by Shane Henson — May 21, 2012—College and universities across the United States are meeting the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) expectation of helping to create a brighter and greener future of opportunity for all. According to AASHE’s 2011 Higher Education Sustainability Review, higher education institutions have shown skyrocketing support for green jobs training; an increased focus on creating food-secure communities; new efforts toward accessibility and affordability; and more energy-related and green building efforts than ever before.
Informed by AASHE’s weekly e-newsletter, AASHE Bulletin, this review quantifies successes in the higher education sustainability movement while looking toward the future.
Specifically, an analysis of 2011 stories within the AASHE Bulletin shows:
- The number of Bulletin stories dealing with higher education access and affordability increased from three in 2009 and four in 2010 to 36 in 2011.
- Nearly 60% of all new programs or training opportunities focused on training students for renewable energy and green careers, with $543 million recorded toward the effort.
- Approximately 284 energy-related initiatives were announced (including 97 new or planned solar installations and 34 completed or planned campus energy overhauls). This represents a 28% increase from 2010.
- Food security efforts on higher education campuses made up the largest percentage of the Bulletin’s “Public Engagement” (33%) and “Dining Services” (64%) categories. Together with “Funding” and “Grounds” categories, these four categories yielded 79 food security initiatives.
- 2011 saw increased synergies between community colleges and their local communities to address access to an affordable college education that results in strong job prospects and low student debt.
- With 191 environmentally friendly building stories, there were more green building efforts on campus reported in the AASHE Bulletin in 2011 than ever before.
- Solar energy research projects were the most widely reported item in the Bulletin’s “Research” category, with nearly $1.8 million in total investment.
- Nearly 60% of all new programs or training opportunities focused on training students for renewable energy and green careers, with $543 million recorded toward the effort.
