Professors use 'living lab' model with students to introduce campus upgrades: 'It's a very, very positive step'
Associate professor Michael Sheridan is one of many leading the charge. According to The Hechinger Report, one of his business classes has an emphasis on the environment. It allows students to pitch proposals for green campus initiatives, including solar panels over a parking lot — which are projected to save the university more than $787,000 in energy costs over 50 years.
Sheridan is a major contributor to the process of making New Paltz a "living lab," a new kind of collaborative teaching practice that is blooming on several campuses.
"I think it's a very, very positive step," said senior scholar Bryan Alexander, who authored Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis. "You've got the campus materials, you've got the integration of teaching and research."
Sheridan's business background also proves that you don't have to be fully focused on the environment to be a part of an initiative like this. Anyone can bridge together any number of interests with sustainability. Working toward a cleaner future is open to everyone.
Another staff member leading the charge at New Paltz is Lisa Mitten, the campus sustainability coordinator. Mitten runs a sustainability faculty fellows program that encourages professors to incorporate environmental issues into their classes.
She also works with student sustainability ambassadors. One of her biggest projects involves collaborating with other New York State higher education institutions to use more renewable, non-polluting energy sources on campuses.
One of New Paltz's sustainability faculty fellows, associate professor of theatre design Andrea Varga, teaches an ethical fashion course within the university's honors program.
Varga's students also pitch ideas about how to engage in sustainable fashion on campus and beyond. A couple of her students have even worked on a project to install microplastic filters in campus laundry rooms.
Which of the following sustainable changes would make you most likely to choose a particular airline?
Using cleaner fuel
Reducing in-flight waste
Making it easy to choose low-emissions itineraries
I don't pay attention to sustainability when I fly
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
SUNY New Paltz offers programs focused on environmental science and environmental studies. The former is science-focused, and the latter is interdisciplinary. There is also a sustainability track for business students, and there are classes with a sustainability course designation.
These educational paths exist because faculty and staff members want to support students' interests. Sheridan, Mitten, and Varga are a few of the many people who want to provide valuable, hands-on experience.
While there are several ways to gain an education, their work is making it easier for students who want traditional experiences to learn about and implement sustainability in the world around them.
The initiatives involving solar panels and microplastic filters will not just save communities money and benefit public health, but they will also keep the environment cleaner.
Many students want to act in order to have a better future. Take Madeleine Biles, a senior management major who interned with the Lake George Land Conservancy over the summer.
Biles told The Hechinger Report that she chose New Paltz because of its alignment with work related to the environment. She also hopes taking this action will allow her to process her feelings related to the rising global temperature, which has caused extreme weather to grow more intense, threatened food security, and contributed to disease spread, among other things.
"I think if I have a career in sustainability, that will be my way of channeling that frustration and sadness and turning it into a positive thing," she said.Professors and staff at SUNY New Paltz are planting the seeds of what sustainability-focused education could look like across the country.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
01-08-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Moody Bible Institute lays off roughly 9%, as small religious schools nationwide struggle with enrollment
Moody Bible Institute's mission made 26-year-old Jarett Hamby feel grounded in a greater purpose. Alongside a team of students, Hamby led marketing campaigns for 'Today in the Word,' the school's monthly devotional publication. It was his passion as much as his job — and a steady paycheck for nearly two years. He heard rumblings among staff over the past months that the bible college might be tightening its belt. But at employee town halls, leadership assured employees that Moody was in good financial health. Then, Hamby was laid off in May. 'I was gutted,' he said. 'I was completely caught off guard.' Between 8 to 9% of staff were quietly let go that month as part of a broader restructuring at the River North theological institution. Moody officials say the school's revenue streams remain steady. Its enrollment numbers, though, show a steep drop in matriculating students over the past decade. Just 141 freshmen attended Moody in 2023 — down from 400 eight years prior. It's a flashpoint of the challenges facing some small faith-based colleges nationwide, as they grapple with demographic shifts, surging day-to-day costs and a looming enrollment cliff. Many of the schools sit in America's heartland, acting as a vital anchor for their rural communities. Still, urban colleges like Moody aren't immune to those stressors. 'There's an arms race in higher ed, and the smaller schools that spend the money often have the house collapse on them, because they just aren't financially able to compete,' said Silas McCormick, former president of now-shuttered Lincoln Christian University, about 30 miles north of Springfield. Moody serves about 1,000 undergraduate students on its red-brick campus. Founded in 1886, the private Evangelical college is often overlooked in the city's rich higher education landscape. But for students pursuing ordained ministry or theology, it's known as one of the nation's premiere bible colleges. Layoffs were necessary to offset rising costs of inflation and evolving ministry needs, according to a statement from a college spokesperson. Impacted staff span all of Moody's ministry divisions, including its publishing and media arms. Some experts say close-knit, faith-based institutions like Moody may become few and far between. The past decade has dealt a series of swift blows to the higher education sector — including the COVID-19 pandemic, rising costs and recent freezes to federal research funding. Perhaps even more pressing: a looming demographic cliff. As birth rates plummet, there's a projected net decrease of more than 300,000 traditional-age college students by 2030, according to higher education consulting firm Ruffalo Noel Levitz. Those numbers have already begun to shrink, and it's often tiny religious schools that are first hit. More than half of the 79 nonprofit colleges that have closed or merged since 2020 are religiously affiliated, according to an analysis from The Hechinger Report. Seventeen of those are located in the Midwest, including three in Illinois. Faith-based colleges tend to be smaller, which leaves little buffer for enrollment changes, according to higher education consultant Ricardo Azziz. 'They carry a lot of costs to support their students, to educate their students, to provide infrastructure … but they have very few students to distribute those costs across,' Azziz said. There are other factors at play, too. Church attendance has been dropping steadily since the 1950s, along with the percentage of religiously-affiliated Americans. The number of adults who identify as Christian has dipped to roughly 63%, though that decline shows signs of leveling off, according to the Pew Research Center. Some of that is tied to growing institutional distrust. High-profile scandals have rattled the Catholic, Southern Baptists and United Methodist churches, sowing widespread outrage. Though most people still hold some level of faith, they may be less inclined to engage with organized religion, said Scott Paeth, professor and chair of religious studies at DePaul University. It's also why, in part, fewer teens may choose to attend a bible college like Moody. 'There's a general decline in trust in institutions — in our political institutions, in our social and civic institutions and in our educational institutions,' Paeth said. 'It's no surprise that the institutional church is suffering from that same loss of faith.' Moody has seen its own share of controversies, too. In 2021, a sex discrimination lawsuit alleged that the school had fostered a hostile environment for LGBTQ students. In another suit in 2018, an instructor claimed that she was fired after challenging the school's doctrinal stance that women should not serve in ministerial roles. Students and staff are required to sign Moody's doctrinal statement. To be sure, not all faith-based institutions are struggling. Many larger schools have even reported recent enrollment gains. Schools like DePaul and Loyola University Chicago have recentered their religious identity to be mission-driven and inclusive, appealing to a diverse pool of students. Others, like Wheaton College and Liberty University, have carved out distinct niches in the market, experts say. 'Across the country and, I'm sure, across Illinois, the percentage of kids who are choosing a bible institute has dropped dramatically from 50 or 100 years ago,' said James Fraser, a professor emeritus at New York University who specializes in religion and higher education. 'On the other hand, a school can thrive catering to a small but very focused group.' Not all schools, though, make it out. McCormick served as president of the tiny Lincoln Christian University until it shuttered its doors last spring. It came just two years after the closure of Lincoln College, a predominantly Black school just a few miles away in the town of 13,000. Stepping into office in June 2020, McCormick inherited an uphill battle. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the university lost about 170 students — nearly a quarter of its student body. The school's 80-year-old buildings were in desperate need of upgrades, but it was already $9 million in debt. 'We probably made mistakes along our whole 80-year run, but I think the margin got thinner and thinner over the last 20 years to survive,' McCormick said. LCU made the difficult decision to close with dignity, he said, prioritizing students and allowing for the transfer of its endowment to the nearby Ozark Christian College. After the school ceased its academic operations, it rebranded as Lincoln Christian Institute and continues to offer bible classes. 'There's something to be said about embracing the fact that, sometimes, a season ends,' McCormick said. 'You can treat an institution that has to change, or even die, like a loved one who's taught you well.' Moody is debt-free, with healthy cash reverses and a 'commitment to sound stewardship,' a spokesperson said. The school's most recently-available audited financial statements, which cover the 2023-24 school year, show that it was operating at a $6.8 million deficit. But the school achieved a balanced budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, officials say. 'When we talk about strategic alignment, we're really saying, 'Where's our growth? … Where do we need to put additional resources to be able to better serve the communities that are growing in those ways?' Provost and Senior Vice President Timothy Sisk said in an interview with the Tribune. Part of Moody's realignment includes revamped course offerings, such as a new three-year, online bachelor's degree in business. The college is also expanding its degree in missionary aviation technology at its Spokane, Oregon, campus. The school's total enrollment hovers around 2,200, accounting for its other campuses, graduate students and online programming. The numbers offer a more nuanced portrait: Total undergraduate enrollment has dropped more than 60% in a decade. The school has a 98% acceptance rate, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. School officials maintain there has been growth for in-residence enrollment over the past four quarters. 'We did have a dip there, but I think we've gone back up. So yeah, it has caused some realignment … We've sought to do that as painlessly as possible,' Sisk said. Notably, the school is tuition-free for students who live on campus. A network of donors cover the cost of classes, while students pay for room and board — totaling around $8,000 per academic year, plus fees. The low price tag makes Moody accessible for a broad slate of students. Adrian Gear, a 19-year-old biblical languages major, opted to attend the school in part because of its price. He first set his sights on Moody in middle school, when he heard about its seminary program from his youth pastor. Now the president of the school's Student Theological Society, Gear leads weekly discussions on scripture with his peers. It's a community rooted in faith, that he's not sure he would have found anywhere else. 'Those are the kind of people that I want to be around. The people who are so excited about their faith, that they're like, 'Okay, I want this to be my career as well,'' said Gear, who lives in Sugar Grove. More religious schools in the Midwest, squeezed by financial woes, will close this year. In April, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield announced that it would relocate to Canada, merging with Trinity Western University in British Columbia. Fontbonne University, a Catholic school in St. Louis, said it will officially shutter in August. Despite its restructuring, the fiscal challenges at Moody are far less existential, Sisk said. 'We don't owe a single dollar anywhere. We have healthy cash reserves, and our enrollment is looking better in places,' he said. 'We feel like it's those three factors that many of our sister schools have struggled with … We're positioned to be able to serve for decades.' For many students, that legacy is essential. Twenty-year-old Cheyenne Thomas was homeschooled throughout much of high school, and wasn't sure if she'd feel at home at a more traditional college. At Moody, the theology major found purpose leading weekly devotionals in her dorm, guiding her peers in prayer. 'All of my classes revolve around who Christ is,' said Thomas, a Des Moines native. 'Everywhere you go, Moody is just so formative.'
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
ExiScale Earns 4.7-Star Trustpilot Rating, Strengthening Its Position as a Reliable Meta Ad Account Provider
Marketers turn to ExiScale for long-term stability, lifetime guarantees, and real human support amid rising Meta ad account bansExiScale Logo SHERIDAN, Wyo., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ExiScale, a company founded by marketers for marketers, is proud to announce it has achieved a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot, underscoring its growing reputation as a trusted partner for advertisers seeking reliable access to Meta (Facebook) ad accounts. With the rise in account bans, spending restrictions, and compliance challenges across Meta's advertising ecosystem, many digital marketers are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain campaign stability. ExiScale steps in to solve this issue by offering infrastructure that enables uninterrupted ad performance and scalability for affiliates, agencies, and eCommerce brands alike. 'Our mission from the start was simple: help advertisers get back online and stay there,' said Kyron Hellmrich, CEO of ExiScale. 'We experienced firsthand the frustrations of account bans and wasted ad spend, so we built ExiScale to eliminate those roadblocks for others. The 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot reflects the consistent results and support we've been able to deliver.' ExiScale's Distinct Advantages Unlike traditional account sellers, ExiScale offers a full-service solution focused on long-term reliability and advertiser success. Its services are built around transparency, security, and customer support. Clients gain access to: Aged, high-trust Facebook profiles ready to run ads immediately Business Managers and ad accounts with no spending limits Lifetime replacement guarantees with no hidden terms 24/7 customer support from real people, not bots Clean, US-based IP infrastructure for safer and more consistent ad delivery Straightforward setup and onboarding within hours This infrastructure is designed to help advertisers scale confidently without the constant fear of account shutdowns or technical complications. 'Before ExiScale, we were stuck in a cycle of buying weak accounts that failed within days,' said one client review. 'Now, we've been running campaigns for months without disruption.' With a focus on transparency and real-time support, ExiScale has quickly become a preferred partner for marketers serious about maintaining stable advertising operations on Meta platforms. The company continues to expand its services, with plans to introduce new tools and account configurations tailored to the evolving needs of performance marketers. From affiliate marketers to agencies and eCommerce brands, more businesses are turning to ExiScale for high-trust Meta ad accounts they can depend on. The platform is designed for advertisers seeking a stable, long-term alternative to unreliable account providers. To learn more about ExiScale or to explore its Meta ad account solutions, visit About ExiScale ExiScale is a digital advertising provider specializing in high-trust Meta (Facebook) ad accounts for marketers, agencies, and eCommerce brands. Built by marketers, ExiScale delivers aged accounts, unlimited-spend Business Managers, and 24/7 live support to help clients run stable, scalable campaigns. Media Contact:Kyron HellmrichExiScale+1 (307) 461-9524support@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Yahoo
Fast Casual Concepts, Inc. Announces Strategic Business Move into the Marketing Industry
Fast Casual Concepts, Inc. Announces Strategic Business Move into the Marketing Industry SHERIDAN, Wyo., July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fast Casual Concepts, Inc. (OTC: FCCI) ('Company') announces that it has shifted its business direction from the food industry to the marketing industry. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, GDS Lumina, Inc., is a marketing entity that FCCI's management plans to integrate vertically. George Athanasiadis, CEO, Fast Casual Concepts, Inc., states, 'Marketing sits at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and consumer behavior. Businesses rely on marketing to build awareness, attract customers, and drive revenue, making it a vital investment for their success. We are excited for what GDS Lumina, Inc. can bring to this vital area for business growth and development.' The management's decision was based on the potential growth as a marketing entity and the possible upside valuation for the Company's shareholders. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Except for historical matters contained herein, statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as 'may', 'will', 'to', 'plan', 'expect', 'believe', 'anticipate', 'intend', 'could', 'would', 'estimate,' or 'continue', or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with OTC Markets. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. George Athanasiadis, CEO +1 727-692-3348 george@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
