Last February, Georgia Perimeter College opened the Southeastern Institute for Sustainability - the first sustainability program in the University System of Georgia to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The program is also the only one at the community college level in the country.

The institute tries to promote sustainability concepts and programs on the college's campus. It also advocates for sustainable principles to be incorporated into curriculum, campus operations and student activities.

The institute also does community outreach to promote sustainable development. It tries to offer internship and civic engagement opportunities for GPC students by partnering with corporate, government and community partners.

The Southeastern Institute for Sustainability is currently working to create a degree program and curriculum for an Interdisciplinary Sustainable Living and Environmental Studies degree.

At the Newton GPC campus, the college works with The Center, the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center, Hands on Newton and the Washington Street Community Center in its community outreach and sustainability efforts.

In honor of Earth Day, students at the Georgia Perimeter College Newton campus collected a variety of items to recycle this past week.

Students collected plastic grocery bags for the First Presbyterian Church in Covington. A group of ladies at the church will crotchet the bags into mats for the homeless.

Eyeglasses were collected for Dr. Brad Jacoby, a Covington ophthalmologist, who will give them to indigent patients.

GPC students also collected cell phones to donate to soldiers.

Other items collected include CDs, DVDs, toner cartridges, computers and other electronics.

For more information about Georgia Perimeter College visit www.gpc.edu or call (770) 278-1375.