Lake Superior College News Releases

(Duluth, Minn.) – Dr. Kathleen Nelson, president of Lake Superior College in Duluth, Minnesota, will sign the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) at a special ceremony on Tuesday, September 30 at 2 p.m. The ACUPCC is a high-visibility effort to address global warming and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.  To date, the leaders of 558 institutions across the country – representing 25 percent of the total undergraduate student population in the United States – have made the Commitment. The list of signatories includes 15 other Minnesota colleges and universities.

Members of the campus community are invited to participate in the ceremony, which will take place in the Workforce Training Center, room S1981. Interested members of the public and press are also welcome to attend.

“The Commitment recognizes the unique responsibility that institutions of higher education have as role models for their communities and in training the people who will develop the social, economic and technological solutions to reverse global warming,” said Nelson.

Presidents signing the Commitment are pledging to eliminate their campuses’ greenhouse gas emissions over time. This involves:

• Completing an emissions inventory
• Within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral
• Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions
• Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience
• Making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available

The campus CEOs who are joining and leading the Commitment believe that exerting leadership in addressing climate change will stabilize and reduce their long-term energy costs, attract excellent students and faculty, attract new sources of funding, and increase the support of alumni and local communities.   More information is available online at www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/index.php.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,200 students enrolled this fall semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry.  LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.