History of Sustainability at UCCS

The Social Science Symposium Committee partnered with SEAS and the Faculty Sustainability Committee to host a three-part multidisciplinary series on sustainability. Sustainable engineering was addressed in a talk entitled "Engineering with Soul: Sustainability Engineering and International Development" by Bernard Amadei, CU Boulder. Hilary Mizia, New Belgium Brewing Company, presented "Brewing Sustainability: The Business Case for Sustainability." Thoric Cederstrom, Counterpart International, delivered "Malnutrition at the Margin: The Political Ecology of Global Hunger and the Sustainability of International Food Aid". The purpose of the symposium was to raise awareness of how different disciplines are incorporating sustainability into their work. Sessions were attended by students, faculty, and community members.

UCCS becomes member of US Green Building Council, USGBC.The USGBC is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. University signs Memorandum of Understanding with Fort Carson, a leader in the sustainability arena, to collaborate on sustainability initiatives as part of their SEMS program. UCCS Sustainability Strategic Plan UCCS hired its first Sustainability Officer and created the Office of Sustainability. Colorado Springs was the first campus in the CU system to have a designated Sustainability Officer. This office currently manages the Energy Performance Bond, the recycling program, and collaborates with faculty, staff and students on sustainability initiatives. The UCCS Sustainability Committee developed the Sustainability Goals for UCCS Final Report, which outlined a sustainability vision and mission for the university and identified three areas of concentration: Leadership, Education, and Operations. University secured a $1.3 Energy Performance Bond to pursue energy and resource conservation measures. The bond is expected to be repaid through energy cost savings and measures are expected to result in significant future cost avoidance for the university. A lighting retrofit has already been completed. Plans for an upgraded Building Automation System, purchase of energy efficient mechanical equipment, and water saving strategies are also being pursued.

Initiated update of Facilities Strategic Plan (formerly Campus Master Plan) with significant focus on sustainability. The architects for this project were chosen in part for their strong experience in sustainable planning including LEED-ND (Neighborhood Development). Sustainability is a main theme of the final plan for the UCCS campus. Chancellor Shockley-Zalabak reconvenes a broader Sustainability Task Force to develop a Sustainability Strategic Plan with measurable 5-year targets, timelines and processes to achieve goals outlined in the initial Sustainability Task Force Final Report. The task force consists of more than 40 faculty, staff and student from Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, Sociology, Geography and Environmental Studies, Anthropology, Communications and Administration. AASHE Logo UCCS joins Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, AASHE. Students and faculty from UCCS have presented at and attended national AASHE conferences. Geography of Panama class UCCS approved a new multidisciplinary Minor in Sustainable Development. Courses from Geography and Environmental Studies, Communications, Philosophy, Sociology, Political Science, History, Chemistry, and Biology are included. Fall Freshman Seminar introduces a course specifically on sustainability.

University develops its first Sustainability Strategic Plan. The five-year plan provides five-year targets, performance indicators, and action steps in improving sustainability in leadership, education and operations on campus. University incorporates sustainability for the first time in the UCCS Strategic Plan 2007-2012.Sustainability is featured as one of 15 strategic goals for the university to becoming a sustainability leader in the Pike Peak region. UCCS is a charter signatory to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The entire CU System has signed this commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and aim for carbon neutrality.

UCCS holds its first Sustainability Summit. Five local and global leaders in sustainability engaged students, faculty, staff and local community members in a variety of sustainability issues. UCCS is one of 70 institutions participating in the pilot of AASHE's Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS). First Campus Sustainability Report is published. The report was designed to communicate university sustainability milestones and successes to the campus and the Pikes Peak community at large. Students Overwhelmingly Approve Solar Fee: Referendum #2, Solar Energy, was passed during April 2008 campus elections by 76% of students. The student-initiated statute supports a $5 fee per semester to install solar panels on university buildings. This money was used to install a thin-film solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the Science & Engineering Building.

UCCS receives its first external sustainability assessment. The Sustainable Endowments Institute awards UCCS an overall grade of 'B' on the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card, including 'A's' for the subjects of 'Administration' and 'Investment Priorities'. See the full report here. UCCS Receives USGBC LEED Gold Certification for Science & Engineering Building Science & Engineering Building receives LEED Gold Certification as well as awards.The Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) declared it the winner of 2009's 'Renewable Energy and Sustainable Design in Buildings Award' in the Institutional Buildings category. ColoradoBiz magazine,in partnership with the American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, and the U.S. Green Building Council, presented the 'Colorado Sustainable Design Award, Commercial Category', to the Science & Engineering building. Tom and Carole Huber receive 2009 Campus Sustainability Award First-ever Campus Sustainability Award was presented to Tom and Carole Huber, Professor and Senior Instructor in the Geography and Environmental Studies Department respectively, for their passionate support of sustainability over the years. UCCS Receives USGBC LEED Gold Certification for Recreation Center The first high-performance building on campus and the first public building in Southern Colorado to receive this designation, the Recreation Center is awarded LEED Gold Certification. UCCS completes its first internal sustainability assessment, AASHE's pilot of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS).

The third LEED Gold building on campus, the Gallogly Events Center, opens. Judith Rice-Jones, recently retired long-time advocate for sustainability, receives second annual Campus Sustainability Award. UCCS establishes a zero-waste goal with its first zero-waste event, the men's and women's basketball games for Blackout Night in the new LEED Gold Gallogly Events Center. UCCS students collaborate with Colorado Springs Utilities and a local engineering firm to perform energy audits for small businesses. UCCS completes its first Climate Action Plan. The report details plans to reduce carbon emissions through energy conservation campaigns, retrofit projects, high performance new building, greening of the grid, and pursuing renewable energy.

UCCS receives a Silver rating in the Sustainability Tracking Rating and Assessment System (STARS) directed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The assessment tool measures performance in the areas of Planning, Administration, and Engagement; Education and Research; and Operations. Centennial Hall (formerly Science) Renovation completed. Achieves LEED Gold for Commercial Interiors. UCCS garden Demonstration and xeriscape garden completed behind Centennial Hall. 25kW photovoltaic solar system installed on the roof of Centennial Hall. UCCS Solar Fee repurposed to fund Green Action Fund. A committee of mostly students, and some faculty and staff direct these funds toward sustainability projects on campus proposed by members of the UCCS community. UCCS Bookstore wins the Campus Sustainability Award for its consistent dedication to sustainable products, recycling efforts, and education of customers.

Compost collection added to UCCS waste diversion program. Compost is collected at the Lodge, University Center, and Family Development Center. Diversion rate increases to over 40 percent. Read more. UCCS Sustainability Strategic Plan 2012-2020 completed by staff, faculty, and students with input from the entire campus. You can read it here. Sustainable Me Freshman Seminar Freshman Seminar course "Sustainable Me" taught for the first time. Students use ecological footprint tool to measure and change behavior during the 12 week course. Ground breaking for new student residence halls. LEED Gold planned for both buildings. Lane Center for Academic Health Services breaks ground. LEED Gold planned for building. Nancy Gadachy presented with Campus Sustainability Award for her work with Goodwill and Blue Star Recyclers to reduce landfill waste for housing village move-out.

The Flying Carrot was founded by Nanna Meyer, a UCCS sports nutrition professor, to promote food literacy on campus in collaboration with Pikes Peak Community Foundation. The first annual SUSTAINOVATION panel and tabling event was hosted to celebrate successes in sustainability within the campus community. Copper House and Eldora House construction completed. Both achieve LEED Gold certification. With the launch of the Greening of the Office Program (GOTO), the Office of Sustainability hopes to collaborate with faculty, staff and students in an effort to reduce the university's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

UCCS Dining and Hospitality Services (DHS) starts the new semester under their own management. DHS strives to cultivate and nurture a healthy campus culture where access to wholesome, seasonal, and local food directly links to wellness, sense of place, and environmental protection. Construction of a 3000 sq. ft. greenhouse on campus allows for local produce to be incorporated into UCCS Dining and Hospitality Services. Students learning about the farming practices utilized in the UCCS greenhouse. Compass Curriculum, started in 2008, has reached phase two, which includes sustainability as one of three integrated components implemented into curriculum taken by each UCCS student. Alpine Parking Garage & Field construction completed. Location for the University's first EV charging stations. Take Back the Tap initiative promotes the use of reusable water bottles. Through funding provided by the Green Action Fund (GAF), the entire freshman class was given reusable water bottles to utilize the many refilling stations. With the campaign initiated to stop the sale of bottled water on campus, a bill was drafted by students and put on the Spring 2011 ballot. The bill passed to eliminate the sale of bottled water on campus by Fall 2014.

SUSTAINOVATION: The third annual Sustainnovation event revolved around the theme of climate change. Students, faculty and staff came together to learn, connect and act upon ways to address climate change and advance sustainability within the region. 10th ANNIVERSARY: The Office of Sustainability celebrated its 10th anniversary marking a decade of dedicated faculty, staff and students working to decrease UCCS’ carbon footprint. CAMPUS CONSERVATION NATIONALS (CCN): The month long conservation challenge encouraged residential students to decrease their energy and water use. Each week, the office worked with Residence Life to host an event to engage and educate students on many ways to conserve. Throughout the month long campaign, residential students decreased about 70.364kWh per day, which is an equivalent to $7.74 saved per day. KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL: binsOne of our Recycling Coordinator student staff, Alex Greanias, wrote and received 50 slim jim recycling bins through the Keep America Beautiful Bin Grant. These bins were placed throughout campus to help increase our diversion rate. OZZI: A student intern, Mae Rohrbach, wrote and received a grant through the Green Action Fund to purchase the OZZI machine. This program has the goal of reducing single-use containers within Café 65 and Clyde’s by providing reusable containers.


2016
GREEN RIBBON
SUSTAINNOVATE: The Office hosted its fourth annual Sustainnovate Symposium on the topic of sustainable mobility, featuring speakers, exhibits, awards, and workshops. The event focuses on the idea of learn, connect, and act. Throughout the day, student, faculty, staff and community members learned about community infrastructure, new technologies, and more! CCN: This year UCCS Campus Conservation Nationals campaign had an overall electricity reduction of 3.19% (8,771 kWh). UCCS met its original goal of achieving 2-3% reduction in electricity use. The reduction was equivalent to averting roughly 15,947 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, and approximately $831 in savings. GREEN RIBBON: University of Colorado Colorado Springs was selected as the state of Colorado’s nomination for the 2016 US Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Awards. The award recognizes schools for reducing environmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and providing environmental education, which teaches many disciplines, and is especially good at incorporating STEM, civic skills, and green career pathways. COS BIKE SUMMIT: UCCS hosted the first annual Colorado Springs Bike Summit, which is designed to get information to people who care about biking, create bike advocates, and shape a vision of what is possible in Colorado Springs.

SUSTAINNOVATE: The Office hosted its fourth annual Sustainnovate Symposium on the topic of sustainable mobility, featuring speakers, exhibits, awards, and workshops. The event focuses on the idea of learn, connect, and act. Throughout the day, student, faculty, staff and community members learned about community infrastructure, new technologies, and more! CCN: This year UCCS Campus Conservation Nationals campaign had an overall electricity reduction of 3.19% (8,771 kWh). UCCS met its original goal of achieving 2-3% reduction in electricity use. The reduction was equivalent to averting roughly 15,947 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, and approximately $831 in savings. GREEN RIBBON: University of Colorado Colorado Springs was selected as the state of Colorado’s nomination for the 2016 US Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Awards. The award recognizes schools for reducing environmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and providing environmental education, which teaches many disciplines, and is especially good at incorporating STEM, civic skills, and green career pathways. COS BIKE SUMMIT: UCCS hosted the first annual Colorado Springs Bike Summit, which is designed to get information to people who care about biking, create bike advocates, and shape a vision of what is possible in Colorado Springs.

Espresso Yourself was a campaign that allowed student to color there own pins to raise awareness on bringing there own reusable cup to the on-campus coffee shops.

PIPS:
PRESIDENTIAL SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS CHALLENGE:
COMPOST IN KFL:

In 2020 we started our assessment of STARS (Sustainable Tracking Assessment Rating System). We earned a rating of Gold and a score of 65.05 on our fourth submission. We improved on Innovation & Leadership, Campus Engagement, and Food & Dining compared to our submission. We saw a decrease in Investment & Finance, Transportation, Research, Energy, and Diversity & Affordability compared to our last submission. Although UCCS saw a decrease in overall score along with individual credits, campus partners supported the efforts of tracking and reporting longitudinal sustainability data during a very difficult time in our global history. Through this perseverance, we have updated information to improve our Campus Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030.

IDK BIN: This campaign came out of a student going to an ASSHE Conference and see another campus doing this campaign on their own campus. It started in 2020 with putting them in certain locations in the KFL Library. Though this campaign could not be completed in 2020 it was brought back in 2021 where the top items discovered were on-campus coffee cups, wrappers, and off-campus coffee cups.