Vanderbilt received a Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for The Commons as one of 14 award winners recognized statewide for their positive impact on the state’s natural resources.
Black + Gold = Green
When it comes to sustainability, Vanderbilt is rewriting the equation. Read the full story in the Vanderbilt View.
Electronics Recycling Event a Huge Success
The Vanderbilt-sponsored Electronics Recycling Event filled 25 tractor trailers with electronics for recycling, with more than 1,000 people dropping off items during the community recycling event.
Vanderbilt Takes First Steps at "Greening" Commencement
Vanderbilt evaluated Commencement and related activities to see where "greener" practices could be adopted.
Take a Ride to Work on Vanderbilt
by Joan Brasher, Vanderbilt Register
The Take a Ride to Work on Vanderbilt program, which allows Vanderbilt employees to take Nashville's city buses to and from work for free with a swipe of their faculty or staff ID card, is a success, according to recent participation data collected.
When the cooperation between university central, the medical center and the Metro Transit Authority was launched in July 2004, just 110 faculty and staff members reportedly rode the bus to and from work each day. Current figures show that participation has increased by more than 1,000 percent. In November 2005, a total of 1,334 Vanderbilt employees took advantage of the program, with a total of 34,497 rides. In December 2005, 1,274 riders took 30,428 rides.
"This program has exceeded our expectations in terms of utilization and value to our faculty and staff," said Nim Chinniah, deputy vice chancellor for administration and academic affairs. "The program was designed to support Vanderbilt's commitment to provide a robust set of benefits to our faculty and staff, and to be environmental stewards."
The "Take a Ride to Work on Vanderbilt" program was launched by Chancellor Gordon Gee in an ongoing effort to provide an environmentally friendly commuting option for faculty and staff.
"MTA was recently voted one of the country's 10 most improved transit systems," said Gee in a letter to the Vanderbilt community. "A free, environmentally considerate option, commuting does not get much better - or easier - than this."
This new employee benefit provides an alternative to the stress of commuting each day, and helps decrease pollution as well as traffic on the busy Nashville roadways.
"This is a terrific benefit for the Vanderbilt community at large," said Kevin Myatt, associate vice chancellor for human resources. "The opportunity to reduce expenses for those who take the bus is great, as is the opportunity to reduce congestion on and around campus."
"I think the new bus program is a great idea," said Michael Vandenbergh, assistant professor of law, who takes the bus to work several times a week. "The program demonstrates that the University understands the contribution of motor vehicles to air pollution and its important leadership role in the community. I hope this will lead to a cascade of other employers adopting similar steps."
To ride free, faculty and staff simply swipe their VU ID card as they board an MTA bus going to and from work, and Vanderbilt will be charged for the ride. Statistical information is then electronically gathered so the University can monitor the program's effectiveness.
