Green Mountain College and Audubon International Announce New Sustainability Partnership

POULTNEY, VT – Green Mountain College (GMC) and Audubon International — two organizations at the forefront of advancing sustainability — have announced a partnership to promote environmental stewardship and make sustainability education programs available to all. Staff at Audubon Internationals' vast network of environmentally responsible facilities will receive discounts to enroll in GMC’s cutting edge, online graduate curriculum in one of four sustainability disciplines. Graduate students at Green Mountain College can apply their place-based education by exploring and implementing Audubon International's programs alongside professional staff.

Based in Troy, NY, Audubon International is incorporated as the Audubon Society of New York State. Through education, technical assistance, certification and recognition, Audubon International facilitates the implementation of environmental management practices that ensure natural resources are sustainably used and conserved. To date, Audubon International has enrolled over 3,000 properties (including golf courses, cemeteries, ski areas, housing developments, hotels, and many others) and communities in its rigorous certification programs.

“Green Mountain College's program is a model for sustainability training, and a natural academic partner for Audubon International and our member facilities,” says Doug Bechtel, executive director of Audubon International. “Continuing Audubon International's legacy of introducing science-based ecological principles to stewards of developed lands, partnering with GMC expands educational offerings available to the staff at Audubon International's member organizations. We hope to further develop research opportunities with Green Mountain College faculty and students to advance sustainability science and practices using our real-world examples.”

“Green Mountain and Audubon International make great partners. Our students get to work hand in hand on sustainability projects with Audubon staff and partners, and people affiliated with Audubon can access award winning and affordable sustainability education right at home,” notes Thomas Mauhs-Pugh, provost at Green Mountain College.

Green Mountain College has been a leader in sustainability-focused education for 20 years. In 2006, GMC launched the nation's first sustainable M.B.A. and first online M.S. in environmental studies. Since then the College has introduced an M.S. in sustainable food systems and an M.S. in resilient and sustainable communities, the first online programs of their kind in the U.S.

Featured

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

Digital Edition