Huston-Tillotson University Expands Its Sustainability Commitment
Monday May, 16 2016
(AUSTIN, TX) 5.16.16 — Huston-Tillotson University President and Chief Executive Officer Colette Pierce Burnette signed the Second Nature Climate Commitment, reconfirming the University’s carbon commitment and adding resiliency to the pledge (formally known as the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment). The pledge also accelerates the University’s transition to low-carbon energy while enhancing sustainable and resilient practices across campus in order to reduce the University’s greenhouse gas footprint.
“Huston-Tillotson University is committed to playing a leading role in securing a future that places environmental awareness at the forefront,” said Pierce Burnette. “The establishment of the Center for Sustainability and Environmental Justice (CSEJ) solidifies the University’s commitment to sustainability across campus operations, academic programs, and outreach initiatives, striving to develop students into leaders prepared for a global future.”
As a signatory of Second Nature’s Climate Commitment, HT is part of a robust network of more than 600 college and university presidents and chancellors who have committed their institutions to take bold and catalytic climate actions, including completing a Campus-Community Resiliency Assessment. The Climate Leadership Commitments are a key driving force for transformative campus changes. As part of the Commitment, HT will:
- Achieve carbon neutrality by 2048 and create thresholds for increasing climate resilience.
- Make carbon neutrality and climate resilience part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students.
- Expand campus renewable energy. Late last year the campus completed installation of 240 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic arrays, which made HT the first private historically black college or university with significant on-site renewable energy generation capacity,
- Expand energy and water efficiency programs and focus on resource utilization including waste avoidance.
For the past two years, Huston-Tillotson University has been among the finalists for the annual Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards. The award is a national competition among higher education institutions that are signatories to the Climate Commitment. Twelve four-year institutions, including HT, and seven two-year institutions were named finalists in 2015.
As a historically black institution, Huston-Tillotson University nurtures a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. The University offers associate and master’s degrees in addition to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 19 areas of study. Discover HT at www.htu.edu.
