Santa Clara University

Meghan Mooney, a rising senior, recently completed an anthropological study on the culture of sustainability at Santa Clara University.

As a result of her research as the Undergraduate Fellow in Environmental Ethics with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Meghan presents a benchmark of cultural beliefs and discourses as related to sustainability at SCU. Her main research questions were:

1. Is sustainability an issue of personal and ethical importance to the community?

2. How does the SCU community define and understand sustainability?

3. What do people think it means to be an environmentalist, do they consider themselves environmentalists?

4. Is there a strong or direct link between institutional programs and the values of the individual?

The San Jose Mercury News

Santa Clara University assistant professor of psychology Amara Brook was quoted in an article discussing what motivates people to engage in environmentally sustainable behavior.

The Christian Science Monitor

A two-week program at Santa Clara University called the Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI) teams up social entrepreneurs with Silicon Valley leaders experienced in taking a new idea to mass production.

Medill Reports

Santa Clara University's Environmental Studies Institute and sustainability initiatives were featured in an article about students' rising interests in environmental studies. SCU senior Tracey Mangin reflected on her decision to major in environmental studies as well as her younger sister's college decision process.

The West Coast Green conference (San Jose Convention Center, 9/25-9/27) is looking to recruit student volunteers for the event.

In return for volunteering a 6-hour shift, volunteers get a free pass to the full conference (worth $575).  It is a great opportunity to see green innovations from about 350 exhibitors and to hear lectures from 100 of the leaders in the green movement (including Al Gore, David Suzuki, and Sarah Susanka). 

Register to volunteer. Deadline to register is September 1.

Read this month's Sustainability Update

In this issue:
Green Highlight
Reduce waste and stay up-to-date! Choose not to receive a printed Campus Phone Directory

News
IT and Dell reduce packaging waste
SCU recognized as energy innovator
Catholic colleges, universities take steps to go green
SCU Among Top 25 cutting-edge green colleges
Princeton Review gives SCU 96 points in new "Green Ratings"
New York Times special feature on campus sustainability

Events
SCU Staff Faire
West Coast Green
Visioning the Bay Area in 2030

What Can I Do?
What Do you do? (submit your tips)

Read this month's Sustainability Update

The Kaplan College Guide 2009 named Santa Clara University one of the nation's 25 most environmentally responsible schools.

Kaplan considered schools' efforts in the areas of environmentally responsible campus projects, courses, student groups, and achievements noted in the Sustainable Endowments Institute's College Sustainability Report Card 2008.

Learn more

Catholic News Service

Santa Clara University's participation in the Solar Decathlon as well as AASHE's new Sustainability Tracking And Rating System pilot program are mentioned as some of the ways Catholic colleges and universities are going green.