At a glance
“I am extremely pleased that Alfred State College is one of the host institutions for a conference with such relevance to today’s world. I and my colleagues look forward to meeting and collaborating with our counterparts around the country who are as committed to sustainability—in all its guises--as we are,” said Anderson of the College’s sponsorship.
Alfred State College is pleased to serve as a host institution for the AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) conference, “Creating Sustainable Campuses and Communities,” Oct. 9-12 in Pittsburgh, PA.
AASHE, which defines sustainability in an inclusive way, encompassing human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations, aims to make sustainable practices the norm within higher education; facilitate institutional efforts to integrate sustainability into teaching, research, operations, and public engagement; disseminate knowledge and best practices and promote resource sharing; support all sectors of campus in achieving sustainability goals; increase collaboration among individuals, institutions, and external partners to speed the adoption of sustainability practices; and influence education policy so that sustainability is a focus at local, state, and national levels.
“I am extremely pleased that Alfred State College is one of the host institutions for a conference with such relevance to today’s world. I and my colleagues look forward to meeting and collaborating with our counterparts around the country who are as committed to sustainability—in all its guises--as we are,” said Anderson of the College’s sponsorship.
“This conference is an important vehicle for sharing our successes and best practices to better allow us to train our future researchers and practitioners in the art and science of sustainability.
“Additionally, the activities and speakers scheduled for the conference are sure to inspire all the participants to return to their campuses and communities with a renewed commitment to sustainability.”
Anderson went on to note that he was also pleased that several Alfred State faculty members have had their abstracts accepted for presentation at the conference.
“This speaks to the quality of our institution, when you consider our fellow higher ed sponsors include Cornell University, Frostburg State (MD) University, West Virginia University (Morgantown), and Pennsylvania institutions: Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, Duquesne University, Point Park University, University of Pittsburg, and Penn State.
The conference’s opening keynote speaker will be Dr. Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate; founder, The Green Belt Movement; and visiting fellow at Yale University’s Global Institute for Sustainable Forestry.
The Student Summit keynote speaker will be Bill McKibben, founder 350.org; author; and fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
About ASC
Alfred State College is proud of the work it’s doing in sustainability: from the establishment of an student-retooled electric car (which will be at the conference).
Alfred State continues to expand its opportunities for students to immerse themselves in this important initiative. The college is committed to continuing to incorporate alternative energy technology, not only into its classes, but also into the life of the college in an effort to decrease its carbon footprint.
Project-based learning is a cornerstone of the Alfred State culture. When students work on real-world problems, they learn how to think, not what to think. As a result, Alfred State College has a 99% employment and transfer rate.
About AASHE
AASHE is helping to create a brighter future of opportunity for all by advancing sustainability in higher education. By creating a diverse community engaged in sharing ideas and promising practices, AASHE provides administrators, faculty, staff and students, as well as the business that serve them, with: thought leadership and essential knowledge resources; outstanding opportunities for professional development; and a unique framework for demonstrating the value and competitive edge created by sustainability initiatives.
To accomplish its goals, AASHE hosts an annual conference which is North America's largest campus sustainability conference; offers professional development workshops and webinars; publishes newsletters, including AASHE Announcements, AASHE Bulletin, and STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) Update; provides an Interactive Resource Center with specialized online resources and directories; conducts an awards program recognizing sustainability leadership by institutions and individuals; and supports the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment.