University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
EN-3: Student Life

Conservation Club - The goal of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Conservation Club is to increase environmental literacy through the lens of conservation science within our campus. The education and volunteer opportunities present a benefit both to the environment and to the students. Conservation Club strives to provide an enhanced awareness of issues within local and global ecosystems. The club is welcome to all who have a passion for biological preservation. Engineers Without Borders- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB@UWM) works in coordination with EWB-USA, a non-profit humanitarian organization established to improve the quality of life in developing communities. Their work over the past decade at UWM has brought running water to rural villages in Guatemala, as well as access to rain water catchment in community gardens across Milwaukee. Re-volv Solar Ambassadors at UWM- As UW-Milwaukee’s Solar Ambassador Team, the organization is an affiliate of RE-volv, a non-profit based out of San Francisco. The goal is to run a grassroots crowdfunding campaign to have solar systems installed on local non-profits and cooperatives. Projects include River Revitalization Foundation and Riverwest Co-Op, working to raise funds and supply community education and empowerment. The non-profits then pay back RE-volv monthly on their 20 year lease-to-own plan, while still saving money off of their typical electric bill. A percentage of those proceeds are transferred to the solar seed fund that funds future solar projects. Over time there will be no need for crowdfunding campaigns because the solar seed fund will be able to fully cover future projects creating a RE-volv(ing) fund. Food Recovery Network (In partnership with University Christian Ministry)- Food Recovery Network at UWM recovers food from Sandburg Café and the Student Union Restaurants. We are partnered with the non-profit organization Just One More Ministry that recovers food from UWM, various companies, and local citizens. The food is then redistributed to over 40 other organizations around the greater Milwaukee area, who give that food to people that are in need of food assistance. Fruity Nutty Club- The Fruity Nutty Club at UWM was formed 2017 with the goal to engage local community members of all ages and backgrounds in sustainable food production. Through establishing an on-campus fruit orchard, planted on Earth Day (April 22) of 2017, we will provide a beautiful space to reach out to the UWM community and get hands-on experience tending an orchard. Members take part in caring for the trees as well as hosting recreational and educational events. No experience is necessary. All who are interested are welcome to join.

Extensively. The UWM Food & Garden Club built 50 raised organic garden beds on the south lawn of the Physics building in May 2011. The raised beds were designed for individual students, faculty, and staff to garden as they see fit. In addition to individual plots, the Office of Sustainability also oversees educational gardens for research and curriculum. UWM's Restaurant Operations cultivates food gardens adjacent to the Sandburg community gardens as well as a rooftop garden. The campus hoop house, which produces compost year round from kitchen waste, is run by a student workers, with the help of 10-12 student volunteers per semester.

The 8th Note Coffee House is a student-run, volunteer based coffee shop and lounge on campus. It has been in existence for many years at UWM, and is run by students of the Union Activities Board. Fair-trade and affordable coffee is offered at the 8th Note.

Share the Earth- For the past twelve years, the UW-Milwaukee Student Union has put forth the earth-friendly Share the Earth program which involves films, speakers, and special events. Share the Earth has hosted such guests as John Francis Planet Walker, Michael Pollan, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Ed Begley Jr. Events are run for students, but all community members are welcome.

The UWM Union Art Gallery regularly features installations on water conservation, aquaponics, food security, and reuse within the built environment. Art History and Gallery studies focused on urban sustainable place-making in 2017.

Outdoor Pursuits is dedicated to providing outdoor programming and equipment to facilitate challenging, educational, environmentally sound, and fun outdoor-based recreational experiences. Various trips include: rock climbing, canoeing, leave-no-trace camping and hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Outdoor Pursuits also hosts learning events/classes such as a wilderness first-aid course. Outdoor Pursuits espouses and promotes Leave No Trace principles in all programming.

Common Read- Strong social justice theme year to year. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang, 2014: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, 2015: Meet Me Halfway – Milwaukee Stories by Jennifer Morales, 2016: Fear of a Black President by Ta-Nehisi Coates, 2017: Real Patriots Ask Questions by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan, 2018: Fifty Years Ago, Protesters Took On the Miss America Pageant and Electrified the Feminist Movement, by Roxane Gay

Waste and composting programs are held in our University Housing.

The Office of Sustainability hires student workers, interns, independent study students, and service learning students.