Partners

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

Gonzaga is an institutional member of The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). AASHE works to advance sustainability in higher education. AASHE defines sustainability as "an inclusive way encompassing human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods and a better world for all generations." AASHE is a clearinghouse for many resources and forums where universities and colleges can share information about their own campuses as well as gather information about other institutions.

American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment

In October of 2010, then-President Thayne McCulloh signed The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The ACUPCC is a national organization which recognizes the effects that universities have on the environment and challenges universities to change their current practices in order to slow the process of global warming and the coinciding ecological harms. The signing of the pledge by Gonzaga exemplifies Gonzaga's commitment to sustainability and our willingness to change our practices in order to become a more sustainable institution.

Since signing the ACUPCC Gonzaga:

• Completed a greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
• Committed to work toward climate neutrality, at a reduction rate of at least 20% by 2020 and at least 50% by 2035 (from 2009 levels). The goal is to be climate neutral by 2050.
• Hired Gonzaga's first Director of Sustainability.
• Increased the purchase of renewable energy credits through Avista's Buck-A-Block Program.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions whenever possible.
• Integrating sustainability into the curriculum through the Cataldo Project.

Sustainability Partnership of the Northern Rockies

SPNR is a compilation of universities and colleges who have come together because of bioregional similarities in order to advance the sustainability of these organizations in hopes to promote the entire sustainability of the bioregion itself. The bioregion that this group encompasses is Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and Montana as they share many of the same base resources used to sustain life.

SPNR is open to new members in this area and for more information on how to join this group contact one of the Co-Chairs: Carrie Herrman at Gonzaga University or Brandon Bishop at Whitman College.

Washington Higher Education Sustainability Coalition

WAHESC focuses on four primary goals:

1. Advancing sustainability efforts through facilitating communications and disseminating knowledge and information from and to the various campuses and their communities.
2. Develop the understanding of sustainability among the wide spectrum of the Consortium's college and university communities as well as other individuals and groups with similar values and goals.
3. Promote partnerships for advancing sustainability among the wide spectrum of the Consortium communities as well as other individuals and groups with like values and goals.
4. Increase capacity for the practice of sustainability on campuses and among the WAHESC communities through building skills, transforming attitudes, and providing resources.