Welcome to the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC). HEASC is an informal network of higher education associations (HEAs) with a commitment to advancing sustainability within their constituencies and within the system of higher education itself.
HEASC was formed in December 2005 by leaders of several HEAs to support and enhance the capacity of higher education to fulfill its critical role in producing an educated and engaged citizenry and the knowledge needed for a thriving and civil society. These organizations recognize that fulfilling their mission in the 21st century requires a broader, systemic, collaborative approach to their own work and that of the constituents they serve. The societal challenges to create vibrant, secure communities and strong economies while preserving the life support system on which we all depend are daunting and will only increase as the world's population and our need to increase economic output grows.
The HEAs that have formed HEASC see the need for developing in-depth capability to address sustainability issues through their associations and have decided to work together in this effort. Our purpose is to learn from each other, work together on joint projects, get access to the best expertise and information on sustainability, and to keep a collective, ongoing focus on advancing education for a sustainable future over time. HEASC hopes to involve all higher education associations to get the broadest perspectives and produce the greatest effectiveness and synergy in our efforts.
We hope that this exciting development will help move sustainability to the center stage in higher education and enhance the considerable work that has been and is being done by students, faculty, operational staff and administrators in hundreds of colleges and universities to make a healthy, just and sustainable future a goal of all learning and practice.
Second Nature, a leader in the effort to make sustainability a goal of all higher education learning and practice, has been asked to coordinate HEASC. Debra Rowe, a leader of the U.S. Partnership for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development has partnered with Anthony D. Cortese, president of Second Nature, in carrying out this role.
Announcements and Events
AASHE 2008: Working Together for Sustainability – On Campus and Beyond
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) invites submissions of abstracts for its 2nd biennial conference - AASHE 2008: Working Together for Sustainability – On Campus and Beyond (Nov 9-11, 2008, Raleigh, NC). AASHE 2008 offers an exciting and unique opportunity for every sector of higher education in the U.S. and Canada to demonstrate how colleges and universities and their partners can lead the way to a sustainable future.
AASHE’s biennial conference is the largest gathering of its kind in the U.S. and Canada. Well over 1,000 participants are expected to attend from higher education, business, non-profit and government. Given AASHE’s diverse mix of members, the event will have an impressive array of institutions and sustainability interests represented.
Reflecting this year’s theme, “Working Together for Sustainability – On Campus and Beyond,” AASHE has partnered with Sustainable North Carolina to offer a special 2-day tradeshow - “Sustainable Solutions Expo: Green Solutions for Campuses, Businesses, Institutions.” Admission is included with conference registration. Other special events include AASHE’s awards banquet (included with registration), field trips to local campuses, a Career Fair, specialized pre-conference workshops, a pre-conference Student Summit, and engaging keynotes by Lester Brown, Peter Senge, Van Jones, and Vandana Shiva.
Poster submissions are due by September 1.
For more details please visit the conference website: www.aashe.org/conference, or email conference@aashe.org.
HEASC is an Official Endorser of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment
HEASC has officially endorsed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), a high-visibility effort to make campuses more sustainable and address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to reduce and ultimately neutralize greenhouse gas emissions on campus. As of July 1, 2008 over 550 college and university presidents have signed the commitment. Read more at: Presidents Climate Commitment.
Support the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment
Visit the HEASC website Resource Center to find the latest tools for supporting the ACUPCC. At present, we've posted a "letter of support" template and a generic PowerPoint presentation. Other ACUPCC support resources pertinent to HEASC member associations will be posted here as they are available. Also—be sure to visit the ACUPCC website to get the latest news and updates.
The 2007 Annual Report (PDF) was released in May 2008. In addition to a snapshot of all signatory reports received by December 31, 2007, the 2007 Annual Report includes a collection of brief stories from select ACUPCC institutions describing exciting climate and energy successes on their campuses related to ACUPCC implementation.
HEASC Adopts Statement of Shared Principles & Activities
HEASC member organizations adopted and signed the Statement of Shared Principles & Activities in June. Originally drafted by Kent Blumenthal of NIRSA, the statement lays the foundation for HEASC's values and commitments and defines the role of its coordinating agent, Second Nature. Click on the link below to view the statement:
HEASC Statement of Shared Principles & Activities (PDF)
Check Out New Resources
Be sure to visit our Resource Center page on a regular basis to find the latest tools, articles, presentations and more for your association. Our latest additions are the teleconference files from "Education for Sustainability: What You Need to Know" and a "Sustainable Meetings and Conferences" document for use in your RFPs when planning events. Click on the Resource Center link on the left.