Colorado Green Ribbons School

UCCS Earns designation of Colorado Department of Higher Education 2016 Green Ribbon Award Nominee

  UCCS has been selected by the Colorado Department of Education(CDE) to represent Colorado in the 2016 US Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Awards competition. UCCS was chosen based on an extensive submission and review in the fall, as well as a site visit from CDE reviewers in January. The aim of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is to inspire schools, districts and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to strive for 21st century excellence, by highlighting promising practices and resources that all can employ. To that end, the award recognizes schools, districts, and IHEs that:

1. Reduce environmental impact and costs;
2. Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and
3. Provide environmental education, which teaches many disciplines, and is especially good at effectively incorporating STEM, civic skills, and green career pathways.

At the postsecondary level, these Pillars help to support the goals of reduced college costs, increased completion rates, higher rates of employment, and robust civic skills among graduates. The recognition award is part of a U.S. Department of Education (ED) effort to identify and communicate practices that result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness; and reinforces federal efforts to increase energy independence and economic security. Preparation of this submission was comprehensive, requiring information from numerous departments on campus including the Student Health and Wellness Center, Service Learning Internship and Engagement Center (SPLICE), Dining and Food Services, UCCS Farm and Greenhouse, Environmental Health and Safety, the Compass Curriculum, STEM, Institutional Research, and many others. 

UCCS Green Ribbon School Application
UCCS Green Ribbon School Video