University Business - November/December 2011 - (Page 14)

Behind the news NYC Land Up for Grabs ProPosaLs are iN from iNstitUtioNs vYiNG to build a tech campus in the “city that never sleeps” as part of the “applied sciences NYC” initiative. it’s the beginning of an effort to bring New York City to the forefront of technology start-ups and innovation. the request for proposal was announced in July by mayor michael r. Bloomberg and other members of his cabinet, and the initiative will provide a university, institution, or consortium city-owned land and up to $100 million to cover building costs. “During the 1980s and ’90s, silicon valley— not New York—became the world capital of technology start-ups, and that is still true today,” Bloomberg said in a prepared statement. “But if i am right, and if we succeed in this mission, it won’t be true forever. the applied sciences NYC initiative will serve as a major catalyst for New York City’s local economy for decades, generating billions of dollars in economic activity through the creation of hundreds of new businesses and tens of thousands of jobs.” Land is offered at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, roosevelt island, or Governors island, with the winner expected to be announced by year’s end. When proposals were due on october 28, Cornell University and Stanford University were being touted as front runners. Cornell announced that its proposed 150,000 square-foot core academic building on roosevelt island would be the largest net-zero building in the eastern United states, and among the top four largest buildings of its kind in the entire country. it would house the Cornell and technionisrael institute of technology partnership and bring Cornell science and expertise into industry settings. the Cornell community is strongly backing the proposal; NYC-based alumni have gone as far as to create an online petition and a twitter account to gain support for their alma mater’s proposal. stanford’s proposal is for a graduate school of science, also on roosevelt island. the estimated $2.5 billion project would bring a university near and dear to the silicon valley to the east coast. Per the rfP, applicants were not allowed to make more intricate details of their plans available to the public. —Kristen Domonell U Certified Green Move over LeeD, there’s a new certification in town. It’s not just buildings getting a green stamp of approval these days—events are, too. Colleges and universities across the country have begun implementing “certified green events programs” to limit the impact campus events have on the environment. one institution that started its program just this semester is North Carolina State University. “It’s helping event planners to change their way of thinking,” says David Dean, outreach and communications coordinator for NC state’s sustainability office. “It’s helping our events have a positive impact on our community An event at NC State U can be certified as a and the environment.” contributor, steward, or champion of green. NC state’s Certified Wolfpack Green program awards points for various green aspects, such as food, waste, marketing, transportation, and energy and water use. event planners looking to get certified have to calculate their potential energy use and have a plan to offset their carbon emissions. Bonus points are awarded if a service component that betters the community is included and for other innovations that don’t fit in the basic categories. events that qualify for the certification are then classified by level: contributor, steward, or champion. “If you come in at the champion level, then you really are doing some innovative things and thinking forward on your planning,” he says. “It has to start early; it’s not something you can just add on at the end and get some brownie points for. the people who attend your event are going to see it.” since the program’s inception, five events have been certified, and Dean says he knows more are in the works and that some departments plan on having all their monthly board meetings certified. For more specifics on Certified Wolfpack Green, visit http://sustainability.ncsu.edu/culture/green-certification. others among the growing list of institutions with green event certifications are the University of California, Berkeley, Duke, Emory University (Ga.), Louisiana State University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Santa Clara University (Calif.), and Yale. —K.D. SOUND BITE ‘t o paraphrase Lincoln, we are a house divided about our fundamental mission and character. —University of Texas President Bill Powers (Source: the texas tribune) ‘ 14 | November/December 2011 universitybusiness.com http://sustainability.ncsu.edu/culture/green-certification http://sustainability.ncsu.edu/culture/green-certification http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - November/December 2011

University Business - November/December 2011
Contents
Editor's Note
College Index
Ad Index
Behind the News
Financial Aid
Viewpoint
Education Gateways
Models of Efficiency
Business Intelligence Gets Smarter
Internet Technology
Independent Outlook
End Note

University Business - November/December 2011