Executive Director Stewart Edelstein Signs Climate Commitment
Rockville, Md.- The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) Executive Director Stewart Edelstein pledged the institution's commitment to neutralizing global warming by signing the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment on June 29. With this declaration of support, USG joins colleges and universities across the country in a highly-visible effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to help re-stabilize the earth's climate.
"USG is delighted to pledge our support to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment and join the other many prestigious institutions in making environmental sustainability a priority," said USG Executive Director Steward Edelstein. "This pledge builds on USG's already strong foundation of environmental stewardship including complimenting our current green initiatives, curriculum, and energy efficient campus."
The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment calls for participating colleges and universities to eliminate their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions over time by following a plan and enforcing action items to reach the goal. The Commitment believes higher education institutions must exercise leadership in their communities and throughout society by modeling ways to eliminate global warming emissions, and by providing the knowledge and the educated graduates to achieve climate neutrality.
Environmental stewardship is no new concept at USG. At the center of USG's campus-wide sustainability initiative is the Camille Kendall Academic Center, the largest green higher education building in the state of Maryland, and one of the first University System of Maryland buildings to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. This energy efficient learning center, coupled with USG's commitment to teaching sustainability through coursework and community partnerships proudly aligns with the vision of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.
About The Universities at Shady Grove
The Universities at Shady Grove is an innovative model for delivering top-quality college degree programs. USG is not one university; instead it is a collaboration of nine leading public universities in Maryland offering more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Montgomery County. Established in 2000, USG serves more than 3,500 full- and part-time students. Participating USG partners include: Bowie State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; University of Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and University of Maryland University College. More information on all of the undergraduate and graduate programs is available at www.shadygrove.umd.edu.