Bunker Hill Community College to Host Regional Sustainability Symposium, Nov. 3-4, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Bunker Hill Community College will host the first Northeast Regional Collaborative Symposium of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) on November 3-4, 2011, in collaboration with Second Nature, a non-profit organization that seeks to create a sustainable society by transforming higher education. The ACUPCC, a network of more than 700 signatory members, represents the best practices of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.
BHCC, a charter signatory to the ACUPCC, will be joined by many participants from colleges and universities located throughout the northeast region. The two-day symposium aims at creating dialogue and collaboration among the ACUPCC signatories who face similar challenges of sustainability. The following topics will be covered at the meeting:
- Preparing and implementing Climate Action Plans
- Regional challenges to sustainability
- Curriculum development initiatives
- Challenges to ACUPCC implementation
BHCC President Mary L. Fifield signed the ACUPCC in 2007, ushering in a new sustainability-focused era for the College. Since then, BHCC has opened a LEED-Gold certified Health and Wellness Center, set up the President’s Climate Commitment and Sustainability committee, launched a new Sustainable Mini-grant Program, created an Urban Organic Garden, founded a new student Sustainability Club, and established the cabinet-level position of Director of Sustainability, held by Paul Wolff III.
In June of this year, BHCC was acknowledged nationally at the 5th Annual ACUPCC Summit. At the summit, the College received the prestigious Climate Leadership Award from Second Nature.
For further information on the symposium, please visit:www.bhcc.mass.edu/sustainability
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About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is Massachusetts' largest community college, annually welcoming a diverse community of around 16,000 students. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC extends its reach across several locations in Greater Boston. The College offers associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific training programs. BHCC is celebrated for its diversity, boasting a student body where 65% identify as people of color and more than half are women. The College also embraces a global perspective, with over 600 international students representing 90 countries and conversing in more than 65 languages. Our commitment to diversity is further reflected in BHCC's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).