Sustainability News &Events

On-Campus Events

RA Sustainability Program Challenge
August 26 - September 29, 2024
RA's across campus are competing to have the best sustainability program and the winner will receive a $50 giftcard! (Plus some bragging rights.) While a team of RA’s can compete, only one gift card will be awarded to the winner or winning team. Possible education programs include: Build Your Own Recycling Box Event, "Mug-Shot" Program and Bulletin Board, Trash Can Audit Event, etc… The program can be focused on zero waste or any other sustainability-related theme. We encourage you to share pictures of the event to Instagram (@aq_sustainability). Note: Bulletin Boards will not be considered for this challenge. All submissions (including at least one picture and a brief written description of the program) are due to eimerjes@aquinas.edu by 11:59pm on September 29, 2024. 

AQ “Tree of the Year” Competition 
October 2024
The Campus Tree Advisory Committee (C-TAC) and the AQ Writing Center are excited to host the 4th annual AQ “Tree of the Year” Competition. Big or small, any tree can be the winner! This competition celebrates what brings life to our campus and air to our lungs...the trees. Participants will have a week to nominate their favorite tree using an online form (link). (Note: The link will not be live until the nomination period begins.) The C-TAC will review all submissions and select the top 3 submissions, based on three criteria: Social Relevance, Personal Relevance, and Ecological Relevance. The public will then have a week to vote and select the winning tree, which will be forever commemorated with a 2024 "Tree of the Year" plaque (link to vote). The submitter of the winning tree will receive a $50 gift card, and the 2nd and 3rd place winners will each receive a $15 gift card. 
Timeline: Campus Nomination Period: September 30- October 9; Closed Tree Committee Vote (top 3): October 10-17; Open/Public Vote (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place): October 21-27, 2024

Campus Tree Tours
Upcoming Tour Dates:

• Wednesday, 10/2- 4pm to 4:45pm
• Tuesday, 10/8- 12pm  - 12:45pm
• Wednesday, 10/23- 2pm to 2:45pm

All faculty, staff, students, and community members are invited to tour the beautiful trees on campus and see the fall colors in style...by golf cart! During these 45-minute tours, Ryan Wendt will introduce you to over 95 species of trees and share several interesting facts about each tree. Ryan will also cover a brief history of our campus woodlands. These tours are a great way to find a tree to nominate for the AQ “Tree of the Year” Competition. Come learn all about one of the features that make Aquinas the most beautiful campus. RSVP is required to leaftour@aquinas.edu, as each scheduled tour has a maximum attendance of 5 people. Tours will begin outside Campus Safety. Private tours are also available by contacting the email above. 

Tree Craft Event
October 9, 2024; 3pm to 5pm; SSS Trio (JLH)
Join the Center for Sustainability, TRIO Student Support Services, and the Writing Center for a celebration of nature and creativity. We will be crafting, snacking, and watching a nature themed movie while working on submissions for the Tree of the Year competition (for a chance to win a $50 gift card). This event is also a great opportunity to contribute to our donation of much needed art supplies for current Aquinas students. We will be accepting donations through a coin drive.

Plant Your Future: A Class Tree Planting Event
October 24, 2024; 2:00pm to 2:30pm; Meet by the Spirit Rock
“The one who plants trees, knowing that he or she will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” (Rabindranath Tagore) At Aquinas College, we believe higher education is about more than completing a degree. It’s about fostering a community of well-rounded individuals committed to making a positive impact on the world. At the “Plant Your Future” event, all first-year students are invited to participate in the planting of several trees that will be forever commemorated with a “Class of 2028” plaque. Because Aquinas is attempting to reach the goal of having all trees native to Michigan on campus, the selected tree species (Shellbark Hickory) will be a Michigan-native species that we are currently missing. At the event, hear from campus leaders about this exciting program, watch as a representative from the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians delivers a blessing over the trees, and participate in or observe the class tree planting. This class tree is among the first of many contributions you will make to our AQ Community during your time as an AQ Saint. All staff, faculty, and students are invited to attend, with a special invite to the Class of 2028! #Beasustainablesaint

Off-Campus Events

TBA

Sustainability News

Midyear Update: Zero-Waste (January 2024):

Is Aquinas College a zero-waste campus? Quick answer: no. But we are making great strides toward that goal. Sustainability is integral to the mission of Aquinas College, strengthening our Dominican and Catholic traditions of being good stewards of God's gifts. The Zero Waste Initiative (minimizing and sorting waste) is a tangible way for our community to practice sustainability. And based on 2023 data, AQ's zero waste initiative is ranked 7th in the nation! Because we are halfway through the academic year, it's time to update you on our progress.

The current (average since July 1, 2023) waste diversion rate for campus is 58.6%, meaning we are keeping 58.6% of campus waste out of landfills. Last year at this time, we had a 55.3% diversion rate. While our waste diversion rate has increased this year, we are seeing much lower waste diversion rates since pre-Covid times. (For example, Aquinas boasted a 70.5% waste diversion rate in 2019.)

In comparing Fall 2023 to Fall 2022, we have much to celebrate. Many campus buildings have improved zero waste performance, including most classroom spaces, Brookby, several campus apartments, and St. Joe's. (St. Joe's diversion rate increased from 19.1% to 36.5%!) That is exceptional. 

However, we have some hard work ahead of us. Many campus buildings have falling waste diversion rates, such as the Academic Building, Browne Center, Regina Hall, Hruby Hall (residential), Fr. Bartolome Hall, and Knape Hall. Attached to this email, you will find the current performance of each of our campus buildings.

We need your help to continue to move the needle toward zero waste. Waste is significant this spring, as Aquinas will compete in the national Campus Race to Zero Waste Competition from Jan. 29 to Mar. 24. This is the competition that gives us our national rankings (7th last year). Campus buildings will also compete in an AQ competition called "Tip the Scale" from Jan. 29 to Feb. 25. Please continue to model sustainable behavior by sorting waste and encouraging students and peers to do the same. A simple reminder to a peer can encourage new (sustainable) habits.

Thanks for all you have done and continue to do to support zero waste. With your help, we will make Aquinas zero waste (and become the first college in the nation to reach that goal)! Just to remind you, weekly zero waste progress by building can always be viewed on the Sustainability Initiative website here. You are welcome to contact Jessica Eimer Bowen at eimerjes@aquinas.edu for more information on your building or to schedule a zero-waste training/refresher. Go, Saints!

Fund Your Innovative Project through the Economicology Leadership Fund (ELF)
Do you have an idea that could advance sustainability in the classroom or on campus but requires a little seed money? Apply for funding through the Economicology Leadership Fund (ELF). Administered by the Center for Sustainability, the “Economicology Leadership Fund” is a source of funding to facilitate innovative research and program development (within the lens of Economicology) at Aquinas College.  The money for this endowment was gifted from the Wege Foundation. The next deadline is February 1st. >Link

Spring 2024 Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering for the Sustainability Initiative is aligned with Aquinas College's Catholic values of Service and Care for the Earth and is an excellent way to make a difference. Here are a few upcoming opportunities:

• Terracycle Volunteers: Keep packaging waste out of the Landfill by supporting our Terracycle program. Recycling is an important strategy for combating climate change by decreasing raw material use and avoiding landfills (a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions). According to the EPA, more than 40% of our nation's emissions result from producing, transporting, using, and disposing of material goods (EPA, 2009). Terracycle volunteers are asked to volunteer for just one hour to help us sort Terracycle waste into each waste category, such as candy wrappers and snack bags. You can sign up for Terracycle here.
• "We All Live Here" Service Day: The "We All Live Here" Service Day is coming up on April 18th. This celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day is a campus favorite when faculty, staff, and students come together to complete projects at Aquinas and Marywood to honor our beautiful campuses. Registration will open in early March.
• Community Garden: Volunteer opportunities for the Community Garden will begin in early April. Individuals, teams, groups, or departments can sign up to care for the garden for a one-week period this spring, summer, or fall. And we LOVE beginners! 

Laudato Si' Action Platform Update (January 2024)
Aquinas is a member of the Laudato Si' Action Platform, a community of churches, businesses, schools, and others working to develop Laudato Si’ Action Plans for our organizations. The 7-year Action Plan has a singular, critical purpose: To define concrete actions to protect our common home. We are currently developing AQ's Reflection Statement that will help inform our 7 year plan, and are excited about the possibilities of deepening our commitment to sustainability with the lens of Integral Ecology and the 7 goals of Laudato Si’. You may have noticed that Pope Francis has been traveling around campus sharing quotes from Laudato Si' to raise awareness of the initiative. He's currently with Sara Haviland. Where will he turn up next? This initiative is organized by the Center for Sustainability in partnership with an extraordinary group of students, staff, and faculty. Should you want to get involved, please contact the Center for Sustainability. >Link

AQ Food Pantry Reminder
AQ Dining Services maintains a food pantry for students facing food insecurity on campus. The pantry is next to room 359 of the Academic Building (AB) and is stocked with snacks, staples, ready meals, and even hygiene products. If you need these items, please visit the pantry and help yourself. The pantry is open during operating hours of the Academic Building, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. If it's an emergency and AB is not open, please contact Campus Safety for access.

Midyear Update: Zero-Waste (January 2023)

The current (average since July 1, 2022) diversion rate for the campus is 59.4%, meaning we are diverting 59.4% of waste from landfills. Last year at this time, we had a 58.6% diversion rate. In comparing Fall 2022 to Fall 2021, we have much to celebrate. Many campus buildings have improved zero waste performance, including all classroom spaces, Brookby, several campus apartments, and Regina Hall. Regina Hall improved its diversion rate from 24.8% to 33.7%! Fr. Bartolome increased from 16.5% to 34.9%. However, we have some hard work ahead of us. Many campus buildings have falling waste diversion rates, such as the Wege Student Center (non-dining), St. Martin de Porres Hall, Sturrus/Alksnis, Campus Safety, Meijer Hall, and the Cook Carriage House. At the end of this memo, you will find the current performance of each of our campus buildings.

Aquinas College is awarded a Bronze BFU designation
In Fall 2022, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Aquinas College with a Bronze Bicycle Friendly University (BFUSM) award once again. Aquinas has held this recognition since 2015. In the most recent recognition year, Aquinas is one of 9 Michigan schools to receive this designation. Aquinas joins a cutting-edge group of colleges and universities across the United States that are transforming their campuses and the communities around them. Looking ahead, Aquinas will have access to a variety of free tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly.

2022 AQ "Tree of the Year"
The Campus Tree Advisory Committee (C-TAC) and the AQ Writing Center hosted the 2nd annual AQ “Tree of the Year” Competition in October 2022. Big or small, any tree can be the winner! This competition celebrates what brings life to our campus and air to our lungs...the trees. After giving the campus an opportunity to nominate and vote for their favorite tree, we would like to announce the winning tree which will forever be commemorated with a 2022 "Tree of the Year" plaque. The 2022 Tree of the Year is the Black Walnut, a Michigan native species submitted by Kacey C. Please join me in congratulating Kacey. The top 3 tree submissions were as follows: Black Walnut between CCH and Regina. Shumard Oak in front of St. Joe's. Red Oak at the start of the walk to St.  Joe's from Physical Plant.

2022 Friar's Challenge is a Success! 
The final results of the Friar's Challenge are in.....NO ONE BEAT THE CAMPUS FRIARS IN WILLOWBROOK! While they remain the zero waste "building to beat," we would like to congratulate Hruby Hall on coming the closest to Willowbrook's waste diversion rate. It was a very tight race! Willowbrook finished with a 74.2% diversion rate and Hruby Hall finished with a 73.7% diversion rate. Please congratulate Hruby Hall residents on a job well done. Hruby Hall will hold the traveling sustainability trophy and are invited to a barbeque with the friars. Thank you all for your hard work and participation. We would also like to congratulate RA Ethan B. on winning the RA Sustainability Education Challenge! He designed a beautiful bulletin board focused on zero waste sorting best practices. 

2021 AQ Campus Race to Zero Waste Winners
Our on-campus waste competition has come to a close and we have our winners! The full rankings can be found here. The Faculty/Staff Category winner is ... the Cook Carriage House! Congratulations to Zero Waste Advocates Mallory Miller, Ramil Collier, and all of the occupants of CCH on this victory! CCH finished the competition with four points out of a possible four points (plus a 74% diversion rate!) and will be the new holder of the Faculty/Staff Sustainability Trophy. The Student Category winner is ... Hruby Hall, with four points out of a possible four points (and an 80% diversion rate). Congratulations to all the students at Hruby Hall on this accomplishment. You will be the new holder of the Student Sustainability Trophy. We also like to recognize the building with the highest diversion rate during the AQ Race to Zero Waste. Campus Safety finished the competition with an impressive 84% diversion rate. You all are rock stars!

Aquinas College recognized as top performer in 2020 Sustainable Campus Index
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s 2020 Sustainable Campus Index lists Aquinas College as one of the top performers in the area of waste, a category that assesses waste minimization and reduction construction, waste diversion and hazardous waste management. Aquinas is the only Michigan school to be listed as a top performer in any of the index’s 17 categories. Aquinas achieved a third-place ranking in the waste category by earning 80.1%, nearly 35 percentage points above the 45.3% average score for all institutions in the category.

Aquinas featured in The Princeton Review 2021 guide to green colleges
The Princeton Review listed Aquinas College as one of the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges in its Guide to Green Colleges: 2021 Edition. This is the 10th time the Aquinas has made the list. The guide notes the broad range of sustainability activities at Aquinas, from its seven LEED-certified buildings and one LEED-registered building to its local food program with dining services, integration of sustainability issues into the academic curriculum, efficient and innovative changes in its physical infrastructure and campus-wide zero-waste program. Released in October, the Guide to Green Colleges profiles institutions based on a survey of administrators at 695 colleges. The publication’s editors analyze more than 25 data points in choosing the final 416 schools for the guide. Aquinas scored a 98 out of 99 in the publication’s Green Rating, a comprehensive measure of performance as an environmentally aware and prepared institution.

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