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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, which promotes good environmental practices at colleges and universities, recently issued its annual STARS report. The STARS report — for Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System — recognizes schools for their sustainability performance, awarding Bronze, Silver, or Gold ratings to institutions based on four categories: academics, engagement, operations, and planning and administration. A total of eight schools have been awarded both a Gold STAR rating and a spot on the Sierra Club's top 10.
Georgia Institute of Technology uses alternative fuels in 150 of its 500 vehicles, and with its construction and demolition projects, it focuses on diverting waste, along with other sustainable practices. Among those practices are stormwater runoff reduction efforts that include using ground surfaces that allow water to pass through, removing paved parking lots, campus reforestation, and installing cisterns. The institution is No. 10 on the Sierra Club list.