Raritan Valley Community College is nationally recognized as a leader in environmental sustainability. Our unique educational programs and sustainability initiatives demonstrate our ongoing commitment to preserving the environment and have placed RVCC at the forefront of this rapidly developing field. 
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EPA | Awards
- RVCC is the first community college to sign an environmental stewardship agreement with the EPA.
- RVCC is the only NJ community college with an Environmental Studies Liberal Arts degree program.
- RVCC is the first NJ institution to receive a national sustainability rating through AASHE's STARS program.
- RVCC is the first NJ college to earn River Friendly certification.
- RVCC is the only NJ community college offering courses on:
- Plants, Humans and the Environment
- Field Botany
- Field Ornithology
- Organic Agriculture (new for Spring 2012!)
- RVCC's organic garden, maintained by students, produces shares of fruits and vegetables which are distributed back to the community.
Memorandum of Understanding with EPA
RVCC is the first community college in the nation to sign an environmental stewardship agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In 2009 Raritan Valley Community College pledged to reduce its environmental impact and raise environmental awareness within its academic community and the surrounding community by signing an agreement of environmental stewardship with the EPA. The agreement is in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Using EPA guidelines and voluntary programs, RVCC has developed or is currently developing policies and programs that focus on protecting and bettering the environment, allowing RVCC to take a leadership role in this area. This agreement enables RVCC to actively pursue green initiatives that benefit our faculty, staff, students and community.
Environmental Accolades RVCC's environmental efforts keep making headlines.
In recognition of its sustainability achievements, RVCC has received a STARS Bronze Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). RVCC is a charter member of the program and is the first academic institution in New Jersey to earn a STARS rating. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, is a new program that measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. Some of the College’s accomplishments include conducting a student outreach campaign for a new Somerset County shuttle bus that provides public transportation to campus; offering undergraduate environmental degree programs; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; lowering building energy consumption; and fostering participation in student community service projects. RVCC has reduced its scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by almost 40% since 2005.
RVCC is the first higher education institution in the state to be certified by New Jersey Water Supply Authority as part of the River-Friendly Business Program. The College has two tributaries of the upper Raritan River running through its Main Campus in Branchburg. The River-Friendly certification was awarded to RVCC for its efforts over 18 months to improve local water resource quality through water quality management, water conservation, protection of the wildlife habitat, and education and outreach.
.1.jpg "Beach cleanup at Sandy Hook")
In recognition of its sustainability achievements, RVCC has received a STARS Bronze Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). RVCC is a charter member of the program and is the first academic institution in New Jersey to earn a STARS rating. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, is a new program that measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. Some of the College’s accomplishments include conducting a student outreach campaign for a new Somerset County shuttle bus that provides public transportation to campus; offering undergraduate environmental degree programs; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; lowering building energy consumption; and fostering participation in student community service projects. RVCC has reduced its scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by almost 40% since 2005.RVCC's 2009-2010 Annual Report (p. 4) highlights the environmental leadership of Dr. Jay Kelly, Biology/Environmental Studies instructor. For Kelly, community service is very much a part of his job, because so much of his work with students—from planting organic gardens, to protecting endangered species, to cleaning beaches and streams—is geared to the public interest. Kelly recently was recognized with a “Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition” for his research and educational efforts regarding ocean pollution and the problems of plastic marine debris. He also received the “Research Award” for the 25th anniversary of Clean Ocean Action’s Beach Sweeps. Kelly’s beach clean-up efforts in Sandy Hook in April 2010 involved the assistance of 200 students, who also cleaned storm drains in RVCC’s parking lots and streams a week later.
For more articles, press releases, and pictures, visit our News page or click on the pictures above.
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.1.JPG "native purple coneflower in rain garden") |
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