West Haven, Conn., October 2, 2009—The University of New Haven (UNH) has joined the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) to promote sustainability on campus. AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that work together to create a sustainable future by providing resources, professional development and a network of support to enable higher education to lead the sustainability transformation.
“The University of New Haven’s membership in the association marks our deepening commitment to sustainability,” says Julia Parker, vice president for facilities at UNH. “As a participating institution, all those in the UNH campus community will have access to the benefits provided by AASHE, including its weekly bulletin and networking resources."
Some of UNH’s most recent green initiatives include:
• Biodiesel research: Thanks to a grant from the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Dr. Carmela Cuomo and Dr. Eddie Luzik are examining the viability of using algae from Long Island Sound for fuel.
• Global Solutions for Sustainability: This new course was introduced for the Fall 2009 semester as part of the university’s core curriculum.
• Calculating carbon footprints: Students from the Tagliatela College of Engineering volunteered their time to research methods for calculating the university’s carbon footprint. Their research presented descriptions of a carbon climate and ecological footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Sustainability Committee: A committee of faculty, staff and students was formed to encourage sustainable activities on and off campus. The group created a campus sustainability web page which offers tips for saving energy and reducing one’s carbon footprint.
• National Recycling Coalition/Coca-Cola Bin Grant Program: UNH has used the grant to equip the campus with recycling bins.
• Students at the University of New Haven have established the "Go Green" Club, with a focus on creating new green initiatives for students on campus and promote green efforts on- and off-campus.
A leader in experiential education, the University of New Haven is experiencing a historic and nationally recognized surge in enrollment. Founded in 1920, the University provides its students with a unique combination of solid liberal arts and real-world, hands-on professional training. UNH is a private university with an 80-acre main campus. The University has an enrollment of more than 5,200; approximately 1,700 graduate students and more than 3,500 undergraduates, 70 percent of whom reside in University housing. The University offers more than 80 undergraduate degrees and more than 25 graduate degrees through its five colleges, in fields such as sports management, nutrition, forensic science, music and sound recording, engineering, computer science and criminal justice. University College at UNH develops programs and courses to meet the emerging educational and training needs of educators, businesses and public and social agencies, focusing on academic excellence, convenience and flexibility. University of New Haven students study abroad through a variety of distinctive programs.
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