RU’s Environmental Sustainability Committee Meets on 2/21; All Are Welcome!

RU’s Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) will meet via Zoom on Wed 2/21/24 from 9-10am CST to review the strategic planning process to date and prioritize the summary initiatives recommended by the RU community in 2023. This open committee est. in 2010 meets ~4x per year to discuss environmental sustainability initiatives, share information, and make policy recommendations.

All interested RU students, faculty, staff, admin, and alumni are welcome and encouraged to attend! RSVP to mbryson@roosevelt.edu.

Zoom link for meeting: https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/93318500123

Our main task will be to share feedback on and discuss this Worksheet for Prioritizing Sustainability Initiatives (Word and pdf), which summarizes recommendations made through several surveys and workshops in 2022-23. Please take a few minutes to review and fill out the worksheet prior to meeting, if possible. Regardless of whether or not you can attend on 2/21, written feedback can be emailed to the ESC chair, Prof. Mike Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu).

Additional Resources for the 2/21/24 ESC meeting:

Friends of Volo Bog Offer 2024 Environmental Scholarship Opportunities

The Friends of Volo Bog is offering an Entering College scholarship and a Continuing College scholarship for $1,500 each to outstanding students interested in pursuing an environmental career.

To be eligible for the Entering College scholarship the applicant must have a permanent Illinois residency and attend high school in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall, or Will Counties,, have a minimum B average for the first three years, and plan to attend an accredited college or university. The applicant should be planning to enter a career directly related to preserving the natural environment.

To be eligible for the Continuing College scholarship the applicant must be currently enrolled in college or university pursing a degree directly related to preserving the natural environment, have a permanent residence in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall, or Will County, have graduated from a high school from one of these counties with a minimum B average, and currently hold a minimum B average in their college studies.

Application MUST be received by March 31st (or post marked by March 28) of this year (2024). Please check Visitor Center hours if dropping off in person as the Visitor Center may be closed on and/or prior to the day of the deadline.

Preparing the Application Package
Please assemble your package in one envelope in the following order:

  1. This Application Form filled out completely (form below).

  2. At least one signed letter of recommendation from a non-relative who is familiar your goals and aptitude.

  3. A one-page essay addressing your motivation for choosing an environmental or natural science career, your related experiences and attributes, such as leadership skills, and your educational goals. 

  4. Sealed official transcripts reflecting your GPA of B or higher.

If you have any questions, please email FriendsofVoloBog@gmail.com. Application must be received at the VBSNA Visitor Center my March 31st.

Scholarship Committee
Friends of Volo Bog
28478 W. Brandenburg Road
Ingleside, IL 60041

Schaumburg IL Seeks Sustainability Planner (Position Announcement)

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF: Sustainability Planner (Community Development), VILLAGE OF SCHAUMBURG, IL

Human Resources Department
101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, IL 60193
http://www.schaumburg.com/

The Village of Schaumburg is a thriving community of 78,723 residents located 11 miles west of O’Hare International Airport and approximately 26 miles northwest of Chicago. Not only is Schaumburg the twelfth-largest community in the State of Illinois, but it is also home to the second-largest concentration of retail, office, and commercial activity. Notable village distinctions include being rated as an excellent or good place to live by 95% of respondents in the National Community Survey; having multiple highly-awarded and accredited departments; and being recognized as a Better Business Town by The Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois.

The village employs approximately 600 employees in 12 departments, including police, fire, engineering and public works, communications, community development, cultural services, economic development, finance, general government, human resources, information technology, and transportation. Our employees work to serve the residents and strive to make Schaumburg the best community it can be.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  Interviews will be conducted as applications are received.  This position will remain open until filled.

STARTING SALARY RANGE:  $80,997.44 – $99,225.94 annually dependent on qualifications. The salary range for this position is $80,997.44 – $117,454.44.

Please attach as part of your application all necessary documents verifying that you meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

JOB SUMMARY:

This position performs administrative and management responsibilities for the implementation of the village’s sustainability initiatives, plans, and programs; provides technical advice and assistance to other staff, departments, boards, and commissions related to sustainability initiatives, and manages and coordinates the farmers market.; The position also performs analysis of and reports about development proposals, acts as case manager/lead planner to assist developers through the zoning approvals/entitlement process;  researches and prepares code amendments; and administers other special projects.  May be eligible for flexible schedule/hybrid work options.  The ideal candidate will need to effectively communicate to a full range of people, organize time and prioritize responsibilities with accuracy.  We are looking to add a team member capable of remaining calm and professional under pressure and has the  functional skills to do the job at a high level.

JOB DUTIES:

1.    Manages development review projects and prepares written recommendations regarding development proposals including but not limited to, Development Plan Approvals/Amendments, Planned Unit Developments, Re-zoning proposals, Special Use requests, Variations, Teardowns, FAR Credits, and Plats requiring review by the Village Board, Plan Commission, or Zoning Board of Appeals.
2.    Schedules and presents at public hearings before the Zoning Board of Appeals, Plan Commission, and various village standing committees for development review projects and code amendments.
3.    Researches, creates and administers programs and projects that serve to achieve the goals stated in the Comprehensive Green Action Plan.  Monitors and prepares reports on the status of the Comprehensive Green Action Plan and other sustainability goals and presents them to village committees, boards, and commissions.
4.    Serves as the village’s main point of contact on sustainability issues.  Manages the Green Team; a multi-disciplinary team comprised of staff from all village departments; sets annual corporate goals to further the implementation of the Comprehensive Green Action Plan.
5.    Prepares outreach and promotion of the Comprehensive Green Action Plan and other sustainability projects and initiatives through the village website, village media, and various outside media outlets.
6.    Manages Farmers Market including the coordination of a seasonal intern that staffs the village booth.  Organizes and coordinates vendor participation, advertising campaign, entertainment schedule, special event days, annual booth fee rates, and collection of vendor booth fees.   Reviews contracts and invoices from performers and advertising vendors.  Prepares and recommends budget requests for advertising, entertainment, and materials needed for the Farmers’ Market to the Department Director.
7.    Serves as staff liaison to the Environmental Committee; prepares annual work plan and assists the Committee in promoting and implementing their programs such as Annual Recycling Events, Environmental Fair, and Award Programs.  Prepares and recommends budget requests to the Department Director.
8.    Administers the Annual Landscape and Environmental Award Programs; coordinates nominees and presents nominations to the Environmental Committee and village standing committee.
9.    Represents the Village of Schaumburg in a professional manner in dealings with other agencies, special interest groups, and the public, including serving on various regional and Village committees related to sustainability and the environment.
10.    Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1.    Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, environmental or sustainability planning, landscape architecture, architecture, or related field.
2.    A minimum of three years of experience in planning.
3.    Experience in the sustainability field working on the implementation of sustainable environmental programs.
4.    Proficiency with current computer technology, job-specific software, and customer service systems.

BENEFITS:

The Village of Schaumburg has a competitive benefit package which includes: flexible benefit Section 125 plan including health, dental, vision, and life insurance as well as medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, a retirement plan through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, paid holidays, paid vacation, sick leave, tuition reimbursement, and more.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Candidate screening process may consist of an application review, skills testing, employability assessment, interviews, reference checks, and other job-related testing or verifications.  Chosen candidates will be subject to a background and criminal history investigation, and qualifying pre-employment medical examination and drug screen (including cannabis).

News about Food Waste & GHG Emissions from the EPA

Issued: Oct 19, 2023 (12:23pm EDT)

EPA Releases New Food Waste Reports

Reports reveal the impacts of food waste on landfill methane emissions and provide updated recommendations for managing food waste.

WASHINGTON (October 19, 2023) –- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released two new reports quantifying methane emissions from landfilled food waste and updating recommendations for managing wasted food. Over one-third of the food produced in the United States is never eaten, wasting the resources used to produce, transport, process, and distribute it – and much of it is sent to landfills, where it breaks down and generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
“Wasted food is a major environmental, social, and economic challenge,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These reports provide decision-makers with important data on the climate impacts of food waste through landfill methane emissions and highlight the urgent need to keep food out of landfills.”
The reports’ findings emphasize the importance of both reducing the amount of food that is wasted and managing its disposal in more environmentally friendly ways. Based on these findings, EPA is releasing an update to its Food Recovery Hierarchy, a tool to help decision makers, such as state and local governments, understand the best options for managing food waste in terms of environmental impacts. The release of the new ranking – called the Wasted Food Scale – marks the first update since the 1990s, reflecting more recent technological advances and changes in operational practices. EPA’s research confirms that preventing food from being wasted in the first place, or source reduction, is still the most environmentally beneficial approach. Evidence in these reports suggests that efforts should focus on ensuring less food is wasted so that food waste is diverted from landfills, which will reduce environmental impacts.
The research announced today represents the first time EPA has quantified methane emissions from landfilling. This novel work published modeled estimates of annual methane emissions released into the atmosphere from landfilled food waste, giving a cost of landfilling food waste in terms of the impact on climate change. EPA conducted an analysis to estimate annual methane emissions from landfilled food waste from 1990 to 2020 and found that while total emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are decreasing, methane emissions from landfilled food waste are increasing. These estimates indicate that diverting food waste from landfills is an effective way to reduce methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas, from MSW landfills.
EPA reports being released today include:
• “From Field to Bin: The Environmental Impacts of U.S. Food Waste Management Pathways,” which examines the environmental impacts of disposing of food waste. This report synthesizes the latest science on the environmental impacts of how food waste is commonly managed in the U.S. This report completes the analysis that began in the 2021 companion report, “From Farm to Kitchen: The Environmental Impacts of U.S. Food Waste ,” which analyzed the environmental footprint of food waste in the farm to consumer supply chain.
• “Quantifying Methane Emissions from Landfilled Food Waste” represents the first time EPA has published modeled estimates of annual methane emissions released into the atmosphere from landfilled food waste. More food reaches MSW landfills than any other material, but its contribution to landfill methane emissions has not been previously quantified.
The reports released today will support future EPA efforts to reduce food waste. EPA’s food waste research provides a better understanding of the net environmental footprint of U.S. food waste.
Learn more about EPA’s food waste research and sustainable management of food work:
Food waste research information.
Learn more about what you can do to reduce wasted food in your home:
For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

RU Dining Center Student Job Opening

The Roosevelt University Chicago Campus Dining Center — known on campus as “The Caf” — is looking for a part-time student worker this Fall 2023 semester to fill a dual purpose:
  • Sustainability Initiatives: student engagement, tabling, signage, etc.
  • Social Media: posting to our Instagram account with sustainability news and other general information regarding specials and fun goings-on
RU Dining Center
The student, ideally, would be able to come up with independent novel ideas to help spread the word on what the Dining Center is doing and help come up with new ideas.
Hours/wage: 10 hours per week at $16 per hour

For more information or to submit an application, please contact Mr. Bill Reich at the email address below:

Bill Reich | Aladdin at Roosevelt University

Food Service Director
Bill.Reich@aladdinfood.com

Green Up & Clean UP @RU on 9/15

Hey, RU faculty and staff — Start fresh this fall and join your Roosevelt colleagues for Green Up Clean Up Day! This first-ever event @RooseveltU is an opportunity for you and your co-workers to connect, collaborate and clean out your office spaces to make our campuses the best place to work and best possible learning environment for our students. Wear your Roosevelt green, grab some coffee and a snack and get ready to spruce things up for the academic year!

Save the Date!
Green Up Clean Up
Friday, September 15 | Noon – 3 p.m.

During Green Up Clean Up offices are encouraged to:

  • Grab some snacks in AUD320 (Chicago Campus) and SCH616 (Schaumburg Campus)
  • Donate and reallocate unused office supplies (Notepads, pens, Post-Its, markers, folders, etc.). The Dean of Students Office will gather office supplies for students to use.
  • Purge old documents. Speed packs will be available in Ida B. Wells Lounge to deliver documents to a Pro Shred shredder truck on Wabash Ave. Please review our document retention policies.
  • Donate books (Book donation bins will be provided in the libraries on both campuses)
  • Spruce up their personal spaces
  • Recycle electronics

Accepted items: 

  • Computers & Laptops (wiped clean in the process)
  • iPods and MP3 Players
  • Cameras and DVD’s
  • CD, DVD/VCR Players
  • Keyboards and Mice
  • LCD/LED Monitors
  • Printers and Fax Machines
  • Power Cords/Cables
  • Scanners/Copiers
  • Cable Boxes
  • Cell Phones

Items NOT accepted:

  • CRT or Old Tube TV’s
  • Light Bulbs
  • Hazardous Items (Paint)
  • Dehumidifiers
  • White Goods (Washers/Dryers)

Green Up Clean Up will immediately follow the University Senate meeting and start with snacks and refreshments on each campus. Speed packs will be available to move any larger supplies or equipment. If you need some green apparel, Roosevelt t-shirts will be available at the receptions. These hours can be classified as an in-service day for non-exempt workers. Please work with your supervisors to plan accordingly.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Wanted: Sustainability Student Associates for Fall 2023 @RooseveltU

The Department of Law, Society & Sustainability (LSS) @RooseveltU is hiring up to two undergraduate students to work as Sustainability Student Associates for the Fall 2023 semester. Information and application instructions for this position can be found on the RU Student Employment website. To apply, just login to the Handshake job posting system and upload your letter of interest, résumé, and writing sample. These positions are funded by the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program as well as Testa Produce; FWS and non-FWS eligible students are therefore welcome to apply.

These 15 hour/week student positions support the mission, pedagogy, and service work of the Sustainability Studies (SUST) as well as other related programs in the LSS Dept at Roosevelt by

(1) developing & supporting campus sustainability projects in consultation with the SUST program director; Dept of Law, Society & Sustainability faculty; Operations and Planning admin/staff; and the RU Green student organization;

(2) managing the Roosevelt Urban Sustainability Lab (RUSLab) & WB Rooftop Garden;

(3) providing logistical and communication support for sustainability-related activities, events, and projects, especially our ongoing efforts at strategic sustainability planning;

(4) coordinating & promoting departmental events & campus outreach (e.g., Campus Sustainability Month in October, SUST Symposia, & Earth Month in April);

(5) supporting student experiential learning, recruitment, retention, & career development efforts;

(6) performing alumni and community outreach.

In 2023-24, up to two Student Associates will work under the direction of the LSS Dept Chair and SUST Program Director, Prof. Mike Bryson. Associates will utilize the RUSLab in AUD 526 as their home base at the Chicago Campus as well as perform some work remotely. Both FWS eligible and non-eligible students from any major are welcome to apply, but priority in hiring will be given to FWS students who are based in the programs of the new Department of Law, Society & Sustainability within the new College of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences (formerly the College of Arts & Sciences).

The application deadline is Friday 9/15/23. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be conducted starting the week of 8/29/23. Consequently, interested students should get their applications submitted ASAP and may contact Prof. Bryson in advance to indicate their intention to apply and ask questions about the position. A cover letter, updated résumé, and writing sample are required for the application.

The writing sample should be at least 1000 words and should demonstrates your writing & research skills (this may be a paper submitted for a college class). Topic related to sustainability and/or the environment is recommended, but not required. This should be something that demonstrates your *best* writing, and not overly technical.

Please note your FWS eligibility status in your cover letter. Applicants should explain their interest in advancing campus sustainability as well as highlight their prior knowledge about and/or skills in relevant sustainability issues and practices (e.g., recycling, gardening, event planning, data analysis, student outreach, etc.)

  • Priority Majors: Criminal Justice, Economics, English, International Studies, Paralegal Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Social Justice Studies, Sociology, and Sustainability Studies. Students from other majors will also be considered.
  • Required Skills/Knowledge: Knowledge of and interest in sustainability; strong writing/editing skills; effective communication skills; dependability, strong work ethic, and ability to work independently.

Please email Prof. Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu) for questions about the position or application process.

Wanna Learn More ’bout Sustainability? Here’s 10 Ways You Can this Fall @RooseveltU

Let’s be real, shall we? A world rocked by climate change, toxic pollution, devastated biodiversity, and persistent environmental injustice demands change. The folks in charge? While some have their hearts in the right place, and others even know full well there’s a crisis ongoing around us that demands immediate action, the fact is they’re not getting it done.

So who is going to do it? Who’s going to actually get off their duffs, get us out of collective fossil-fuel guzzling garbage-spewing junk-food-eating rut, and create healthy sustainable future for people and the planet? Everyone has a stake in this, of course, particularly the current generation of college students (of all ages). Here @RooseveltU, creating a sustainable future isn’t just a cool and fun thing to do with like-minded folks (though it certainly is); it’s an obligation mandated by our social justice mission.

Education, experiential learning, and activism are key parts of the struggle to create a truly sustainable planet (not to mention college campus), and that’s where SUST courses come in. RU students should look over the Fall 2023 schedule using this Coursefinder, (2) check the remaining course requirements in Degree Works, and (3) email or call your assigned academic advisor with your planned schedule and any questions you have about your upcoming classes. Your advisor will provide you with an RU Access registration code so you can register. Click on selected titles below for detailed course previews!

Sustainability Studies courses still open for enrollment this Fall 2023:

  • SUST 101 Humans & Nature (TTh 11am-12:15pm, Ideas, Prof. Bryson)
  • SUST 210 Sustainable Future (M 9:30-12pm, EXL, Staff)
  • SUST 220 Water (Th 2-4:30pm, EXL, Prof. Bryson)
  • SUST 230 Food (W 2-4:30pm, Staff)
  • SUST 240 Waste (online, 8/28-10/21, Prof. Jones)
  • SUST 261 Writing for Non-Profits (TTh 2-3:15pm, EXL, Prof. Blancato)
  • SUST 320 Sprawl, Transportation & Planning (online, Prof. Gerberich)
  • SUST 330 Biodiversity (Field Museum, Th 9am-1pm, EXL, Prof. Kerbis; see course preview)
  • SUST 362 Climate, Cities & Justice (W 2-4:30pm, Prof. Farmer)
  • SUST 390 Environmental Crime (MW 12:30-1:45pm, Prof. Green)

Ideas = Ideas of Social Justice course (CORE gen ed credit)
EXL = Experiential Learning course (ditto)

For additional useful info, see this Advising Resources page on Prof. Mike Bryson’s faculty website as well as this Registration page on the RU website.

Students of SUST 250 Sustainable University (April 2022) after their team presentations of campus sustainability projects

Green Landscape Technology Virtual Town Hall (Th 7/20)

As a manual reel mower and old-fashioned rake kind of guy, I’m keen to see non-polluting landscaping and yard care technology become a cutting-edge trend. (Get it? I know — lame dad joke.)

It’s not just that the loud noise and choking fumes from these infernal contraptions (mowers, week-whackers, and the worst of the worst, leaf blowers) are annoying if not intolerable, which they are. Consider the startling and sobering fact that gasoline-powered lawn and garden engines (GLGE), along with other non-road engines, account for 5% of GHG emissions in the US, according to the EPA. That 2015 study also noted that:

In 2011, approximately 26.7 million tons of pollutants were emitted by GLGE (VOC=461,800; CO=5,793,200; NOx=68,500, PM10=20,700; CO2=20,382,400), accounting for 24%−45% of all nonroad gasoline emissions. Gasoline-powered landscape maintenance equipment (GLME; leaf blowers/vacuums, and trimmers, edgers, brush cutters) accounted for 43% of VOCs and around 50% of fine PM.

We don’t have to accept this as the status quo, though. Join folks from the Urban Efficiency Group and the Cross Community Climate Collaborative for a virtual town hall this Th 7/20 to hear about green technology for landscape maintenance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GLT Virtual Town Hall Flyer 2023-07-20

Learn about Sustainability Careers with the Chicago Wilderness Alliance (Fri 6/16)

Emerging and Intergenerational Thought Leaders: Introducing Professional Opportunities and Uplifting Your Voices on Topics Around Sustainability

Friday, June 16, 2023
2:00 PM CST Register for Zoom link

At this Chicago Wilderness online café we will introduce professionals and their pathways, opportunities in the industry, and talk about the current understanding of climate protection, sustainability, and equity. We will be challenging societal norms an aiming to redefine how we engage with society through this new narrative of sustainability solidarity.

This café session will introduce the concepts of our systematic approach to sustainability and then engage participants in a polling activity to identify regional key focus areas for an intergenerational sustainability action plan.We encourage registrants to complete a survey about your priorities as an emerging conservation professional.

For additional info, contact Laura Reilly (laura.reillycw@gmail.com)