UHD will join national sustainability effort

(October 17, 2007, Houston, Texas)   The University of Houston-Downtown will join an elite group of universities across the country on Wednesday, Oct. 24, when UHD President Max Castillo signs the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.   The signing, set for 10:30 a.m. in UHD's Auditorium in the Academic Building at One Main Street, will kick off UHD's first Campus Sustainability Day.

UHD will become one of a select number of universities in Texas to join the national movement.

The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate.

Houston Mayor Bill White, who has made sustainability and recycling a priority, will address the audience through a previously taped video message. UHD's audience will join a national webcast at 11 a.m. with a theme of "Building a Durable Future:   Community, the Campus and Deep Economy."

Local leaders and experts will discuss various issues during a panel discussion that begins at 1:30 p.m. in the Special Events Room across from the Auditorium.

Panelists are Lilibeth Andre, associate director, Shell Center for Sustainability; Robert Jarrett, associate dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Houston-Downtown; Brian Malarkey, vice president and director of eco-services, Kirksey Architecture; Karl Pepple, director, environmental programming, Office of the Mayor (Houston); and Nicola Springer, senior associate, Kirksey Architecture.

ACU's Presidents Climate Commitment provides colleges and universities with tools and information resources that will help them as they work to become climate neutral and as they serve as role models for their communities. Institutions that sign the document pledge to eliminate their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions over time and agree to create a formal plan, measure their progress and publicize their results.

The formal commitment can be found at: http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/pdf/commitment.pdf

UH-Downtown is a public university of nearly 12,000 students, offering a wide variety of bachelor’s degrees, as well as master’s programs in criminal justice, professional writing, security management and teaching. One of four distinct universities in the UH System, Houston’s Downtown University is nationally recognized for its student diversity, wireless campus, outstanding academic opportunities and productive community partnerships. At UHD, the emphasis is on excellence in teaching and student success.

Please use UH-Downtown, UHD or University of Houston-Downtown when referring to our university.