment is well above the national average. Moreover, more than 15 percent of our 22,000 full- and part-time faculty members are African American – that’s triple the national average. And we employ double the national average of Hispanic faculty members. At the core of the University’s diverse community are the tenets of inclusion and accessibility, which provide greater opportunities for underrepresented populations to advance their personal and professional lives.
Student Demographics - University of Phoenix Enrollment
as of 2/29/2008
Caucasian: 54.30%
African American 24.60%
Asian/Pacific Islander 4.30%
Native American/Alaskan 1.20%
Other/Unknown 3.00%
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