University of North Carolina, Greensboro
EN-3: Student Life

UNCGreen is a student-governed organization dedicated to advancing sustainability and environmental awareness on campus. Members work with the Office of Sustainability to address a variety of campus sustainability issues. Members also collaborate with other UNCG student groups to promote events and activities on campus.

Food Recovery Network is a national non-profit that unites students on college campuses to fight waste and feed people by recovering excess food and donating it to local people in need. FRN at UNCG collects food from the UNCG Cafeteria on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-4. That entails meeting with the other volunteers between the staircases on the first floor of the cafeteria, packaging the excess food provided, weighing it, and taking it to the Greensboro urban ministry (8 minutes away from campus- the shift leader transports the food and must have a car) on Mondays and Wednesdays.

UNCG Audubon Birding Conservationists is a group of students in the Triad area who are interested in learning more about birds and the places they live. We want to provide students with the gear, training, and hands-on opportunities to build long-lasting beautiful habitats to support wildlife in the Greensboro community. Join our group if you are interested in conserving plants & wildlife or keeping our green spaces on campus clean for students and community members to enjoy.

https://uncg.campuslabs.com/engage/organizations?categories=14605

The campus garden was started in October 2010. Faculty and staff, working with the Sustainability Office, were allowed use of the site of a demolished home to build the UNCGreensboro Gardens. The empty lot first contained 25 raised beds, constructed with boards salvaged from an old barn; this was expanded to more than 35 in 2012. Pathways are covered with wood chips from tree trimming and removal work that occurred on or near campus.

UNCGreensboro Gardens aims to build healthy, interactive communities through the collective production of locally grown, organic food. The UNCGG draws on the knowledge of various experts at the university and within the local community, including area master gardeners.

The Garden has been used by many classes, including Environmental Studies and a Classics course, “The Archaeology of Roman Daily Life,” in which students grew foods used by ancient Romans. "Environment in Anthropology" currently uses two beds, one for medicinal herbs and the other for edibles. Students are interested in ethnobotany and are looking at indigenous plants used in NC for healing.

Several staff groups have plots, and the Garden has also spawned a student gardening club. Dining Services has planted herbs in four beds for use in dishes they cater on campus.

The 2019 Mid-year Appalachian Energy Summit was hosted by the University of North Carolina Greensboro on Thursday, February 28th. The Mid-year Summit brought together students, faculty, and leaders in academia and business to exchange ideas and share best practices in support of a clean energy economy. Since 2012, the Summit has provided a platform through which UNC System campuses have worked together to avoid almost $800 million in utility costs.

The morning event was free and open to the public in addition to the keynote address by Jeremy Tarr over lunch. After lunch, the Working Groups met to continue the ongoing work from previous Summits, and the future work of sharing knowledge and ideas.

https://sustain.appstate.edu/initiatives/energy-summit/2019/mid-year/

The Sustainability Lecture and Dialogue Series features UNCG researchers (faculty and students) addressing issues integral to transforming our knowledge of and connections to the environment in order for us to build vibrant and thriving communities.

https://sustainability.uncg.edu/lecture-and-dialogue-series/

As the longest running program of its kind in the region, the UNCG Sustainability Film & Discussion Series continues to lend voice to environmental, sustainability, and climate issues affecting our community and the world. Join us each month for a new documentary film and discussion.

https://sustainability.uncg.edu/film-series/

The Outdoor Adventures Program is the outdoor education and recreation component within the Department of Campus Recreation at UNCG. Outdoor Adventures is a program housed in the Student Recreation Center and serves the UNCG community with its three divisions: Adventure Trips, Rental & Trip Center (outdoor equipment rental) and The Edge (indoor climbing wall). Outdoor Adventures strives to blend recreation and education to offer a quality outdoor experience for every participant.

The mission of UNCG Outdoor Adventures is to promote healthy, active lifestyles through outdoor recreation activities for the UNCG community. Staff aspire to enhance participants’ environmental awareness and technical outdoor skills while fostering a sense of community and encouraging positive relationships.

Leave No Trace principles are followed on all trips. LNT is taught to all participants - it is a cornerstone of the program philosophy when traveling in wilderness and outdoor locations. Over the past several years Outdoor Adventures members have also conducted stream clean-up service projects on a two-mile stretch of Buffalo Creek just north of campus.

Information for this credit was received from Mike Ackerman, Assistant Director for UNCG Outdoor Adventures.

Strong Residential Living Learning Community - Taking classes and building community help students in Strong College understand how sustainability can apply to local and global contexts.

The Office of Sustainability is eligible to hire two (2) Federal Work Study Students to work 20 hours per week throughout each year. In addition, we also offer students internship opportunities for volunteer service hours or course credit.