This litter cleanup event fosters the growing relationship between students at UConn and the local community while conserving the environment
From goat yoga to zero-waste barbecue, spreading the message that sustainability is creative and rewarding
‘It’s very validating to all of the hard work I put into this project to have it recognized at a professional level by my peers’
A new study in the Farmington River watershed shows that groundwater seeps can release 20% of dissolved emissions into the atmosphere before the water joins streams
Attention UConn Faculty and Staff Members:
The steering committee for the UConn@COP Fellowship Program is pleased to extend a call for expressions of interest by UConn faculty and staff members who are interested in joining the UConn@COP30 contingent as it travels to Belém, Brazil from November 15-22, 2025 to attend the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP30) climate change conference.
Critically, participation in the formal Fellowship Program and travel with the group require all travel expenses, including flight and hotel fees be self-funded.
Due to space limitations, only two faculty and staff members will be able to stay with the group as part of the official delegation. Nonetheless, anyone already planning to attend the conference is more than welcome to meet with the UConn delegation in Egypt.
Please note, conference passes are scarce and not guaranteed. Priority for passes will be given to students before faculty or staff members. We encourage applicants to seek alternative sources for obtaining an official UN conference badge.
Opportunities to contribute to the program include:
- Leading topic-specific “breakfast club” conversations in the mornings at the conference with the UConn@COP fellows
- Participating in group cultural immersion excursions
- Leading or participating in pre-travel educational meetings
- Participating in the Climate Change Café and Symposium on December 3, 2025 from 4-6pm in the Student Union.
To submit your expression of interest, please email the UConn@COP steering committee at sustainability@uconn.edu by June 13th. Please be sure to address the following questions in your email:
- What contributions to the UConn@COP Fellowship Program might you offer the students?
- What will you gain professionally by joining the UConn delegation attending COP30?
Please feel free to email the UConn@COP Fellowship Program steering committee with any questions, at: sustainability@uconn.edu
UConn Gives, the annual 36-hour fundraising event at UConn, will be taking place on April 21 and 22. Every year, the UConn community rallies to support many different causes on campus, including our own Campus Sustainability Fund and the UConn@COP Fund!
The Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) finances programs and initiatives that support students and advance UConn’s position as a global leader in university sustainability. Contributions to the CSF provide critical funding of transformative learning experiences for students including hands-on professional development through internships and research projects that nurture our natural environments, improve health and wellbeing, and enhance environmental justice in the communities which we serve. The CSF also funds our experiential learning events such as the Haunted HEEP, the UConn-famous annual haunted trail walk at the Hillside Environmental Education Park.
The UConn@COP Fund supports the UConn@COP Fellowship program, helping the OS send a cohort of students each year to the annual United Nations Conference of the Parties. Through UConn@COP, students have participated in panels at international press conferences, networked with global environmental leaders, and heard from and interacted with international delegates and core members of international environmental justice movements. UConn@COP is an incredible, transformative experience for fellows, and it would not be possible without the support of generous donors!
Every donation, big or small, means so much! Thank you to everyone for supporting sustainability achievements and the environmental leaders of tomorrow!
Earth Day Spring Fling – 2025
Wednesday, April 16
11:00 AM-2:00 PM on Fairfield Way
Rain date: April 21
Earth Day Spring Fling is an annual celebration of sustainability co-sponsored by UConn’s Office of Sustainability and the Department of Dining Services. Established in 2008, the festival features vendors of sustainable and hand-crafted goods, organic and local foods, environmental organizations, and student groups that join together to produce the greatest day of environmental awareness all year! Coinciding with the event is UConn’s annual Arbor Day celebration and ceremonial “class tree” planting.
Event Highlights:
- Zero Waste BBQ: Dining Services is catering an outdoor, zero-waste BBQ featuring vegan, vegetarian and sustainable food options sourced locally. Note – the BBQ requires a flex pass, community meal plan swipe or $12 credit/debit card.
- Eco Theme Cupcakes
- Dairy Bar Truck
- 12-1p Goat Yoga: Outdoor yoga with the goats of Bradley Mountain Farm. Bring your own mat. Sign Ups will be announced on the OS instagram.
- Party Peddler Bike: Hop on the 10 person bike for a tour of sustainability along Fairfield Way.
- 2028 Class Tree Planting: As a certified Tree Campus, we celebrate each class with their own tree. This year’s tree, selected by the Freshman class, is the Green Gable Tupelo. The ceremony will be held at 1pm outside of the Budds Building on Fairfield Way.
- UConn Thrift Den: The Thrift Den will highlight some of their free clothes!
- Eco-Vendors: Meet with student and community organizations dedicated to sustainability, as well as eco-minded businesses along Fairfield Way.
For more information, please email sustainability@uconn.edu.
Thank you to Casella and UConn Student Government for support!
Are you a UConn student with an idea that can push environmental and social sustainability forward at UConn and in Connecticut? Then apply for our Environmental and Social Sustainability Small Grants!
Projects must advance strategic sustainability goal areas AND related social challenges.
Deadline is April 7, 2025 at 11:59pm.
Winners will be selected by May 1, 2025.
Grant amounts may be up to $10k.
All projects must have a faculty or staff member acting as a mentor, and must have the ability to accept funds on behalf of your project.
Projects must be completed by the end of December 2025.
For all the details, deadlines and materials visit the grant info page.
