Charting Opportunities and Challenges in Higher Education’s Climate Action Journey

About the Series

As a result of new technologies, financial pressures, growing student activism, and shifts in federal and state climate policies, campus climate and sustainability efforts continue to evolve. Join the American Council on Education (ACE) and Second Nature in a new series of webinars—Charting Opportunities and Challenges in Higher Education’s Climate Action Journey—tailored to help campus leaders, sustainability staff, and climate advocates anticipate challenges and identify opportunities to lead in this rapidly shifting policy landscape. Featuring higher education and climate experts, the conversation will explore how higher education can continue to lead on climate action by advancing clean energy, equity, and innovation while preparing students for a changing world.

Nov. 18: Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Campus Climate Leadership

November 18, 2025
2:00–3:00 p.m. ET

Sustainability has undergone major policy realignments over the past year, with a huge shift at the federal level from the Biden administration’s support to the Trump administration’s hostility to sustainability policies. This stage-setting webinar explored emerging trends, shared institutional perspectives, and laid the groundwork for the conversations to come.

Recording Available

SPEAKERS

Gregory Washington

President, George Mason University

Gregory Washington

President, George Mason University

Bob Kopp

Distinguished Professor, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University

Bob Kopp

Distinguished Professor, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Marisol Morales

Executive Director, Carnegie Elective Classifications

Carnegie Classification

Marisol Morales is the executive director of the Carnegie Elective Classifications, providing conceptual leadership and operational oversight to the elective classifications’ work. This includes the collaborative development of and responsibility for a...

Marisol Morales

Executive Director, Carnegie Elective Classifications

Carnegie Classification

Lande Ajose

Managing Director, Waverley Street Foundation

Lande Ajose

Managing Director, Waverley Street Foundation

Dec. 11: The Higher Education Clean Energy Projects Map: Lessons from 2021 Onwards

December 11, 2025
2:00–3:00 p.m. ET

This session reviewed and discussed Second Nature’s Higher Education Clean Energy Projects Map. This new map resource showcases the breadth of clean energy projects since 2021 that could have qualified for or used the Direct (Elective) Pay provision in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the lessons learned along the way. The webinar also highlighted geothermal installations as a case study for scaling clean energy solutions, exploring how institutions navigated technical, financial, and policy challenges. This memo overviews major sustainability-related changes included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Recording available

SPEAKERS

Lily Strehlow

Sustainability Coordinator, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

Lily Strehlow

Sustainability Coordinator, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

Megan Litke

Director of Sustainability, American University

Megan Litke

Director of Sustainability, American University

Kimberly Reeves

Executive Director, Center for Sustainability, Agnes Scott College

Kimberly Reeves

Executive Director, Center for Sustainability, Agnes Scott College

Bari Samad

Director of Communications and Marketing, Second Nature

Bari Samad

Director of Communications and Marketing, Second Nature

Daniels Theo

Climate Policy Manager, Second Nature

Daniels Theo

Climate Policy Manager, Second Nature

Monique Guillory

President, Dillard University

Monique Guillory

President, Dillard University

Jan. 29: Building the Climate Workforce: Higher Education’s Role in Equitable Green Jobs

January 29, 2026
2:00–3:00 p.m. ET

Colleges and universities are leading efforts to prepare the next generation of climate and clean energy workers across the continuum from apprenticeships to degree programs. This session highlighted workforce development models, funding opportunities, partnerships with industry and labor, and innovative approaches to equipping students with the skills needed to power this critical sector.

Recording Available

SPEAKERS

Carla Grandy

Senior Advisor on Climate and Lead Climate Fellow, California Community Colleges

Carla Grandy

Senior Advisor on Climate and Lead Climate Fellow, California Community Colleges

Travis Proulx

Vice President for External Affairs, Fordham University

Travis Proulx

Vice President for External Affairs, Fordham University

Helena Robinson

Director of Sustainability and Quality Control, Xavier University of Louisiana

Helena Robinson

Director of Sustainability and Quality Control, Xavier University of Louisiana

Elspeth Hayden

Academic Engagement Manager, Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University

Elspeth Hayden

Academic Engagement Manager, Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University

Allison Priola

Program Director, College Corps, California Volunteers

Allison Priola

Program Director, College Corps, California Volunteers

Michael Wiafe

Assistant Deputy Director, Workforce Policy and External Affairs, California Workforce Development Board

Michael Wiafe

Assistant Deputy Director, Workforce Policy and External Affairs, California Workforce Development Board

Apr. 30: From Pilot to Practice: Institutional Stories from the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability

April 30, 2026
2:00–3:00 p.m. ET

The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability recognizes institutions that integrate sustainability and climate action into their academic missions. The framework supports institutions in assessing and strengthening sustainability efforts across curriculum, research, campus operations, and community engagement, while encouraging institutions to connect these efforts to broader societal and environmental challenges. This session spotlit pilot institutions that are leading this work and provided examples of how institutions can implement climate action.

Additionally, this webinar provided insight into the opportunities, challenges, and transformative potential of participating in the Sustainability Elective Classification. Panelists gave a clear overview of the current application cycle, including the process, timeline, and what to expect from the institutional self-study and review process.

This webinar is meant to be a comprehensive review of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability and how various universities are leading in order to achieve this distinction.

Recording available