University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
EN-9: Community Partnerships

UW Oshkosh serves the community and surrounding region through a multitude of programs, services and partnerships. UW Oshkosh students contribute $2.5 million annually to charity and an estimated 52,000 hours of volunteer time, valued at more than $3 million. Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources regularly partners with UWO's Wildlife Conservation Club to help educate its members on Wisconsin's native wildlife by implementing hands-on experiences to those interested in wildlife management.

In 2010, the University partnered with the City of Oshkosh to help develop a City Sustainability Plan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Plan. This project is ongoing as the campus and the city work to bring aspects of the plan to fruition. UW Oshkosh partnered with the City of Oshkosh and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation to plant trees under the Taking Root Fund, and City Forester was instrumental in helping the university attain Tree City USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation. The University is currently partnering with the city in being co-designated as a bike friendly community and university.

The first commercial scale dry anaerobic biodigester in the America's was built by UW Oshkosh with several strong partnerships with the City of Oshkosh. This renewable energy facility will use biomass donated from the City's yard waste collection site as feedstock, and the City's wastewater treatment plant will donate its excess biogas via a pipeline built by UW Oshkosh. This partnership allows both the city and campus to lower the amount of waste entering the landfill, and lowering emissions of methane into the atmosphere while supplying a sustainable energy supply to be sold into the city's energy grid. The left over material is certified organic compost that is available for sale. This project is ongoing and continues to expand each year. Currently, efforts are being made to divert post consumer food waste from local area schools to the biodigester. Tours are available and encouraged for local area students, campus members, and UW System members to enhance the knowledge of biofuel and renewable energy.

Viessmann Academy – Student Seminar in Sustainability This competitive opportunity involves 20 students and two faculty members from UW Oshkosh along with 10 German students currently interning at the Viessmann Corporation. This student program will give students an understanding of the current issues of climate change and renewable energies in Germany, the European Union and across the globe. Additionally, an introduction to the Viessmann approach to sustainability and an overview to Viessmann technology and their business model will be presented. Students will be at the Viessmann headquarters for the week, share housing at a company-owned guesthouse, and be able to interact socially with the German students. http://www.uwosh.edu/cob/undergraduate/global/global-business-trips/viessmann-academy-2013-student-seminar-in-sustainability