Athens State Joins TIOS As Higher Education Partner For Green Certification

ATHENS, Ala.— Athens State University has announced a partnership with The Institute of Sustainability (TIOS), a green certification agreement to further the University’s ongoing efforts to promote environmental awareness and preservation.  Athens State is the third college in the state and the first in North Alabama to enter into this partnership.

TIOS holds as its mission the ability to help businesses adopt environmental practices that are sustainable, as well as profitable, and to educate their employees on personal sustainability measures. The organization achieves its mission by assisting businesses enrolled in the program in implementing sustainable business practices developed by government agencies, trade associations and adopted by leading green cities.

“We are proud to be a part of this initiative,” said the institution’s President, Bob Glenn. “There are many reasons to adopt environmental practices, but as an institution of higher education we feel it sets a good example for our students.  In producing well-rounded graduates, it is imperative in this day and age to include lessons in sustainability.”

The TIOS certification process helps identify opportunities for more sustainable operation at the University campus. Equally important, the program allows participating universities to educate vendors on improved operational measures that will reduce each company’s carbon footprint.

“President Glenn and his team are working with TIOS consultants to improve sustainable measures on campus in critical areas such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, water efficiency, pollution prevention, sustainable procurement, and transportation,” explained TIOS Chairman Doug Moore.

Athens State University joins the University of West Alabama and Jefferson State Community College as institutions of higher education to enter into a green certification agreement with TIOS in the state of Alabama.  Last week, the Alabama Restaurant Association became the first trade organization to enter into a partnership with TIOS.

To learn more about sustainability initiatives at Athens State, contact Guy McClure at 256-233-8296 or Guy.McClure@athens.edu. For more information on The Institute of Sustainability (www.tios.org) and their certification program please contact Doug Moore at 205-983-8894 or dmoore@tios.org.