Going Green: Community Engagement

Environmental Goal: Engage And Educate Staff Through Involvement, Communication And Education*

A. Environmental Objective--Encourage Staff Engagement in Greening Efforts

  1. Environmental Objective: Establish and maintain national staff engagement and campus operations improvements through monthly Go Green Captain teleconferences, which encourage exchange of ideas and implementation efforts to green facilities across the country as well as to participate in environmental efforts in local communities.
  2. Performance Update: As of April 2009, 137 Go Green Captains participating at campuses nationwide.

B. Environmental Objective--Encourage Staff Environmental Volunteerism

  1. Environmental Objective: Outreach to staff nationwide to facilitate environmental volunteerism.
  2. Performance Updates:
    • 2010 - Keep Phoenix Beautiful. 76 volunteers participated in KPB Corporate Challenge
    • 2010 - Earth Day – 8 campus events nationwide
    • 2009 - Keep Phoenix Beautiful 2009. 50 volunteers participated in KPB Corporate Challenge
    • 2009 - Earth Month activities through Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup - 11 campus projects nationwide

C. Environmental Objective—Support Other Environmental Organizations

  1. Environmental Objective: Assist environmental organizations with environmental educational and other missions through corporate donations.
  2. Performance Update:
    • Environmental Donations in FY 2010 to date:
      • Earth Day Network
      • Green For All
      • AzRISE
      • Valley Forward Association
    • Environmental Donations in FY 2009:
      • Earth Day Network
      • Green For All
      • AzRISE
      • Save the Bay
      • Keep America Beautiful
      • Keep Phoenix Beautiful
      • Valley Forward Association

Environmental Goal: Support Organizations That Further Environmental Education And Green Workforce Development

A. Environmental Objective—K-12 School Greenings

  1. Environmental Objective: Facilitate the greening and educational experience associated with such activities in K-12 schools.
  2. Performance Updates:
    • Green Schools Campaign. Between September, 2008 and February, 2010, Apollo-University of Phoenix supported Earth Day Network’s Green Schools Campaign. Apollo-University of Phoenix in partnership with Earth Day Network, made donations to pay for three (3) K-12 schools across the country to receive a “ green makeover.” The makeover included the installation of solar panels and a monitoring device for classroom learning, organic gardens, energy efficient lighting and power strips, painting of an eco-mural and an Earth Fair – an educational activity for the students. UOPX staff volunteers participated in each event and provided the physical support to accomplish each makeover.
    • Earth Day 40 (ED40) – In 2010, as part of ED40, Apollo-University of Phoenix donated funds to support ten (10) school solar projects at K-12 schools. These K-12 schools across the country received solar panels and classroom module for interactive learning.

B. Environmental Objective—K-5 Environmental Curriculum

  1. Environmental Objective: Design, develop, and donate environmental curriculum to train K-5 teachers and students in ways that enhance their appreciation of ecosystems.
  2. Performance Update: As of November, 2009, Apollo-UOPX designed and developed online educational tools for the Oakland Zoo to enhance in coordination with zoo visits the K-5 students understanding of the natural word and provide their teachers with guidance on ways to optimize this understanding.

C. Environmental Objective—Green Sector Workforce Development

  1. Environmental Objective: Provide support and assistance for Green Sector workforce development.
  2. Performance Updates:
    • Beginning in 2009, Apollo-University of Phoenix entered into significant two year relationship with the non-profit, Green for All, whose mission includes bringing underserved communities green workforce development, green job creation, entrepreneurial support and education. In support of this work, University of Phoenix is collaborating with Green for All on the following activities, and more:
    • Green For All Business Academies – Business Academies offer entrepreneurs access to experts with proven success in key business areas, including procurement, program implementation, marketing and operations. Students have the opportunity to meet with business leaders, and policy and governmental officials to provide more opportunities for underserved communities to identify pathways out of poverty. To date, two successful University of Phoenix Business academies have been held; one in Albuquerque, NM and one in Portland, OR.
    • Green For All Academy – Green for All offers intensive, three-day trainings that focus on successful community outreach and events that mobilize the green job movement.
    • In March, 2010, the first such Business academy was held at the Albuquerque, NM campus of University of Phoenix. Over 60 participants attended the academy.
    • On June 25, 2010, the second such Business Academy was held in Portland, OR.

 

*Excerpted from “Apollo Group: Environmental Objectives and Performance Summary.” For a summary of this and other activities, please see http://www.apollogrp.edu/gogreen/goals.asp.