From water fountains to supplying free food to students, the Office of Sustainability has been making big impacts since its founding.  

Established in 2005 to implement sustainability initiatives at UCCS, the program has been a leading figure for reusability, sustainability and community involvement within the state of Colorado, according to Polly Knutson, director of the sustainability program and the UCCS Farm. 

In collaboration with Green Action Fund (GAF), the Office of Sustainability has led initiatives like bottled water refilling stations, areas for recycling and reconstruction of the Tava Trail, a trail extending behind the Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center and connects Alpine Village to garages and parking lots on campus. 

Before the Office of Sustainability was established, few UCCS organizations had sustainable initiatives, according to the Office of Sustainability’s website. Students for Environmental Awareness and Sustainability, a club founded in 2003, was the first organization that encouraged climate consciousness on campus.    

According to their website, the Office of Sustainability was created in 2005 to develop climate action initiatives on campus. A five-dollar semesterly fee was added to students’ tuition in Spring 2012 to fund the newly established GAF. This fee has been raised since its implementation and now stands at $6.39 per semester according to GAF’s website.  

The biggest project the two organizations have collaborated on is the UCCS Farm, which houses farm life like chickens and bunnies as well as a variety of plants. According to Knutson, the Farm has offered volunteer opportunities since 2013. 

The Farm is funded by money made from the dining halls and allows students to have free and healthy produce available to them on campus, according to Knutson. Students can access produce grown on the farm during Fresh Food Friday events at Clyde’s Cupboard, UCCS’ non-need-based food pantry. 

The plant soil at the Farm is nourished by food scraps that are collected from dining hall kitchens and turned into compost. Food waste that comes from students’ plates is given to waste management by the Sustainability Office and turned into compost off site for use in public works projects starting in 2012, Knutson said.  

When produce grown on the farm is not stored in Clyde’s Cupboard, it is sold at UCCS’ farmers market, hosted by the Office of Sustainability, that gives students an opportunity to sell their goods. 

In addition to supporting the Farm, the projects that the Office of Sustainability have spearheaded includes the implementation of solar panels on campus, looks over new building projects to implement green practices and works with colleges and universities across Colorado Springs to bring sustainability initiatives to other campuses, according to the 2030 Sustainability Strategic Plan.  

The Office of Sustainability hosts monthly meetings with a sustainability committee made of staff and students passionate about green action. “Anyone from the campus is highly encouraged to be part of it if they have any interest in sustainability at all,” Knutson said.  

Students can find information about future events hosted by the Office of Sustainability by visiting their Moutain Lion Connect page or by reaching out to [email protected]  

Plants at the Farm. Photo by Logan Cole.