Kaua‘i Community College Recognized Among Sustainability Leaders in Higher Education in Second Nature’s “Celebrating Sustainability” Series and Vies for Popular Vote in Earth Month video Competition Kaua‘i Community College will be recognized in two venues this month as one of 20 colleges and universities nationwide that exemplify the mission of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) to re-stabilize the earth’s climate through education, research, and community engagement.
The “Celebrating Sustainability” series highlights the sustainability initiatives of finalists for the 2013 Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards. Second Nature, a national nonprofit that works to create a healthy, just, and sustainable society by transforming higher education, will formally recognize Kaua‘i CC on the ACUPCC and Second Nature websites on April 4.
In tandem with the series, Kaua‘i CC is vying for the top spot in a public video voting competition. Kaua‘i CC has produced
a video that promotes the campus’s sustainability initiatives, and viewers will have the opportunity to vote for the most innovative and groundbreaking institution in each Carnegie Classification. Voting takes place throughout April in partnership with Planet Forward:
http://planetforward.org/climate-leadership-awards-2013.
At Kaua`i CC, Ho`ouluwehi, The Sustainable Living Institute of Kaua`i focuses on four key areas; affordable housing, energy, waste management, and food production. With the hands on opportunities provided by projects in these four areas, students are developing specific skill sets needed to tackle real challenges our island faces.
“Kaua’i CC sees that sustainable living is a shared, community goal and works to combine its formidable energies with government,” said David Hales, president of Second Nature. “In the end, all climate action must extend beyond the campus borders to engage local and regional communities. We applaud Kaua’i CC for modeling this important leadership role.”
“In Hawaiian, the word for responsibility is kuleana and it’s a really essential concept in Hawaiian epistemology,” elaborates Helen Cox, Chancellor of Kaua`i CC. “We recognize that it is our kuleana to not only train our students and prepare them for jobs and for further studies but to also work with the entire community so that we can find more sustainable ways of being.”
About Kaua`i Community College Kaua’i Community College, the only college on the island serving Kaua’i residents, offers business, technology, hospitality, health, early childhood education and liberal arts courses. It also administers the UH Center on Kaua‘i, which provides students an opportunity to obtain baccalaureate and graduate degrees and certificates from other institutions within the UH System. The college’s Office of Continuing Education and Training serves the island’s lifelong learners and business community with non-credit courses and customized training. Kaua`i CC provides open access education and training in an ethical and innovative student-centered and community-focused environment, nurturing life-long learners who appreciate diversity and lead responsible and fulfilling lives. Learn more at
http://kauai.hawaii.edu.
About Second Nature Second Nature works to create a healthy, just, and sustainable society beginning with the transformation of higher education. Second Nature is the support organization of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). Learn more about Second Nature at:
www.secondnature.org About the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment The ACUPCC is an intensive partnership among more than 650 colleges and universities to accelerate the education, research, and community engagement to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate while setting an example by eliminating net greenhouse gas emissions from their own operations. Learn more at:
www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org
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C.Matsumoto
