UNCF Institute for Capacity Building Awards 23 Green Planning Grants to Minority-Serving Institutions

UNCF Building Green Initiative Awards $240,000 in Grants To Improve Sustainability for Historically Black, Hispanic-serving and Tribal Colleges

FAIRFAX, Va., Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- UNCF (the United Negro College Fund), the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization, today announced that its Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) has awarded 23 green planning grants totaling $240,000 to assist with institutional sustainability planning for minority serving institutions (MSIs). Additionally, this grant will encourage MSIs to participate in the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), a high-visibility effort which works to accelerate progress toward climate neutrality and sustainability by empowering the higher education sector to educate students, create solutions, and provide leadership-by-example for the rest of society.  

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Working in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, and Second Nature, the UNCF program seeks to ensure that future campus construction is certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, an internationally recognized green building certification system.  The UNCF project, known as the Building Green at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) Initiative was funded last November by a $1.8 million grant from The Kresge Foundation.

"HBCUs and minority serving institutions understand the significance of climate change and environmental sustainability," said Michael L. Lomax, UNCF President and CEO.  "We are working to build green and adopt energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable practices as quickly as possible.  One of the most significant benefits of The UNCF Building Green Initiative is that it works to build the knowledge and capacity of minority-serving institutions to create sustainable campus infrastructures."

In addition to the planning grants, the UNCF program offers training, technical support, networking activities and resources for minority-serving colleges and universities committed to going green.  Grant recipients will establish campus climate action plans, sustainability committees, and take at least two tangible steps toward reducing campus carbon emissions.  The colleges will share accomplishments and best practices during the National Building Green Learning Institute to be held in Atlanta, April 7-9 2011.  

Grant recipients also participated in a baseline pilot sustainability survey of 101 minority-serving institutions.  UNCF will release the first MSI Sustainability Report this month and individual results will be available online at www.uncfbuildinggreen.info.  The survey includes a diverse institutional mix, including public and private, two-year and four-year, historically black, Hispanic-serving and Tribal institutions.  Initial results indicate that more than 90% of participating MSIs have campus recycling programs, but more than 80% currently have no LEED-certified buildings, and only one-third of the grant recipients have signed the ACUPCC. UNCF is working to address obstacles to sustainability and increase the number of signatories.

Green planning grant recipients include: Bennett College for Women, California State University Northridge, Clark-Atlanta University, College of Menomonee Nation, Delaware State University, Ecumenical Theological  Seminary, Elizabeth City State University, Harris-Stowe State University, Haskell College, Howard University, Jarvis Christian College, Kentucky State University, Lane College, Los Angeles Trade Technical,  Morehouse College, Shaw University, Spelman College, Stillman College, Tougaloo College, United Tribes Technical College, University of Texas San Antonio, Voorhees College,  and Wilberforce University.  

For more information on the UNCF Building Green Initiative contact Felicia Davis, Program Director, for the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building's Facilities and Infrastructure Enhancement Program, at 404-302-8607 ext. 8531 or via email:  [email protected].

The UNCF Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) was established in May 2006 to support strengthening the capacity of the 39 UNCF member private historically black colleges and universities in the areas of fundraising, enrollment and retention, academic programming and faculty development, financial management, campus facilities and executive leadership and governance.  

About UNCF

UNCF—the United Negro College Fund—is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization.  To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 39 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education.  UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."® Learn more at www.UNCF.org

SOURCE United Negro College Fund