Chelsea ColleySustainability is evolving at the University of Kentucky. Over the last decade, faculty, staff, and students have led the way in creating positive change around campus by lowering emissions, reducing waste, seeking sustainability-related degrees, and making sustainability more accessible and inclusive for all students.
Sustainability is integrated into the University of Kentucky’s academics, research, and student experience, and it’s never been easier to find ways to get involved! Check out the comprehensive list below to find out where to start.
Form Zero Waste Habits
UK Recycling aims to provide as many resources as possible to students to encourage them to live less wastefully and more mindfully! If you are new to campus or new to recycling, make sure to check out their website for all up-to-date information and programming.
EcoReps – EcoReps serve as sustainability ambassadors in their residence hall as they provide outreach, participate in events, and help further the University’s sustainability goals.
Lexington Zero Waste Map – Check out this interactive map to view recycling centers, donation centers, repair stores, thrift stores, and resell stores in Lexington!
Give and Go Donation Stations – During the last few weeks of each semester, UK Recycling places Donation Stations in the lobby of every residence hall and donates the usable unwanted items to community partners.
Waste Reduction Week – UK Recycling hosted their first Waste Reduction Week in Spring ’21, holding a free thrift shop event, documentary screenings, waste-related academic lectures, and more!
Adopt An Alternative Form of Transportation
Whether you choose to walk, bike, bus, or scooter, by choosing to utilize UK’s alternative transportation, you’re making a decision that will save you money, improve your health, lessen UK’s carbon footprint and reduce traffic and parking congestion.
Big Blue Cycles – Big Blue Cycles is a fleet of 150 bicycles available to students who live in campus housing and who sign a one-year commitment not to purchase a campus parking permit.
Buses and Shuttles – UK’s on-campus routes operate on a continuous loop, providing riders with reliable and timely transportation.
E-Scooters – Bird scooters are available on campus and are a cost-effective mode of transportation; they cost $1 to unlock, plus 39¢ per minute.
Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library – WWBL is a nationally-recognized educational resource that provides free bicycle use and repair assistance to UK students and employees.
Join a Student Organization
There are endless opportunities to engage with sustainability at UK – to start, take a look at some student organizations that have led sustainability initiatives in the past! The organizations listed below are by no means exhaustive of all sustainability-related students orgs on campus.
Campus Kitchen – CKUK recovers food and produce from campus dining facilities, grocery stores, and farmers markets to prepare healthy, balanced meals for those experiencing poverty, hunger, isolation, and/or homelessness in the Lexington and UK community.
Energy Club – UK’s Energy Club provides a place for students interested in energy-related issues to learn more about these issues through seminars, company tours, networking with students and professionals, and by engaging in club projects!
Greenthumb – An environmental advocacy organization, Greenthumb’s current campaign is focused on divesting UK’s endowment from fossil fuel technologies.
Student Sustainability Council – The SSC was formed to supervise the distribution of the Environmental Stewardship Fee, and distributes about $200,000 each year to campus sustainability projects!
Eat Mindfully and Sustainably
UK Dining is passionately focused on reducing the environmental impact of its operations here on campus – click here to learn more about its programs and initiatives that make dining at UK an environmentally conscious endeavor.
Big Blue Pantry – The Big Blue Pantry operates on donations and is open to any University of Kentucky student with a valid UK ID experiencing food insecurity or hunger.
Swipe Ahead Program – Swipe Ahead is a program students may apply for to receive meal swipes to assist in meeting unmet dining needs during the school year.
The Food Connection – UK’s Food Connection is a food systems center that serves farmers, food producers, students, and consumers through the creation of strategies for a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable food economy.
Educate Yourself
UK has countless majors, minors, classes, and research opportunities related to sustainability. Check out this resource to learn more about what’s offered!
Courses – Sustainability is integrated into curriculum across the University. Click here to view a list of sustainability-related courses.
Degree Programs – UK has several degree programs that focus on or heavily feature sustainability themes.
Research – Sustainability Summer Research Fellowships seek to promote projects that will contribute to sustainability focused research initiatives at the University.
Make a Lasting Impact on Campus
There are numerous opportunities available for students to gain hands-on experience in sustainability around campus. The Sustainability Internship Program is the best place to start!
The Sustainability Internship Program – Each year, students from various majors are given the opportunity to gain valuable experience in sustainability through the Sustainability Internship Program. Interns work over the semester to foster real change on campus and jumpstart a successful career in sustainability. Click here to learn more about the SIP!
Stay in the Loop
Follow us on social media and sign up for our e-newsletter to stay in the loop and up to date with our current programs and opportunities. Keep an eye out for job or internship announcements, conference opportunities, and fun events!
Office of Sustainability – Sign up here to receive biweekly updates on UK’s sustainability scene delivered straight to your inbox!
UK Recycling – Follow UK Recycling on social media to stay up to date with programs and opportunities!
Center for Applied Energy Research – UK’s CAER investigates energy technologies to improve the environment – follow them to stay up to date on their latest breakthroughs!
Wholesum – Do you have advice, stories, experiences, anecdotes, or research to share related to sustainability? Click here to join the conversation on WholeSum. Your story could be the next catalyst for change on campus!
This semester, we challenge you to seek out opportunities to cultivate sustainability on campus. Check out one or more of the resources above to get started! #ZeroWasteCampus
Great post and great resources!