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University of Massachusetts Amherst/Amherst, MA

Sustainability Communications & Marketing Manager

University of Massachusetts Amherst

As a member of the UMass Amherst University Relations team, the manager will lead the development and implementation of communication and marketing plans to advance the University’s reputation as a global leader in sustainability. The manager will be responsible for implementation of and follow-through for the UMass Amherst Green Visibility Campaign, a three-year effort to establish the University as a national leader in sustainable-related teaching, research and campus life.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area of study with three years communications and marketing experience to include familiarity with sustainability issues, such as energy efficiency strategies or behavioral change campaign techniques; experience applying marketing principles, concepts, strategies and best practices; organizational skills to plan, organize, and prioritize multiple projects; strong written and interpersonal communication skills, including presentation and group facilitation skills; record of successfully applying concepts and principles of digital media and social media strategies, metrics and tactics; ability to creatively apply tools to reach communication and marketing goals; technical skills in computer applications for web publishing; ability to communicate with, motivate and support diverse working groups; ability to work efficiently and effectively in a team structure with other professionals and vendors.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience in a higher education environment, launching and managing marketing or promotional campaigns, and with Drupal.

The manager is a term position, for a period of three years, with the possibility of extension.

Hiring Salary Range: $40,100 – $50,300

Normal Starting Salary Range: $40,100 – $45,200

The priority application deadline is December 17, 2012. However, applications will be accepted beyond that date until the position is filled. Please submit a letter of interest, resume and the names and contact information of three professional references to Search #R45305, Employment Office, 167 Whitmore Administration Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-8170.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

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Second Nature/Boston, MA

Position Announcement: Recruitment Fellow for the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment
Apply at: careers@secondnature.org by November 30th, 2012

Description and Responsibilities:
Second Nature seeks the services of a Recruitment Fellow to expand and support the membership of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The ACUPCC is a network that includes more than 660 colleges and universities working 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. This position offers an exciting opportunity to expand the ACUPCC network and advance the capacity of colleges and universities to lead society to a just and sustainable future. Learn more about the ACUPCC at www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.

This position is made possible by the support from The Kresge Foundation through the Sustainability Leadership, Capacity Building and Diversity Initiative. This position will develop and manage the recruitment campaign for the ACUPCC network, and places a strong emphasis on supporting the capacity of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Under-Resourced Institutions (URIs), as well as other colleges and universities, to advance comprehensive sustainability education and climate initiatives on campus. The Recruitment Fellow will work as part of the ACUPCC Program Team with Second Nature staff, the ACUPCC Steering Committee, current MSI and URI signatories, partner organizations, and student leadership to identify recruitment opportunities nationwide, develop comprehensive campaigns to increase ACUPCC membership, and increase MSI and URI participation.

The preferred candidate will be an entrepreneurial and collaborative team player, with a strong belief in the capacity of higher education to lead a just and sustainable society. Deep understanding of the needs and challenges of minority populations and underrepresented communities is required, and experience working directly with these groups is desired.

Recruitment Fellow Responsibilities will include:

Research and Development:
• Conducting market-research of the U.S. higher education sector to identify potential ACUPCC recruitment targets, and develop a comprehensive strategy for outreach and communications
• Develop existing recruitment opportunities by expanding relationships with colleges and universities currently interested in or identified by the ACUPCC
• Generate target lists of MSIs and URIs for recruitment to ensure the expansion of the ACUPCC network by at least 25 new MSI and URI signatories by January 2015

Coordination:
• Coordinate efforts between the ACUPCC Program team, ACUPCC Steering Committee, current MSI and URI signatories, network partners and student engagement organizations in identifying and recruiting institutions
• Coordinate outreach to the presidents of prospective MSI and URI campuses
• Facilitate outreach by current signatory MSI and URI presidents to their peer institutions to share information about the benefits of joining the ACUPCC network
• Collaborate with partner organizations to develop programs and/or activities that promote the benefits of joining ACUPCC network and assist with related logistics
• Assist the Program team in maintaining and disseminating current web resources and publications
• Support the program team in writing and research of new strategy documents, including case studies, ACUPCC data analysis reports, and guidance documents
• Represent Second Nature and the ACUPCC at higher education and sustainability events/conferences

Evaluation and Grant Reporting:
• Coordinate evaluation activities and develop summary reports
• Report regularly to the Program team on the progress and effectiveness of the recruitment activities
• Assist in the preparation of grant reports to funders on the progress of the Sustainability Leadership, Capacity Building and Diversity Initiative

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or graduate (preferred) degree in sustainability, sustainable development, organizational management, green business administration, communications, public relations or related fields is strongly preferred
• Preferred fields of expertise include working in higher education, sustainability, education for sustainability, climate and greenhouse gas accounting, Climate Action Planning, green building, and sustainable financing
• A strong preference for individuals who have experience working with minority and underserved populations
• Excellent interpersonal skills, written and oral communication, skilled in active listening, demonstrated ability to take initiative, and capacity to work independently as part of an intra†and interâ€organizational team
• 2-5 years of work experience developing and executing public relations and/or communications campaigns related to issues of climate change and sustainability
• Knowledge of campaigning, coalition and network building techniques, e-communication tools, and media editing software is desired
• Experience with developing and maintaining websites is helpful
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, as well as database management and communication platforms such as Constant Contact and Salesforce is preferred
• Women and/or minority candidates are encouraged to apply

Position Classification:

This is a full-time 2-year position that requires a working presence at the Second Nature office in downtown Boston, and moderate travel. The start date for this position is January 15, 2013. Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience. This posting is available immediately and will remain open until November 30, 2012.

How to Apply:

Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to careers@secondnature.org.
Please indicate “Application for Recruitment Fellow Position†in the subject line.

The cover letter should address the following questions:
1. In what capacity have you worked with minority and under-resourced populations?
2. In what capacity have you worked on climate or sustainability related issues?
3. In your experience, what are the key elements for building a network of diverse institutions/entities, and how has your background prepared you to do so?

—
About Second Nature:

Second Nature is a Boston-based nonprofit organization that works to accelerate movement towards a sustainable future by helping senior college and university leaders in making healthy, just, and sustainable living the foundation of all learning and practice in higher education. Second Nature is the lead supporting organization of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which has been signed by more than 660 college and university presidents who are committed to eliminating carbon emission on campus and training students to help society address the climate crisis. For more information, please visit www.secondnature.org and www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.

Second Nature is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on any of the following: race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or gender characteristics, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military service or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.

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Second Nature/Boston, MA

Position Announcement: Implementation Fellow for the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment
Apply at: careers@secondnature.org by November 30th, 2012

Description and Responsibilities:

Second Nature seeks the services of an Implementation Fellow to support colleges and universities in successfully fulfilling their reporting requirements of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The ACUPCC is a network of more than 660 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. This position will provide support and resources to advance the capacity of colleges and universities to create a just and sustainable society. Learn more about the ACUPCC at www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.

This position is made possible by the support from The Kresge Foundation through the Sustainability Leadership, Capacity Building and Diversity Initiative. The Implementation Fellow will support and advance the climate and sustainability commitments made by colleges and universities throughout the network, with an emphasis on supporting Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Under-Resourced Institutions (URIs) that are signatories of the ACUPCC. The Fellow will work as part of the ACUPCC Support Team on the Second Nature staff, and collaborate with the ACUPCC Steering Committee, the ACUPCC Implementation Liaison Support Committee, and network partners to develop and implement capacity building opportunities that will help current signatory institutions to fulfill the reporting requirements of the ACUPCC. Reporting requirements include the development of greenhouse gas inventories, writing and implementing campus-wide climate action plans, developing sustainability research and curricular initiatives, energy and financing analysis, and engagement of senior leadership and community partnerships. The Fellow, in collaboration with the ACUPCC Support Team, will develop and implement effective program activities to support these goals, and will manage the day-to-day coordination of this initiative.

The preferred candidate will have a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities of implementing climate and sustainability initiatives on college campuses, and exhibit a strong belief in the capacity of higher education to lead a just and sustainable society. Deep understanding of the needs and challenges of minority populations and underrepresented communities is required, and experience working directly with these groups is desired.

Implementation Fellow Responsibilities will include:

Research and Development:
• Build and maintain strong relationships with representatives from MSI and URI signatory institutions as well as other ACUPCC partner organizations
• Review and analyze challenges and successes of MSI and URI signatory institutions in implementing comprehensive climate and sustainability initiatives
• Leverage best practices and expertise of the network to inform the development of capacity building programs

Coordination:
• Work with the Second Nature ACUPCC Support Team, the ACUPCC Steering Committee, the ACUPCC Implementation Liaison Support Committee, and ACUPCC network partners to deliver strategies to improve ACUPCC fulfillment
• Develop and coordinate training for and consultation visits to MSI and URI campuses
• Manage ongoing communication of the capacity building opportunities with MSIs and URIs
• Assist the Program team in maintaining and disseminating current web resources and publications
• Support the program team in writing and research of new strategy documents, including case studies, ACUPCC data analysis reports, and guidance documents
• Represent Second Nature and the ACUPCC at higher education and sustainability events/conferences

Evaluation and Grant Reporting:
• Coordinate evaluation activities and develop summary reports of site visits to campuses
• Report regularly to the Program team on the overall progress and effectiveness of the capacity building opportunities
• Assist in the preparation of grant reports to funders on the progress of the Sustainability Leadership, Capacity Building and Diversity Initiative

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or graduate (preferred) degree in sustainability, sustainable development, organizational management, green business administration, communications, public relations or related fields is strongly preferred
• Preferred fields of expertise include working in higher education, sustainability, education for sustainability, climate and greenhouse gas accounting, Climate Action Planning, green building, and sustainable financing
• A strong preference for individuals who have experience working with minority and underserved populations
• Excellent interpersonal skills, written and oral communication, skilled in active listening, demonstrated ability to take initiative, and capacity to work independently as part of an intra†and interâ€organizational team
• 2-5 years of work experience developing and executing organizational management programs that build institutional capacity around issues of climate change and sustainability
• Knowledge of project management techniques, development of new educational training programs, e-communication tools, and media editing software is desired
• Experience with developing and maintaining websites is helpful
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, as well as database management and communication platforms such as Constant Contact and Salesforce is preferred
• In addition to the above, the preferred candidate will have to be a great team player with a strong conviction in the power of collaboration
• Women and/or minority candidates are encouraged to apply

Position Classification:

This is a full-time 2-year position that requires a working presence at the Second Nature office in downtown Boston, and moderate travel. The start date for this position is January 15, 2013. Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience. This posting is available immediately and will remain open until November 30, 2012.

How to Apply

Candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and resume to careers@secondnature.org.
Please indicate “Application for Implementation Fellow Position†in the subject line.

The cover letter should address the following questions:
1. What experience do you have working with minority and underserved populations?
2. In what way(s) have you worked within the higher education sector to promote sustainability and climate activities?
3. In what way(s) have you leveraged the experience/expertise of people with diverse and/or conflicting perspectives to advance a shared institutional goal?

—
About Second Nature:

Second Nature is a Boston-based nonprofit organization that works to accelerate movement towards a sustainable future by helping senior college and university leaders in making healthy, just, and sustainable living the foundation of all learning and practice in higher education. Second Nature is the lead supporting organization of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which has been signed by more than 660 college and university presidents who are committed to eliminating carbon emission on campus and training students to help society address the climate crisis. For more information, please visit www.secondnature.org and www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.

Second Nature is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on any of the following: race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or gender characteristics, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military service or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.

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Montclair State University/Montclair, NJ (Tri-state area)

The Director of the Institute for Sustainability Studies (ISS) will hold a 12-month, tenure track associate or full professor position with a reduced teaching load within the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies. The Director, responsible for the administration of the Institute, will develop a strong research program with external grant support to examine critical issues in trans-disciplinary sustainability science. The Director will be expected to build the ISS into a leading resource for information, research, and outreach in sustainability science by developing strong partnerships with surrounding institutions, industries, and communities. The Director will also work closely with MSU’s Passaic River Institute in relevant programming, outreach, and campus-wide initiatives, and will be expected to play a major role in the development of the new BS/MS program in Sustainability Science. As a faculty member, the successful candidate will report to the Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, and as ISS Director to the Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.

QUALIFICATIONS The candidate must have a doctorate in a discipline relevant to Sustainability Science, plus at least five years of academic experience (for associate professor, ten years for full professor), a strong record of scholarship, including research grants and publications, graduate student advising experience, and deep knowledge of sustainability science. The area of expertise is open, but should complement the existing faculty strength in the Earth and Environmental Science Department. Experience in program/center development, and the ability to interact effectively with a broad range of constituents to create a national standing for the Institute is required.

SALARY RANGE Salary and range is dependent upon qualifications.
STARTING DATE January 1, 2013 or as negotiated

Appliations must include a letter of interest demonstrating qualifications and vision, curriculum vitae, a statement of research interest and teaching philosophy, and a list of at least three professional references. Electronic applications are preferred. Hardcopies to: Dr. Sandra Passchier, Search Committee Chair, Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, V-F19, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043

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Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University/Tempe, AZ

Job ID: 28621

Location: Tempe campus

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

College/Division
Global Institute of Sustainability

Scope of Search
Open to Public

Grant Funded Position
This is a grant funded position. Continuation is contingent on future grant funding.

Posted Rate of Pay
$200,000 – $250,000 annually; DOE

Duties and Responsibilities
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), a non-profit organization established under the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University, is seeking an experienced executive with knowledge of sustainability in retail and consumer goods manufacturing, and who understands how to work in multi-sector environments consisting of corporate, civil society, academic, and other organizations. The Executive Director will lead TSC through its current development and growth phase and will build the organization into an enduring institution. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors—consisting of corporate, civil society, and academic members—on strategic and technical matters and to a Managing Board—consisting of representatives from the University of Arkansas and Arizona State University and one corporate member—to ensure compliance with the sponsoring universities policies and procedures.

The Executive Director will be responsible for strategy development and execution, financial management, and human resources planning and oversight. Primary responsibilities will include member relationship management, business development, and external representation.

-Strategy formulation, execution, and performance management. Working with the Board of Directors, Managing Board, and senior TSC staff, the Executive Director will lead strategy development and implementation with an initial focus on internationalization and the development of a diversified business model.

-Corporate and NGO member recruitment and relationship management. TSC is a membership based organization, with corporate, civil society, academic, and other organizational members. The Executive Director will be responsible for developing and implementing a recruitment strategy, and for managing relationships with TSC members. Primary responsibilities will include actively recruiting corporate members into TSC and other fundraising activities.

-Represent TSC to key stakeholder audiences, including to corporate and civil society sectors. TSC is a complex organization working with multiple international stakeholders across sectors. The Executive Director will represent TSC to these audiences and will oversee the development of collaborations and alliances with strategic partners.

-Participate in the development and implementation of TSC’s product strategy. Working with the Director of Research, scientific and technical staff, the Executive Director will actively participate in the development and implementation of TSC’s products and services, especially as it relates to meeting the needs of TSC’s complex set of stakeholders.

-Overall organizational and financial management. The Executive Director will oversee a full and part time staff located at sites throughout the world and will manage TSC’s budget and other fiduciary responsibilities. This will include compliance with the laws and regulations governing the University of Arkansas and Arizona State University.

DAYS AND SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM; evenings and weekends as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
Master’s degree in a field appropriate to the area of assignment and eight years of related administrative experience which includes five years of supervisory experience; OR any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Desired Qualifications
This role is for an experienced executive who brings knowledge of sustainability in the consumer goods supply chain and strong strategic acumen, proven team leadership skills, excellent collaboration skills. S/he must be adaptable and flexible, able to lead during the ambiguity of a start-up organization. International experience and fluency in additional languages beyond English will be well regarded.

Based on the above priorities, the successful candidate will demonstrate the following critical desired qualifications:

Relationship management, communication and business development skills: must be highly confident with an ability to recruit and work with the partners in the Consortium, both corporate and NGO, as well as other external stakeholder groups. This will include a track record of consensus building and commitment to a recommended direction through an international multi-stakeholder decision making process and a successful record in membership development.

Strategic Orientation: must demonstrate the ability to think long-term and synthesize a range of inputs in crafting strategies that can be translated into actionable tactics. Integrating numerous issues in the long-term planning process, s/he will have the ability to anticipate and stay ahead of trends as it relates to the organization, the mission and the consortium members.

Results Oriented: must have experience in implementing and delivering against metric-based strategies and scaling their impact across disparate stakeholders. S/he must be capable of leveraging results to drive the growth of the organization. A track record of building institutional momentum by setting and reaching aspirational goals.

Team leadership: must have a track record of leading and mentoring a team to achieve improved levels of performance. S/he must be able to establish credibility quickly and be an adept team player who is action-oriented and collaborative. Must be able to make decisions and act quickly. A motivational leader with excellent communication, organization and interpersonal skills and adept to assessing, hiring and developing staff while providing them with rewarding career paths.

Department Statement/Gen Info
The Global Institute of Sustainability conducts research, education, and problem-solving related to sustainability, with a special focus on urban environments. The Institute initiates and nurtures work on issues of sustainability across many departments on the four campuses of ASU, and collaborates with other academic institutions, governments, businesses and industries, and community groups locally, nationally, and globally.

The Sustainability Consortium is a non-profit organization created through a collaboration between leading academic institutions, retailers, consumer goods companies and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Established in 2008, the goal of the organization is to bring together diverse global participants to collaboratively build a scientific foundation promoting innovation to improve consumer product sustainability through all stages of a product’s life cycle. In short, TSC has the aspiration of becoming the leading global entity in scientific product measurement, enabling companies and consumers to make informed decisions about product sustainability.

Within the consortium today there are over 60 companies and an additional half dozen non-governmental organizations. Funded largely through membership fees, the organization currently has a budget of about $8 million with 30 full time employees, all of which are expected to grow in the coming years, and an additional 30-50 consultants and contractors.

Background Check Statement
ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. A Department of Motor Vehicle check will also be conducted. This position is considered safety/security sensitive and will include a fingerprint check. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of all background including fingerprint check.

Standard Statement
Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 70,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

Arizona State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Close Date
Initial Close Date June 4, 2012. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Instructions to Apply
Application deadline is 11:59pm Arizona time on the day indicated.

REQUESTED MATERIAL MUST BE IN ONE ATTACHMENT.

Complete the required information and attach a single Word or PDF document, which includes:
1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Three professional references (names, addresses and phone numbers)

Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position.

Resume should clearly illustrate how prior knowledge and experience meets the Minimum and Desired qualifications of this position.

Only electronic applications are accepted for this position. If you need assistance applying for this job, please contact our customer service center at 855-278-5081.

ASU does not pay candidates for travel expenses associated with interviewing, unless otherwise indicated by the department at the time of call for interview.

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By Twilight Greenaway

Does Grist food news knock off your socks?
Leave a tip in our farmbox.
(Why are we rhyming in phrases so terse?
Grist’s been cursed by verse!)

Photo by Steve Rhodes.

“Maybe you’ll be my one phone call from jail,” urban farmer and activist Ashoka Finley says, just before our phone conversation ends.

He’s joking, but I imagine he can probably see a group of police officers out of the corner of his eyes as he says it. Finley is one of a group of Occupiers who have been living and farming on a 10-acre piece of land on the outskirts of Berkeley, Calif., called the Gill Tract.

Finley has also just told me that he’s prepared to get arrested if things at the Gill Tract escalate. “We’re not going anywhere, we’re going to keep planting and farming,” he says, as if it’s the most defiant thing he can imagine.

Until recently, the Gill Tract was a fairly invisible piece of property many Bay Area residents have driven by for years: Its fence butts right up against a major freeway intersection en route to the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Then, on Earth Day, April 22, Finley and fellow activists cut a bolt, set up tents, and began planting food. Their occupation has transformed the Gill Tract into a kind of stage on which a very modern drama is playing out.

Since we first reported on the Gill Tract occupation last week here on Grist, things on the ground there have begun heating up.

On Wednesday, the day I spoke with Finley, the land’s owners, University of California at Berkeley, had officially lost their patience. The college had sent in campus police officers to blockade the entrances to the property in what appeared to be a slow-and-steady tactic similar to their approach to a student-led tree sit that took place at UC Berkeley a few years back. Later in the afternoon, UC announced its intent to take legal action against 14 of the group’s organizers for trespassing and illegal encampment, among a list of other grievances.

UC cut off the water supply to the property shortly after the occupation began, and Finley says they have been trucking in water ever since. Once vehicles could no longer enter the property on Wednesday, the Occupiers parked at the edge of the plot and set up “a water train” of people passing buckets. “Watering three acres by hand is no small task,” he says.

In the last week, university officials have met with the Gill Tract Occupiers, and in the days since then the university issued an ultimatum. Then the Occupiers responded with a list of their own demands.

Both parties want decision-making power over the land. The Occupiers want to see it farmed in perpetuity as a sustainability-focused education center, while the university sees the tract primarily as an agricultural laboratory. It also has plans to redevelop buildings at the edge of the property into retail space, including, ironically, a Whole Foods Market.

In the short term, the farmers want access to water, and the university says it will grant that access only after the tents have been removed.

“We’ve been really patient. This occupation has been going on since April 22 and we’ve taken no direct action until today,” said University of California spokesperson Dan Mogulof on Wednesday afternoon. “The last thing we want is confrontation.”

That makes sense, of course. University officials know that the eyes of the media are on the Gill Tract. And not much time has passed since the 10-campus university system was criticized for its response to Occupy protests last fall (including at UC Davis, where the famous pepper-spray incident went down). In fact, just last week, UC released a draft of a report that urges restraint and mediation in cases of civil disobedience.

But Mogulof prefers to frame the discussion as one about the core principles of academia. “We cannot negotiate academic freedom,” he said, referring to the research that takes place at Gill Tract. “It’s the heart of what every great research institution is all about — the ability of our faculty and students to pursue their intellectual and academic interests in a free and unfettered fashion without interference from the administration, corporations, politicians, or government. And certainly not from a self-selecting group of individuals.”

It’s odd to hear the word “corporations” on this list of unwanted external influences, since UC Berkeley has been heavily criticized for its corporate relationships, including a recent collaboration with BP and a five-year research deal between plant biologists and the biotech company Novartis. There are no genetically engineered crops grown on the property. But many of the protesters have pointed out the sharp contrast between the typical Gill Tract tableau of the past and the new scene there today: Instead of the uniform rows of industrial corn that have grown here every summer for the last several decades (thanks to research funded in part by the nearby Western Regional Office of the United States Department of Agriculture), Occupy has brought a multigenerational crowd to the location, looking excited and sun-kissed as they work together to build a farm.

Not that all Gill Tract’s neighbors support the occupation. In fact, several see it as a brash and aggressive approach by outsiders to grab something many of them had been working to get for a long time — access to the Gill Tract. (In this recent op-ed, a nearby citizen refers to the four-year negotiation he and other neighbors participated in with the area city council.)

Of course, as UC sees it, getting the Occupiers off the land is the first step to a negotiation process that could, they say, involve some inclusion of urban farming on the plot — at the university’s discretion.

“There is room on the site for both our research and for urban farming. It’s possible that some or all of what [the Occupiers] have planted could remain. But that’s far from certain,” says Mogulof.

The Occupiers see it in reverse; rather than a research facility with some space for actual farming, they envision a farm with some space for research. In fact, one agroecological researcher who grows experimental crops in the Gill Tract tried to begin his research for the season on Wednesday morning. Miguel Altieri appeared at the plot in an effort to plant dry-farmed tomatoes, but was reportedly told by university police that he wasn’t authorized to do so [hear a short audio interview with Altieri]. Apparently, he then passed the tomatoes through the fence and instructed the Occupiers how to plant them.

“Obviously research can continue under the context of this organic farm,” says  Finley. “But the UC administration has forbidden all research — just as a political move. If researchers started cooperating with us, it would send a message that it can continue without their supervision.”

It’s clear, however, that the right to do research is only part of the issue for UC. One recent university statement read, “If the encampment is ended we are, as previously stated, more than willing to discuss opportunities for a metropolitan agriculture program affiliated with the campus.” Either way, says Mogulof, “We think it’s clear that there’s shared interest if they’re willing to take the simple step of allowing the rightful owners to regain the supervision and control of the land.”

Then again, the Occupy movement has always been about giving a voice, however fleeting, to disenfranchised young Americans who feel they have very little to lose. Ownership might not be a sacred concept, or even a major priority, for many of the younger Occupiers. They graduated at a time when the relationship between student debt and the availability of work for people under 25 might lead them to doubt they will ever be able to own a car, let alone a piece of land. Meanwhile most young people who do dream of farming probably know they’re likely to have to rent land for the foreseeable future.

Former UC agroecology student Anya Kamenskaya, an Occupy the Farm organizer who is named in the UC lawsuit, told me that the Gill Tract started as a 104 acres of prime agricultural land — the kind with soil that can grow food without needing much preparation (scientists call it “class 1”).  As she described it to me, I started thinking about how many houses, streets, businesses, and gas stations has been built right over this soil.

“There are only 10 acres left, and only about five are really presently useful for farming,” she said. “We want to highlight the fact that it started out as farmland and it’s been parceled out and cut down.”

That’s why, as of Wednesday night, the Occupiers were gathering at a nearby community center, marching to the farm, and preparing — if necessary — to get arrested for those five acres of good remaining soil.

As of Thursday morning there had been no arrests, but the #occupythefarm Twitter feed did report that some young plants were trampled.

Watch an Occupy the Farm solidarity march from Wednesday, May 9:

Filed under: Food, Industrial Agriculture, Sustainable Farming, Urban Agriculture

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Bentley University/Waltham, MA

Posting Number: FY12131266

Title: Manager of Sustainability

Division: COO – Chief Operating Officer

Position Department: Facilities Management

Position Classification: EF – Exempt/Full Time

Position Band: 29E-Exempt/Salaried

Title of Person to which Position Reports: Director of Sustainability

Description of Duties:
Bentley University is one of the nation's leading business schools, dedicated to preparing a new kind of business leader and one with the deep technical skills, the broad global perspective and the high ethical standards required to make a difference in an ever-changing world. Bentley is located in Waltham, MA approximately 20 minutes west of Boston.
The Bentley University Office of Sustainability is seeking a full-time Manager of Sustainability to run the university's sustainability programs. The Manager of Sustainability reports to the Director of Sustainability and Special Advisor to the President and to the Director of Facilities Management. Please review the Office of Sustainability's Mission and Vision on our website: http://www.bentley.edu/offices/sustainability

Additional Description of Duties: Principle Duties and Responsibilities
* Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Office of Sustainability including: recycling and waste management programs, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, carbon footprint analysis, green dining and catering programs, and green transportation programs.
* Work closely with the Facilities Management team on all aspects of energy efficiency projects and operations (recycling, green cleaning, new construction, etc).
* Facilitate effective programs designed to encourage students, faculty and staff to conserve energy and water and reduce waste within the residence halls, dining facilities and offices.
* Facilitate effective programs to get business students excited about resource conservation, corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices as they pertain to the environment.
* Oversee marketing and communication associated with Office of Sustainability activities.
* Use a cooperative teamwork philosophy to create a working environment that stimulates the development of new programs and innovative approaches to improve existing programs.
* Manage four interns during the academic year and one summer intern during the summer.

Position Qualifications:
* Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in an area of study related to one or all aspects of sustainability (economic, social, environmental).
* A Master's in a similar field is preferred.
* Experience in campus sustainability practices is preferred.
* An understanding of corporate social responsibility and "triple bottom line" principles is a plus.
* Experience working with diverse stakeholders and an ability to form partnerships.
* Ability to work independently and as a team leader. Teamwork and diplomacy skills are a must.
* Ability to develop new projects and institutionalize new sustainability efforts within an academic setting.
* Candidate should possess excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills.
* Candidate should possess a well-rounded understanding of sustainability.
* Contagious energy and enthusiasm for improving sustainability on campus through innovation and creative practices is a must.

License(s) Required for the Position: Unrestriced United States Driver License.

Required Applicant Documents: Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Cover Letter

Months Per Year: 12

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants: Bentley University requires reference checks and may conduct other pre-employment screening.

Bentley University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, building strength through diversity.

Apply Here: http://www.Click2Apply.net/fvbpb9q

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By Jessica Kraft

Berkeley students. (Photo by David Park.)

Fast food joints offer a quick and easy fix for hungry, busy students on college campuses. But at the University of California, they’ve also become a target for student activists intent on shifting their schools’ large dining budgets away from less healthy, industrially produced food and toward more sustainable options.

“Focusing on food is how a lot of students get passionate about issues of sustainability, some of which aren’t that sexy,” says Matt St. Clair, a former student activist who now manages all aspects of sustainability for the UC system (see their comprehensive policy on sustainable practices [PDF]), which spans across 10 campuses and five medical schools. In addition to working on the less sexy aspects of the shift, like energy efficiency and waste reduction, St. Clair has put food at the top of the list. Along with students, staff, and administrators, he is working to prioritize local, organic, and fairly produced food, while creating a policy that could have a huge impact on their burgers, tacos, and stir fry — if it’s executed right.

By 2020, 20 percent of the purchases made in UC dining facilities and fast food franchises on all campuses must meet one or more of 16 sustainable food criteria set by the Real Food Challenge, a national activist network focused on steering American colleges and universities toward sustainability. The Real Food Challenge list includes criteria such as: USDA certified organic, cage-free, grass-fed, fair trade, Marine Stewardship Council, and other third-party sustainable certifications. It also prioritizes “locally grown” — a factor that doesn’t always mean that much on its own in California.

For that reason, Ryan Galt, assistant professor of Agricultural Sustainability and Society at UC Davis, takes issue with the “locally grown” designation. “It’s a watered down definition of sustainability,” he says. “In most of California, local is easy because you’re within 500 miles of the Central Valley, which supplies most of the fruits and vegetables for the whole country.” And “local” doesn’t dictate anything about environmental or working conditions, he adds.

But UC Santa Cruz educator and activist Tim Galarneau, who proposed the sustainable food goals back in 2004, sees the “local” criteria as a good place for conventional suppliers to start to engage larger environmental and labor issues. He believes that St. Clair and the sustainable food steering committee, which is still under development, will then be in a position to inch the bar higher.

The campus dining halls at Berkeley, Davis, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and San Diego have already exceeded the 20 percent goal in the past year, and many aim to get to 40 percent by 2020. In addition to some organic and fair trade ingredients, most of the shift has focused on local food. But all campuses have also made impressive strides in reducing food waste by ditching dining trays, which has led most diners to opt for less food per meal. Clint Jeffries, the green business manager at the UC Santa Cruz dining department, says that nixing the trays has not only reduced food waste by 35 percent and saved a million gallons of water each year, but “it has probably also helped some students avoid the freshman 15.”  (The trays weren’t wasted, either; they were donated to artists and schools.)

For all campuses the most formidable challenge will likely be getting fast food vendors like SUBWAY, Domino’s Pizza, Jamba Juice, Burger King, and Panda Express to follow the examples set by the dining halls. Most franchises are part of a much larger supply chain, a fact that begs the question: Can the UC system really force them to change their practices?

St. Clair is optimistic. “Of course there’s pushback, but the campus food managers haven’t opposed the policy, and they will have to negotiate these terms into contracts with vendors,” he says.

David Schwartz, campaign director for the Real Food Challenge, believes that the entire fast food industry will be moving toward sustainability in the coming decade because of consumer demand. If that’s the case, the UC policy can be seen as an opportunity for these restaurants to get ahead of the pack. “If Domino’s isn’t figuring this out now,” he says, “in 10 years they will be wishing they had.”

But others see a struggle down the road. Sue Hawkins, director of dining services at UC Santa Barbara, has already informed her fast food tenants about the new policy, and says that it’s likely they will start offering compostable containers to meet more aggressive waste reduction goals. Yet she’s doubtful about their ability to source fair trade, organic, or local produce for just a few locations. “Most of these companies have hundreds, if not thousands, of stores across the country.  The purchasing decisions they make are for all of their units, not just a couple,” she says.

Most fast food chains use third-party suppliers. So food service companies such as Sodexo and Aramark would be the real executors of the policy, should they choose to adhere to it. According to Galarneau, these companies have mutual back-scratching arrangements with big industrial suppliers who offer generous rebates in exchange for loyalty, making it hard for small, local producers to contract with a campus food service.

“We really need a big franchise partner to step up and say, ‘We want to make a difference,’” he says.

Jamba Juice is better poised than most chains to be that partner. While Domino’s, SUBWAY, and Burger King did not comment on the 2020 policy change for this article, Jamba Juice spokeswoman Janice Duis says that her company, which sources most oranges and wheatgrass locally and sells organic oats and granola, intends to work closely with the university to comply with the policy and remain on the five campuses where they currently have stores.

It’s possible that the 2020 policy could result in the mass exodus of corporate fast food from the University of California. But for the activists involved with the Real Food Challenge, that might not be such a bad thing. For one, it means that more campuses will start to resemble UC Santa Cruz. Smack in the middle of organic farming paradise, Santa Cruz has been able to eschew name-brand restaurants in favor of homegrown mom-and-pop shops that source their produce from local farmers co-ops. Galarneau says he would like to see, sprouting across the state like wildflowers, “new, regional-based franchises that cater to our vision and values.”

Filed under: Article, Food

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By Sarah Laskow

Hey, remember yesterday, when we told you about a video that imagines a world in which climate skepticism is taught in schools? It turns out that that world is not imaginary — not at all. It exists today, and it is named … Canada.

For two years, Tom Harris, a man who according to the Heartland Institute is an “expert” on climate change, taught a course on the subject at Ottawa’s Carleton University. Harris’ course was meant for non-science majors, so, as the Guardian notes, it “may for many students be the only academic exposure they have to climate change while earning their undergraduate degree.” When a group of scientists reviewed Harris’ taped lectures they found 142 “erroneous” claims.

The group, Committee for The Advancement of Scientific Skepticism (that’d be actual scientific skepticism, not knee-jerk denial!), wrote that:

“Key messages for students contradict accepted scientific opinion. These messages include: denying that current climate change has an anthropogenic cause; dismissing the problems that carbon dioxide emissions cause because CO2 is plant food; denying the existence of the scientific consensus on the causes of climate change; and claiming that we should prepare instead for global cooling.”

Plant food. Cute.

Carleton’s not some out-of-the-way, third-tier school: it’s been ranked one of Canada’s top ten universities. And since college students — even Canadian college students! — are well known to believe that they know better than everyone else, you can be sure there’s now a coterie of Carletonians arguing late into the night that global warming just doesn’t exist. To quote the Climate Reality Project, “Of course it’s true. I learned it in school.”

Filed under: Climate Skeptics

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Humboldt State University/Arcata, CA

HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
FACULTY TENURE-TRACK POSITION
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES ENGINEERING
STARTING AUGUST 2012
JOB #7505

Description: Humboldt State University’s Environmental Resources Engineering Department (ERE) invites applications for an academic year tenure-track faculty position in Environmental Engineering.

Rank, Salary and Benefits: We seek to fill this position at the Assistant Professor level; however, rank and salary are dependent upon the appointee’s qualifications and experience. The current California State University Salary Structure is available at: http://www.humboldt.edu/…ocs/Salary-Schedule.xls.

Humboldt State University provides an excellent benefits package for faculty. Information about the benefits plans available to HSU faculty can be found at the following website: http://www.calstate.edu/…07_Faculty-Unit%203.pdf.

Professional Qualifications: A Ph.D. or equivalent in Environmental Engineering or a related engineering or science field from an accredited college or university is strongly preferred at the time of appointment. Candidates with considerable progress towards degree completion will be considered. Completion of the terminal degree is required prior to the start of the second probationary year. Candidates must demonstrate expertise in one or more of the following disciplines: Water Quality, Air Quality, Ecological/Restoration Engineering, and/or Emerging Contaminants. Registration as a professional engineer is highly desirable.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following:
• Potential for or record of research, scholarly and/or creative activity, involving students whenever possible;
• Potential for effective teaching or teaching experience using a variety of methodologies ;
• Ability and/or interest in teaching a broad range of courses to diverse students (majors, general education students, etc.)
• Ability and/or interest in preparing individuals to function in a culturally and ethnically diverse society.

At the time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to work in the United States.

Evidence of degree(s) is required at time of hire.

Professional Duties: Candidates should be committed to teaching excellence in an undergraduate program and to building a strong research record. Responsibilities include teaching for the Environmental Resources Engineering Department. The courses assigned to the candidates will include engineering classes in the candidate’s area of expertise. Course assignments will also include other department courses in basic engineering science (Statics, Strength of Materials, and Introduction to Design, etc.). Instructional assignments will be consistent with the programmatic needs of the department and students. Candidates should be interested in undergraduate and graduate research programs and in securing external funding for research. Opportunities exist for participating in two options of the Environmental Systems graduate program: Environmental Resources Engineering (ERE) and Energy Technology and Policy (ETaP). The Environmental Resources Engineering Department has direct faculty and student links to the world-famous Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, Schatz Energy Research Center, and the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology. Opportunities exist to collaborate with and/or conduct research through these entities.

The primary professional responsibilities of instructional faculty members are teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, and service to the University, profession and to the community. These responsibilities include: advising students, participation in campus and system-wide committees, maintaining office hours, working collaboratively and productively with colleagues, and participation in traditional academic functions.

General Information: Humboldt State University is part of the 23-campus California State University system. The University has a comprehensive arts and sciences curriculum, which is recognized nationally for its high academic quality. Founded in 1913, HSU is one of the premier, public institutions in the western United States; it is a residential and rural campus with an enrollment of approximately 7,500 students. The main campus is located in Arcata, California, in the northwestern part of the state along the coast, situated among redwood trees in an area that offers unmatched scenic beauty, moderate climate and opportunities for outdoor activities. The surrounding Humboldt County locale has a population of 130,000. The community offers an excellent range of businesses, services and cultural activities/performances. The local schools are ranked in the top performance percentiles, both nationally and in the state.

Further information can be found online:
• College of Natural Resources and Sciences (http://www.humboldt.edu/cnrs/)
• Environmental Resources Engineering Department (http://www.humboldt.edu/engineering/)
• Schatz Energy Research Center (http://www.schatzlab.org/)

Humboldt State University is committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and endeavors to employ faculty and staff of the highest quality reflecting the ethnic and cultural diversity of the State.

Additional information about Humboldt State University can be found at: http://www.humboldt.edu.

Application: Qualified candidates should send an electronic application (PDF) to engineer@humboldt.edu. The application packet should include the following items: 1) a letter of application, 2) a curriculum vita, 3) a description of teaching experience and interests, 4) a description of research experience and interests, and 5) graduate transcripts (unofficial copies are sufficient for initial review). In addition, we must receive signed letters of recommendation on letterhead from at least two professional references (PDFs accepted). All correspondence should be addressed to:

engineer@humboldt.edu

Dr. Margaret Lang, Search Committee Chair
Department of Environmental Resources Engineering
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California 95521-8299
Phone (707) 826-3619/ Fax (707) 826-3616

In letter of application, please refer to Job # 7505.

Application Deadline: This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than November 7, 2011. Early response is encouraged. Electronic application materials are required. Please direct any questions about the position to: engineer@humboldt.edu.

The University is an Equal Opportunity/Title IX/ADA employer with a strong commitment to diversity and encourages applications from women, members of all ethnic groups, veterans and people with disabilities. Humboldt State University employs only individuals authorized to work in the United States.

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