University of California, Riverside
EN-3: Student Life

Sustainable UCR is a grassroots student-led organization that advocates for sustainable practices on campus. We believe that there is a need for change and that students are LEEDers in making that change. We aim to empower students with knowledge and skills that enable them to become leaders in sustainability. We do this in a number of ways, by raising awareness among the student body, staff, and faculty, by giving input on campus and systemwide policies, and by connecting students to larger regional and statewide networks.

In April 2009, the UCR campus broke ground (literally) for a student-run community garden on campus. Sustainable UCR, the student organization for a greener campus, has been charged with coordinating the community gardens' day-to-day operations. In an effort to facilitate that coordination, Sustainable UCR is creating the first ever "Garden Guild", a group of students dedicated to maintaining and advancing the community garden. Our mission is to provide a space for the less fortunate to grow their own fruits and vegetables who are otherwise unable to incorporate fresh food into their diets. Produce from the garden will supplement the Salvation Army Food Box program, which is only able to supply processed or canned foods. We envision a world without hunger, poverty or destruction of the fragile world in which we live. Gardeners will receive their own plots and will be able to grow and care for their own plants. The garden will empower individuals and teach valuable life skills necessary to succeed in life. The garden, “Food for Thought”, provides food for thought to gardeners and community members alike. Students and children have food and energy for brainpower, while the garden teaches respect and appreciation for nature through environmental education. We demonstrate the importance of sustainable living, which means not extracting more than is necessary so that future generations and other organisms can also utilize natural resources.

The Garden will serve as a safe and inclusive space for learning, growing, and connecting UC Riverside with community members to engage in environmental education and sustainable practices. The garden is a space for students, faculty, staff, and community members, for growing fresh produce while learning about social, environmental, and economic sustainability through a food systems approach. Members of the University and the City of Riverside will have the opportunity participate in community-based and ecologically sound programs, research solutions, and develop interdisciplinary courses with Cultivate R'Space that will enhance the students’ experience at the University of California, Riverside.

The Office of Sustainability sponsors and co-sponsors a variety of annual events focused on sustainability including: Earth Week, Extreme Green Fest, Sustainability Summit, World Water Day, UCR Palm Desert Sustainability Series and Lunch and Learns available to students.

The Dance department has graduate students working on sustainability focused performances. Their works are being performed on campus and at Sustainability conferences.

Outdoor Excursions is a program of UCR Recreation and has been serving the UCR community for over 20 years. Our mission is to provide a variety of programs and services emphasizing safety, skill development, environmental awareness, and community. Our trip program provides opportunities in hiking, backpacking, kayaking, snorkeling, surfing, caving, climbing, paddleboarding, rafting, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and more. All of our trip leaders are trained to the level equal to or exceeding Leave No Trace trainers during our Leader Expedition (a 5-6 day training consisting of backpacking, kayaking, and/or other outdoor living skills), and during mid-year leadership workshops. For more information about our program contact: Jen Hopper jennifer.hopper@ucr.edu

CHASS Freshmen are introduced to Sustainability through Henry David Thoreau’s Economy (the first chapter of Walden) during their Orientation.

Each week UCR Sustainability tables at our Wednesday Nooners providing training on various sustainability practices students can use to "green their scene" on and off campus.

GCAP Sustainability Intern. There are 3 internships offered for each Academic year. Some past internships included: Garden Intern LEED Intern Recycling Intern Power Ranger Waste Rangers H20 Highlanders Creative Design Green Labs