��������

�������� recently hired Melanie Knowles as the university’s first sustainability manager. Knowles will guide the university in becoming more cognizant of environmental consequences in its operations and community interactions. She will also work closely with the Sustainability Task Force to serve and help educate the entire university community. Knowles joined the university staff earlier this month. “Melanie Knowles possesses a strong commitment to sustainability as evidenced by her educational and professional experiences,” Tom Euclide, �������� associate vice president for fa...

Proposals for presentations for a virtual New Media Center (NMC) Symposium for the Future, a special two day, live online event to be held October 27-29, 2009, are being solicited through Sept. 14. The symposium, the 14th in the NMC’s Series of Virtual Symposia, will explore actual and potential applications of technology that could impact issues of global importance over the next five years and beyond. The applicability of technology — whether established or emerging — to the social, environmental and educational challenges we face today is a central theme of the symposium. Projects that test...

This is the second installment of a two-part article examining the use of electric and hybrid vehicles on campus. For five departments on the Kent Campus, the use of a GEM (Global Electric Motorcar) or a mild hybrid vehicle has become commonplace. For other departments interested in “going green” with their transportation, Fleet Services can provide assistance. Darwin Friend, superintendent of fleet services, says that the first step for any department interested in an electric or hybrid vehicle is to contact Fleet Services. “After the department contacts Fleet Services, we’ll assist them in d...

This is the first installment of a two-part article examining the use of electric and hybrid vehicles on campus. While the Department of Public Safety just received the university’s first mild hybrid vehicle, other departments are going green with a vehicle known as a GEM (Global Electric Motorcar). The GEM is powered by a 72-volt absorbed glass mat battery pack, has a built-in charger and only requires an extension cord and a 110-volt outlet. There are currently eight GEMs on the Kent Campus. Tom Euclide , associate vice president for facilities planning and operations and Sustainability Task...

If you’re a faculty or staff member at the Kent Campus and you’re interested in saving money, saving the earth and/or saving your good health, you’ll want to consider participating in the second annual Fuel-Less Friday: Bike/Hike/Bus to Work Day on Friday, Aug. 21. The event is intended to encourage Kent Campus employees to find alternative means of traveling to and from work, including walking, riding a bike, carpooling or using the free, local bus service provided by the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA) to all employees with a valid �������� ID card. To make Fuel-Less...

�������� is continuing its efforts to become a leader in sustainability on its campuses and in its curriculum. During the spring semester, the College of Technology offered the special topics course Sustainability, and will offer two sustainabilityrelated classes in the fall semester. Dr. Michael Salkind, instructor, says the class served as a broad interdisciplinary course that emphasized the global economic and social context in which sustainable technologies can solve the world’s most pressing problems of poverty, preserving and improving the world ecosystem, reversing global warming and ...

Campus Environment and Operations planted a very significant tree April 22 to jointly celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day. The new addition to the Kent Campus landscape was planted between Stopher, Johnson and Olson residence halls.At the tree planting ceremony, the Tree Campus USA award was formally presented to ��������. Gregg S. Floyd, vice president for finance and administration, accepted the award on behalf of the university. This ceremony was the formal presentation for the Kent Campus' national recognition as a Tree Campus USA honoree. The Kent Campus is the only college or university ...

Sustainability Initiative Takes Shape; E-Inside; March 16, 2009The Sustainability Task Force, a group charged by �������� President Lester A. Lefton to organize and oversee the university's sustainability initiatives, is moving along steadily. The task force assembled a steering team, which has met twice to map a plan for gathering input and implementing sustainability efforts across ��������'s eight-campus system. The steering team is composed of leaders from the faculty, staff, student body and the city of Kent. The steering team is currently dividing its membership and interested volunt...

�������� Honored by Arbor Day Foundation as Ohio's First Tree Campus USA; E-Inside; March 2, 2009The Arbor Day Foundation has honored ��������'s Kent Campus as Ohio's first Tree Campus USA university for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. Tree Campus USA, a new national program launched by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors college and universities and the leaders of the campus and surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. To earn the distinction, th...

From an individual’s perspective, important issues such as the economy or climate change can seem pretty overwhelming. It can be difficult to imagine that the actions of one person can really have an effect on such daunting global challenges. But the reality is there are small but significant steps that every one of us can take that, when combined, have a real impact on reducing expenses and increasing environmental responsibility at ��������. We can all play a role in promoting good energy-saving habits among our fellow faculty, staff and students. For example, when thinking about your own ...