University of Virginia
EN-3: Student Life

UVA students across Grounds are passionately pursuing initiatives to make the University a more environmentally responsible and sustainable place. Empowered and creative students have incorporated sustainability into the culture of UVA. Over thirty sustainability-minded, Contracted Independent Organizations (CIOs) led by students approach sustainability from every angle, from responsibly sourced food in dining halls to initiating bike fixing stations around Grounds to making art with recycled materials. All projects are student-governed. The number of groups and involvement in these groups has exploded over the past three years. Campus Kitchen: The Campus Kitchens Project is a local chapter of a national non-profit that is committed to student-powered hunger relief. By taking prepared, unused food from dining halls and other sources, we are able to make meals for local community organizations such as the Salvation Army and On Our Own. To learn more about the national organization, please feel free to go to their website: http://www.campuskitchens.org/ To learn more about the Campus Kitchen at UVA, feel free to go to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theCKatUVA. Climate Action Society: Climate Action Society exists to educate and encourage a student body that is convicted to solve the global climate crisis and to assist in propelling our university forward to become a leading institution in the field of sustainability. It serves as the connection between the global climate justice movement and the UVA student body. One of CAS’s main projects is sustainable investment at UVA. CAS works closely with the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition, which connects student campaigns across the state and provides a platform for students to advocate for progressive, environmental change across the state; 350.org; and Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Crafting for Conservation: Members of Crafting for Conservation create aesthetically pleasing art and crafts out of recyclable materials during weekly meetings, thus supporting the recycling cause and promoting friendship and creativity. These crafts may be sold at art shows, in which the proceeds collected will go towards a green cause or group and/or towards C.F.C’s finances. Through its products, mission, and activities, Crafting for Conservation serves to raise awareness about the environmental benefits of recycling and living green, and strives to inspire others to act in more eco-friendly ways DECAF: The Daring Explorers of Creative & Alternative Foods meet twice a month in the French House to cook and learn about different recipes. We specialize in recipes that include dietary restrictions but everyone is welcome to join–not just those with restrictions! In the past, we have made vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, kosher, and other dishes, and we are always accepting suggestions! We also occasionally go out as a group to the farmers’ market, to pick apples at Carter’s Mountain, or to enjoy a nice meal at a local restaurant. See our past projects at decafatuva.wordpress.com! EcoMod
: The ecoMOD / ecoREMOD Project is an initiative to design and build sustainable / highly energy-efficient housing for affordable housing units. Since 2004, over 400 architecture and engineering (and many other disciplines) have participated in some phase of the project. Rather than a club, ecoMOD / ecoREMOD is run through seminar and design studios in the School of Architecture and School of Engineering and Applied Science. Students from all disciplines are welcome. See www.ecomod.virginia.edu ENACTUS
: The Enactus team at UVA works to empower communities through the power of entrepreneurship. Enactus members work on multiple project teams throughout the year including multiple programs teaching business and leadership allowing opportunity for success and benefits in the community – one specific example being Earth Hour, empowering the university community to conserve their energy use. The mission of Enactus is to inspire action and the method of achieving this mission is through social entrepreneurship. For more information on Enactus and other Enactus team projects, visit www.enactusatuva.org Engineering Students Without Borders: Engineering Students Without Borders (ESWB) is a student run organization at the University of Virginia that’s focused on applying sustainable engineering methods to carry out local and international community development projects. Our mission is to inspire students to be proactive and contextually aware engineers who empower communities to attain their basic human needs in a sustainable manner. 
ESWB.ORG Environmental Sciences Organization: The Environmental Sciences Organization (ESO) provides a link between the Environmental Sciences Department and the students of the University. While the organization is mainly geared toward undergraduate majors and minors in the department, it has its share of members from many different disciplines of the University. However, all members have one thing in common–an interest in the Environmental Sciences. ESO aims to aid students in becoming more involved in and educated about the Environmental Sciences Department. Members are provided with many opportunities to get to know the professors in the department as well as what the department has to offer outside of a major or minor. One of the organization’s core components is the aid, advice, and support that members have to offer each other about courses, activities, and resources within the department. ESO is able to do this through its many activities such as peer advising about courses, seminars about the department and professions in the Environmental sciences, and career and job search resources. Other enjoyable activities sponsored by ESO include the department barbeque, hiking trips, canoe trips, whitewater rafting, and a variety of fun outdoor activities. All University students are welcome to join and participate in any activity. Website: www.uvaeso.tumblr.com Food Collaborative
: The University of Virginia Food Collaborative works to promote research, Photo of the Food Collaborative Group teaching, and community engagement around issues of food, agriculture and sustainability. Established in January 2010, the Collaborative includes faculty, staff, students, and community members. Current faculty and student research focuses on farmers markets, schoolyard gardens, food deserts, local food heritage, and other topics. The Food Collaborative sponsors talks, panels, and film screenings, and provides a focal point for University and community efforts to study and improve regional and local food systems. http://www.virginia.edu/vpr/sustain/foodcollaborative/ Global Brigades – Architecture: Our chapter provides students a unique opportunity to see the entire design and construction process from beginning to end. Every spring, there is a design competition among universities nationwide for the next project that will be built in Honduras, Panama, or Ghana. On top of the design process, students interested in helping build the project fundraise all year in order to travel to Honduras over winter break to work with local people to build the current project. The trip includes five days of construction, one day of visiting other Global Brigades projects and educating children at an orphanage on the basics of architecture. Global Brigades – Water
: Global Water Brigades is a student-driven organization that seeks to address the issue of clean water access and conservation both here at U.Va and across the globe. Every year, our group organizes service trips to Honduras and Ghana, where students work alongside local communities, bringing clean water to some of the most remote and impoverished areas. At U.Va, we organize a series of events and initiatives that seek to educate the student body on the water crisis and its solutions. Green Dining: Student lead group that identifies and advocates operational change as it relates food systems, waste management and resource conservation. Group meets on a bi-weekly basis to discuss and strategize best practices. Green Grounds
: The Green Grounds Group is dedicated to educating and advocating for sustainable planning, design, implementation and operations on the grounds of the University of Virginia. Formed in 2004 by planning and architecture students to address green design at the University, the group has evolved to sponsor projects that encompass a range of sustainable design ideas – from green roofs to energy use to transportation. Through each project, Green Grounds works with a diverse set of university stakeholders including administrators, staff, faculty, students and community members. Greens to Grounds: Greens to Grounds is a student run non-profit that delivers locally grown produce, meat and specialty items to students on grounds. We operate as a community supported agriculture (CSA) initiative and work with local farmers and producers to get the best quality sustainably grown food possible for our customers. Beyond supporting local Charlottesville farmers and providing students with exceptional food, our mission is to help educate students about the virtues of buying and eating locally. Our customers are at a critical point in the development of their shopping habits, likely experiencing food autonomy for the first time in their lives, and we want to encourage them to be conscious food consumers. We want to be part of a paradigm shit away from unsustainable subsidized, destructive mega-agriculture and towards sustainable, wholesome, environmentally-friendly local food production. If you are interested in hearing more about our mission, reading our local food blog, finding interesting recipes, seeing what’s in our weekly boxes and/or joining the movement and buying a box, please visit our website at greenstogrounds.com. Lettuce make change together. Peas and love. IFC Sustainability
: The University of Virginia Inter-Fraternity Council Sustainability Committee is committed to developing and administering programs aimed at decreasing the environmental impact of the Greek Community for the benefit of the Charlottesville community as a whole. Every weekend we work to maintain the clean, and respectable condition of Rugby road and the surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, we continue to work work toward implementing incentivized programs designed to fully engage the Greek Community in recycling initiatives. Our goal is to encourage and assist environmentally sustainable efforts that may help to promote environmentalism within the University and Charlottesville communities for years to come. Net Impact (Undergraduate): Net Impact is an organization run by students whose mission is to inspire, educate and provide individuals with the necessary tools to intertwine business and social impact, creating a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. Net Impact focuses on creating a positive change on grounds by raising awareness of sustainability careers, offering educational lectures on the importance of social impact in business settings and giving individuals the opportunity to build relationships with local social impact business leaders. In broader terms, Net Impact is a global nonprofit organization with students and professional members that has more than 240 chapters on six continents and thousands of professional, graduate, and undergraduate members. https://www.facebook.com/netimpactuva Outdoors Club: Through both service projects and recreational adventures, Outdoors at UVa promotes an active and caring respect for the natural wilderness around which our community is built. Previous service projects include assisting the Appalachian Trail Foundation in parts of Shennandoah National Park, the annual canoe/cleanup of the Rivanna Watershed with the Rivanna Conservation Society, Stream stabilization project in Azalea Park, trail maintenance at Walnut Creek county park, and trail building with the Nature Conservancy.
For more information, visit outdoorsatuva.org. Oxfam America at UVa: Oxfam America at UVa is a new CIO on grounds that was formed last fall. As a CIO, we work closely with Oxfam America, which is non-profit organization that works with local communities to find solutions to hunger, poverty, and social injustice. Oxfam America sends our group updates on their current campaigns and initiatives and we spread the word on campus, educating the student body about Oxfam’s global campaigns. We do this primarily through tabling/flyering, petition signing, and by hosting events. Our main focus is really to educate students about what Oxfam America is working on in the hopes that we inspire students who have similar passions to join us in our fight against global injustices. SARC- EcoReps
: The EcoReps are the official sustainability group within the School of Architecture at UVA. Grads and undergrads, staff, and faculty within the School of Architecture are welcome to join. We focus on making the A-school a more sustainable environment, working on issues regarding energy, waste/recycling, paper/printing, general awareness, and more. SEED
: Student Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) aims to help start-up NGOs worldwide by offering free consulting services in the areas of microfinance, operational efficiency, and marketing strategy. By incorporating best practices, it aims to foster economic development in local communities. SEED also strives to encourage social entrepreneurship within the University of Virginia community by hosting educational conferences and workshops and serving as a resource for networking between students and active practitioners. Slow Food
: Slow Food at UVA is a loose organization that promotes good, clean, and fair food at the University and within greater Charlottesville. We host food-related events ranging from cooking classes to flash seminars with local businesses to workshops in food photography or brewing kombucha. We publicize our events mainly through our email list but anyone is welcome to attend. http://slowfoodatuva.wordpress.com Student Council Sustainability Committee: The Sustainability Committee is a committee of the University of Virginia’s Student Council. The Committee strives to protect and improve the rights, opportunities, and quality of life for the University community through sustainability. We coordinate within and between the student body, sustainably-minded CIOs, the Office of Sustainability, and student government at UVA. StudCo Sustainability has developed a composting program for CIOs that includes a Zero Waste event training and then access to compostable serviceware for their events, as well access to a centrally located compost bin. This system has allowed CIOs the opportunity to host zero waste events and reduced compost contamination issues.

All projects are student-governed. UVa Community Garden: Started by a student initiative, the University of Virginia’s Community Garden hopes to be a space for both Charlottesville and the University to learn more about organic gardening. Keeping with the agricultural traditions of the University’s founder, Thomas Jefferson, the garden is a place to foster the growth of community as well as food. The objectives of this garden are as follows: (1) To provide a valuable educational resource to UVa students, faculty, and staff; (2) To serve as a resource and link to the greater Charlottesville community; (3) To model the most economically, socially, and ecologically sustainable farming practices available to us, while preserving an integral part of the landscape and the local economy; (4) To provide UVa students, faculty, and staff with the opportunities to work on a farm and to learn the skills needed to produce food, experiencing its joys and challenges; and (5) To make UVa a model of organic gardening and sustainability. If you would like to join the UVA Community Garden volunteer email list for regular updates and volunteer opportunities, please send a note to uvacommunitygarden@gmail.com. Thomas Jefferson Demonstration Garden: Located at the Hereford Residential College, the teaching garden is made up of Jefferson-documented “useful” plants, including varieties used for the production of food, medicine, textiles, dyes, and other materials that sustain and enhance life. The garden allows for hands-on teacher/student collaboration that encourages intellectual growth and enhances the physical characteristics of Hereford Residential College, all the while adhering to Hereford’s mission: to explore what it means to live responsibly as a sustainably-minded community. http://tjdemogarden.wordpress.com/ Morven Kitchen Garden
: Morven Kitchen Garden is a student run, one acre, living laboratory in sustainable market farming. Our mission is to provide student leadership opportunities in sustainable market farming, inspire community participation in local food systems, and to offer an outdoor laboratory for agricultural research. In recognition of Mc. McAuliff'es visionary leadership, funding was just approved for the creation of the First Lady's Food Lab, which will provide MKG the opportunity to expand its CSA and GAP certification to provide more student grown sustainable food in UVA Dining Halls. https://morvenkitchengarden.wordpress.com/, https://www.news.virginia.edu/content/uva-inaugurates-morven-food-lab-honor-first-lady-virginia Madison House Community Garden: Volunteers work with Piedmont Virginia Community College students and community members to cultivate and maintain an organic garden for use as a practical learning platform for environmentally sound horticulture. Food produced in the garden is donated to the Haven.

Greens to Grounds: a non-profit, student-run CSA (community supported agriculture) model bringing fresh, local produce to the UVA and Charlottesville community. They strive to create a sustainable relationship between the UVA student body and the Charlottesville agricultural community. They seek to provide students, faculty and community members with access to fresh, seasonal, and local produce on a weekly basis.

Darden Capital Management (DCM) is a student organization that prepares students for careers in asset management by managing approximately $5 million of Darden’s endowment. One of five funds managed by DCM, the Rotunda Fund integrates sustainability research with fundamental analysis to select investments that are likely to outperform the market due to the improved long-term financial performance and lower risk features that accompany sustainable practices. The Fund is student-governed. The University Committee on Sustainability advises the Executive Vice Presidents on all matters related to the University’s commitment to sustainability and how those impact the future of the University including interrelated environmental, financial, teaching, research, and social aspects. There is now a working group on the committee dedicated to sustainable finance. This working group is developing a Responsible Investment proposal that will go in front of the Board of Visitors in September. The Committee is not student-governed. The Climate Action Society has begun a divestment campaign. Students support the Responsible Investment proposal proposed by the University Committee on Sustainability working group.

Over 80 student-focused sustainability events are held at UVa annually, including over 20 during Earth Week. For details: https://sustainability.virginia.edu/topics/civicengagement/events.html Game Day Recycling Challenge – Since 2010, U.Va. has participated in a national competition to reduce materials sent to the landfill from one home football game. U.Va. holds the ACC Recycling title with a 70% recycling rate. This impressive recycling rate is achieved with the help of over 100 volunteers tasked to help fans recycle their materials at tailgating sites, converting disposable products to compostable or recyclable products, and collecting compost from the suites and concessions. Dorm Energy Race – A month-long electricity reduction competition amongst first year residences, the Dorm Energy Race aims to galvanize first years to reduce their electricity consumption, while building community through fun, energy reduction events in residences. U.Va Sustainability Day – An annual event to celebrate and innovate sustainable solutions on Grounds. Examples of sustainability-themed events held as part of U.Va. Sustainability Days include a Global Sustainability student project poster competition, Careers in Yum (sustainable food career conversations, presentations). America Recycles Day – A national event, America Recycles Day at U.Va. draws hundreds of attendees interested in learning more about recycling. The event raises awareness about the benefits of recycling and buying products made with recycled materials and how to re-use items that normally would be thrown away. America Recycles Day offers creative crafts, recycled art, recycling games and local green groups to engage participants and increase awareness of recycling opportunities in our community. RecycleMania – A national eight week competition between colleges and universities to see which institution can reduce, reuse, and recycle the most waste. During the competition, the Office for Sustainability and our partners host events to raises awareness about the benefits of recycling and buying products made with recycled materials and how to re-use items that normally would be thrown away. Events feature creative crafts, recycled art, recycling games and film screenings to engage participants and increase awareness of recycling opportunities on Grounds. World Water @ UVA – The World Water Events at the University of Virginia will bring together multiple disciplines within the academic community, water professionals, and public interest around national and international water challenges which we all face. https://uvaworldwater.org/ SustainaBanquet – The Student Council Sustainability Committee & Committee on Sustainability hosts the annual SustainaBanquet during Earth Week, to recognize sustainability milestones and champions of the past year. The awards dinner highlights student groups, staff, faculty and students that have positively influenced the sustainability community at U.Va. and features UVA's sustainability thought leaders as guest speakers. Earth Week Expo – A week-long celebration of sustainability at U.Va. And in the community. Earth Week brings together students, faculty, staff and community members to celebrate sustainability milestones, take sustainable actions, inspire change and build community. U.Va. Sustainability Summit – Since 2013, the Committee on Sustainability hosts an annual retreat to bring key student, faculty and staff sustainability leaders together to identify high level goals for sustainability at U.Va. and includes flash-talks from UVA's top sustainability researchers. The retreat also hosts a student summit in the afternoon, to bring sustainability student leaders together to network and identify common goals for the upcoming year.

Healing Through Art & Community with Candy Chang-New Orleans artist, renowned speaker, and creator of the Before I Die walls, Candy Chang, shares her inspirational insights on the healing power of participatory public art to help overcome personal and community challenges. Candy’s art invites neighbors to share their hopes and engage in collaborative action. In addition, to highlight the experiences of community leaders in New Orleans, we will be joined by New Orleans humanitarian and coastal resilience leader, Happy Johnson. Time Lapse Dance performance of "Ice Cycle" part of the Climate Cultures Symposium-New York based Time Lapse Dance performs Ice Cycle live during Climate Cultures at the University of Virginia. Expressing the fragility and dynamism of the Arctic icescape, Ice Cycle was inspired by choreographer Jody Sperling's journey to the Chukchi Sea and her experience dancing on polar sea ice. Alaskan-born composer Matthew Burtner, a specialist in the music of snow and ice, collaborated to create an original score for Sperling's choreography. http://music.virginia.edu/ice-cycle

The Outdoors Club is a student-led group that leads a variety of trips into the surrounding appalachian area. http://www.outdoorsatuva.org/. The Outdoor Recreation center allow students to rent equipment that they want to go on a variety of excursions including camping, rock climbing and water sports. The Environmental Sciences Organization conducts similar trips.

The Forums Curriculum-FOOD, SOCIETY, AND SUSTAINABILITY & Human Impact on the Environment are two forums being offered this year through the College of Arts & Sciences. The Forums offer opportunities to explore critical questions of our time by tailoring groups of courses around a central theme/topic/problem. The Forums are designed and led by some of the University’s most committed scholar-teachers, each with years of expertise researching their Forum topic. Each Forum admits 40 students who will share a first-year introductory seminar on the specific topic. In the fourth semester (spring of your second year), the Forum students will come back together in a Capstone class in which they will work in teams on case studies and research pertaining to the topic. Over the course of the first two years, Forum students will enroll in courses (24-27 credits) from the full range of the liberal arts and sciences that are hand-picked by the Forum faculty and directly address the Forum topic.

UVA provides online videos on how to recycle and how to have a green dorm. Additionally, the Sustainability Advocates program and ongoing outreach events such as the October Dorm Energy race promote sustainable living in residence halls. Outreach materials include a newsletter and Green Tips. In 2017, the Office for Sustainability & Housing and Residence Life offered the Green Living Certification Program to all on-Grounds residences.

The Office for Sustainability hires a group of 15-17 paid student employees who work during the school year and summer, up to 20 hours per week. Sustainability Student Employees are committed to making sustainability part of the UVa community. The students work in teams to address four key areas of sustainability: Recycling, Energy & Water, Student Outreach and UVa Sustainability Promotion. Through various events and programs, the student employees coordinate & communicate the University’s sustainability efforts and educate their peers on ways to be more sustainable. Current Programs include: • Sustainability Advocates Program • UVa Sustainability Days • Zero Waste Athletics • Dorm Energy Race • Recyclemania • World Water Week • Earth Week • Chuck it for Charity Sustainability Student Employees receive 8 hours of formal training at the beginning of the semester, followed by weekly staff meetings and weekly team meetings. The experienced team leaders are instructed to pass along knowledge regarding projects to their teams and meet with the Program Manager regularly to plan and execute initiatives. Student Employees attend (when available) a summer retreat to set the outreach objectives for the year as well as team-building activities. Facilities Management and the Office for the Architect also host internships related to sustainability. Summer internships are 40 hours a week for 10 weeks, with each internship focusing on a specific project (e.g. Green Athletics, Green Living, Energy Conservation, Water Action Plan). Students can also work for sustainability-minded professors doing research.

The University of Virginia Law School has an official "Pro Bono Program" in which 265 students logged pro bono hours, 17,609 pro bono hours logged, 105 Class of 2014 graduates completed at least 75 hours of pro bono while in law school, 45 students participated in the Alternative Spring Break trip with eleven different locations (students in Washington, D.C., above). For more information, please refer to: http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/publicserv/probono.htm