University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
EN-3: Student Life

The Environmental Affairs Committee operates within the executive branch of student government. Environmental Affairs seeks to increase awareness of ways students can act in a more environmentally friendly manner, and works with the University to make campus operations more sustainable. This committee works on continuing projects including recycling efforts, green energy expansion, and collaboration among all environmental groups on campus. Current projects include expanding composting options, improving bike infrastructure, encouraging students to adopt more environmentally responsible behaviors, promoting a green seed fund, and expanding course offerings related to sustainability. The Environmental Affairs committee also helps coordinate all environmental student groups at UNC. Their official mission statement is: “To collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to create a more cohesive environmental presence on campus while promoting key environmental principles, encouraging sustainable lifestyles, and facilitating improved cooperation between student environmental groups and the University.”
https://executivebranch.unc.edu/committees-taskforces/environment/

The Carolina Community Garden grew out of a partnership between the UNC Employee Forum, the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, the North Carolina Botanical Garden, and the student-run Carolina Garden Co-Op. This organic garden on Wilson Street, close to the Carolina Inn, provides fresh vegetables and fruit to the lowest paid staff members at Carolina free of charge. Periodic cooking demonstrations show how to make healthy dishes from the harvest. Volunteer workdays include students, staff, faculty, and local residents.
https://ncbg.unc.edu/outreach/cccg/

Edible Campus UNC is a program of the North Carolina Botanical Garden that creates working landscapes across UNC-Chapel Hill to facilitate campus community engagement in topics of food and agriculture sustainability.
Edible Campus Satellite Gardens
Eleven (and counting!) garden beds across campus that have been converted to incorporate edible, medicinal, and pollinator-friendly plants—free for passersby to pick! These gardens demonstrate an alternative approach to landscape design and re-connect people with the food growing process.
Main Edible Campus Garden
A quarter acre organic production garden that serves as an educational resource in the heart of the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. This garden donates its produce to the student-run campus food pantry, and uses its space for nutrition workshops, academic research, community events, and more!
https://ncbg.unc.edu/outreach/edible-campus-unc/

Meantime Coffee is UNC-Chapel Hill's student-run, non-profit coffee shop. The Meantime is housed inside the Campus Y, allowing it to be at the Center of Social Justice and Social Innovation. Profits fund student scholarships and grants. The Meantime also supports other student food ventures and local businesses by providing a testing ground on campus. Coffee is sourced from Carrboro Coffee Roasters, a sustainable roastery within close proximity to campus.
http://www.meantimecoffee.com/#bringing-unc-together

Carolina Thrift is a student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to reduce needless waste in Chapel Hill. The nonprofit’s purpose is to extend the lifespan of items that are usually disposed of by conducting collections of used items at the end of the school year and hosting a large-scale discount sale in August. Carolina Thrift’s mission is to encourage socially responsible consumerism, provide the UNC-Chapel Hill area financial relief, and build Carolina’s community.

We plan to guarantee that a portion of our funds for CTSF go directly towards projects with a focus on environmental justice and racism. We’re committing to making our mission more intersectional, and helping make a difference in BIPOC communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental issues.

We will continue to do everything in our power to support the BLM movement. We are continuing to learn how to become better allies, as the fight for our planet must begin with the fight for the people living in it.
https://www.carolinathrift.org/ourstory

The Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee allocates the ~$200,000 raised annually by the $4 per student per semester Green Energy Fee. Established in 2004 via a student referendum, the green energy fee funds renewable energy infrastructure, energy efficiency upgrades, and energy education projects across campus.
http://respc.web.unc.edu/

UNC Clean Tech Summit.
Convenes more than 1,000 students, business professionals, international speakers, policy makers, and academics for two days of engagement to foster leadership, share new ideas, and bring growth opportunities to the Southeast’s clean tech economy. The Summit is co-hosted by the UNC Institute for the Environment and the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Professional mentorship and career fairs are key components of the event. Topics include energy, water, agriculture, circular economy.
https://ie.unc.edu/cleantech/

--Plasticon a recycled art festival, hosted by Arts Everywhere, to raise awareness about the environmental impact of plastic bags. Includes:
--Plastic Bag Store - everything looks like a regular grocery store, but is made out of plastic bags.
--Dumpster Monster - 16 foot trash bag monster that comes out of the dumpster.
--Plastic Time Machine - shows what your plastic will look like in the future (hint: the same).
--Plastic bag quilt-making station.
--Film screening and panel discussion about plastic in the ocean.
https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2018/04/plasticon-qanda-0419

Beauty Through Toxicity. Art show and film screening in the Student Union focusing on the environmental effects of ocean plastics on marine life. Art and presentation by Denise Hughes.
https://threezeros.unc.edu/event/unc-zero-waste-event-beauty-through-toxicity-by-denise-hughes/

Multiple Photography exhibits and contests at the FedEx Global Education Center focusing on food and economic development around the world.

The Art of Resistance at FedEx.

Outdoor Education Center’s Expedition Program
The Expedition program gives students the opportunity to hike, kayak, backpack, and mountain climb at natural areas across the state. Leave No Trace is a key component of the training.
https://campusrec.unc.edu/programs/carolinaadventures/expeditions/

Food for All: Local and Global Perspectives” was the UNC-Chapel Hill 2015-2018 university-wide academic theme. An outgrowth of the 2011 Academic Plan, “Food for All” provided a seamless segue from Carolina’s first and most recent pan-university theme, “Water in our World.” The academic themes called for the University and all of its members and resources to mobilize around a common issue facing our society. http://foodforall.web.unc.edu/Food for All

Maker Spaces - sewing, laser cutting, 3D printing, metal working, vinyl cutting, wood working, embroidery
https://beam.unc.edu/about/

Green Games - energy and water conserving behaviors, clothing repair and cooking skills, making natural cleansers and personal care products
http://greengames.web.unc.edu/2020/01/february-program-theme-do-it-yourself/

Edible Campus published Carolina Cookbook: A College Student's Guide to Healthy, Affordable, and Seasonal Eating at Carolina.
https://ncbg.unc.edu/files/2020/07/CarolinaCookbook2020.pdf

The Three Zeros Environmental Initiative employs a team of Sustainability interns to work on various programs, including events, outreach, greenhouse gas analysis, and stormwater engineering.
The Institute for the Environment's Sustainable Triangle Field site and EcoStudio program places students in sustainability internships around campus.
The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling hires student interns to run Green Games, assist with events, help manage programs such as Move In and Move Out.
Energy Management supports internships to assess energy saving opportunities, verify building performance, and convey energy performance data.
https://threezeros.unc.edu/get-involved/students/

Bee Campus USA
Carolina Cupboard food pantry for food insecure students
Citizen's Climate Lobby - UNC Chapter
Design for America
Environmental Law Project
Epsilon Eta Environmental Honors Fraternity
Greek Sustainability Council
Net Impact - graduate and undergraduate chapters
Sonder Market - fresh, locally sourced produce for food insecure students
UNC Bee Keeping Club
United Solar Initiative