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UCCS Office of Sustainability Newsletter

 February 2016  

Couldn't attend our latest event? No worries! Check out what you missed by visiting our 
Join us for the following events: 
 
 
2/23
LEED Building Tour & Energy Campaign
11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Academic Office Bldg
Students, staff and faculty! Join us to learn more about the building you occupy and what you can do to help conserve energy on campus. Check out the bike generator, wind turbine and solar panel display in the lobby.
 
2/24
CCN: Less is S'more
7 PM - 9 PM 
Copper Conf. Room
Join the Energy & Water team in a Campus Conservation Nationals event to help reduce energy in the residence halls. Turn off your lights and laptop and come enjoy s'mores!

3/2 
CCN: Upcycle It!
7 PM - 9 PM
The Lift Lounge
Join the Energy & Water team in a Campus Conservation Nationals event to help reduce energy in the residence halls. Turn off your lights and laptop and enjoy a Pintrest-style craft expo with help from local business Who Gives A Scrap!
 
3/9  
CCN: Energy on Your Plate
7 PM - 9 PM 
LaPlata Lounge
Join the Energy & Water team in a Campus Conservation Nationals event to help reduce energy in the residence halls. Turn off your lights and laptop and come enjoy food! Learn about how much energy goes into what you eat.
 
3/10
The Primary Source: Film & Speaker
7 PM - 9 PM
Dwire 121
Come engage in outdoor adventure and leadership with a special film about the primary source river to the Amazon and a presentation from an amazing adventurer who's goal is to help college students find their passion and go and get it!

4/12
Sustainnovate Student Summit
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Berger Hall
Join us for a screening of the captivating documentary
Pump. How do we escape our dependency on oil? Come engage in this very important topic.

4/13
Sustainnovate: Sustainabile Mobility Summit
7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Berger Hall
Join us for a day long conversation with workshops, speakers and new vehicle technology demonstrations.

4/22
Earth Day Celebration:
Beat the Hill
Celebration on West Lawn
Clean the Stream via Bike
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Various Locations
Want many ways to celebrate our beautiful Mother Earth? Join in the fun all day or choose an event that speaks to you or fits in your schedule. Beat the hill to campus and win prizes and compete for the fastest time. Or engage with local organizations and UCCS community who are working on sustainable initiatives. Or join us on bike as we clean up a portion of the Fountain Creek Watershed....via bike! Stay tuned for more details.



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Want to register for this year's Sustainnovate?



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Navigate. Explore. GPS. Summit Experience: all sound like phrases and terms one would use while hiking the Front Range, don't they? Well, they also apply to the new general education framework implemented at UCCS in the fall of 2014 called Compass Curriculum.  


 
For many students and faculty alike, our laboratories on campus serve as both academic research facilities and incubators for innovation. From computer and circuitry, to robotics and radon labs, these facilities are crucial to providing practical educational opportunities for all who use them. So how cool would it be if there were a program that could track progress on how these labs operated, while providing suggestions on how they can run more efficiently?
  

 
Interview by Linda Kogan with Ryan Trujillo

 
 

A hub of creation, innovation, and sustainability-aimed communication, the Sustainability Demonstration House is always buzzing with energy. Running on the passion of student employees and volunteers, and the dedication of interns and staff, the office is constantly seeing new faces introduced to the sustainability world. One of the newer faces at the office is that of David Rodgers, Energy & Water Assistant. David was kind enough to take the time to answer some questions so we could get to know him better.

Office of Sustainability Intern Program
Do you find yourself turning off lights in every empty classroom you pass? Do you wish you could help reduce Colorado Springs hunger by providing those in need with food that otherwise would have been disposed of? Do you tend to pick up litter along walks all while thinking of our watershed? How about focusing your passion and interest with an internship with the Office of Sustainability?

We have all heard the benefits an internship can provide, especially as you are entering the job market for the first time. Internships can be great resume boosters, provide networking opportunities, and can give you a taste of the career you want to pursue. The Office of Sustainability is excited to launch a new intern program, giving students a chance to gain some valuable work experience and partner with our community organizations.

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.

Green Action Fund Update
The Green Action Fund (GAF) was created to reduce the  ecological footprint of UCCS and promote sustainable environmental, social and economic values through a variety of student-sponsored projects. The GAF Committee is a student run organization with a couple of faculty and staff advisers. The committee reviews, rates and approves projects with the intent of creating a more sustainable campus culture. 
  • If you have a project, submit your proposal to the GAF! You can find us on Mountain Lion Connect, or check our our website: www.uccs.edu/gaf
  • Recently approved projects:
    • UCCS Machine Shop 3D printer Filament Recycler
    • SpaceX Design Competition travel funds
    • Hitspot food rescue App
    • Mountain Metro Bus Passes for international students
    • El Pomar IT Center Hydration Station
    • Energy &Water Conservation campus demonstration project
    • Zero Hero Waste Station
  • Find us on Facebook 
  • Email us questions at greenfun@uccs.edu
Students for Environmental Awareness and Sustainability Update

S.E.A.S. was founded in 2003 by a group of impassioned students, including our very own Linda Kogan, that wanted to bring sustainability to UCCS. S.E.A.S. is a student-run group that aims to educate the campus about conservation and sustainability practices. S.E.A.S. has been actively initiating change at UCCS, including taking the lead on the first UCCS LEED gold building, implementing the successful Take Back the Tap campaign, establishing the Heller student garden, and leading the UCCS divestment campaign.

  • Meetings: Every other Wednesday 10:30 a.m. @ University Center
  • Student Garden - Located in the Heller Center, the Student Garden is aimed towards forming a permaculture with sustainable design, promoting the importance of mindfulness when it comes to the environment.
  • Find us on Facebook
  • Check out our website: http://www.uccs.edu/~seas/
 Volunteer Spotlight

Ash Haag
A  Sociology major at UCCS, Ash can often be found at Sustainability events, or out helping collect cardboard. The Office of Sustainability  thanks you for all of your hard work and dedication, Ash. We couldn't do it without you!
Thank you, Ash!
 
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