About

Microfarm

Sustainability at The University of Texas at Austin is the work of the Office of Sustainability, established in 2009, and numerous campus partners that work in unison to implement the Sustainability Master Plan.

Vision: 

Stewardship and responsibility for the planet and society are integral to the identity, experience and impact of The University of Texas at Austin. 

Mission/Purpose: 

We create, amplify, implement and report on plans and actions that enhance the student experience and campus operational excellence in collaboration with students, staff, faculty, alumni and community stakeholders of The University of Texas at Austin. 

Characteristics: 

  • Collaborative 
  • Resourceful 
  • Intentional
  • Impact-Driven 

Values: 

  • Stewardship – We always consider the multi-generational benefits of our campus actions on the planet and society with consideration of today’s costs.  
  • Responsibility – We are intentional, ethical and passionate about enhancing the student experience by valuing how natural and human resources are utilized in campus operations.  
  • Respect for All – We value the contributions of all members of the campus and surrounding community in cultivating a sense of belonging through empathy and a respectful, welcoming environment.  

Programs: 

We run three main programs that provide student leaders, as well as staff and faculty, with opportunities to create and implement activities that reflect our vision and demonstrate UT Austin’s impact on the student and campus experience: 

We run three support programs in service to our mission. These provide opportunities to amplify, collaborate and report on high-impact activities: 

  • Communications
  • Data Management
  • Collaboration/Facilitation

Active Memberships:

Texas Sustainability maintains memberships with numerous organizations, including:

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

Texas Sustainability submits a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) report every two years to track campus-wide sustainability progress. Our ratings are: 

Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS)

TRACS is a network of faculty members, students and sustainability professionals across higher education institutions across Texas who work to promote sustainability. It is a place to share sustainability solutions in campus operations, academic curriculum, and off-campus connections. 

Collaboration is done through virtual meetings and the annual in-person TRACS Summit hosted by changing member schools. TRACS is supported by volunteer members representing Texas colleges and universities.

Tree Campus USA

Tree Campus Higher Education was founded in 2008 to foster that tradition of excellence. The program provides a simple framework for colleges and universities to grow their community forests, achieve national recognition, and create a campus their students and staff are proud of.

The University of Texas at Austin has been a member of Tree Campus USA since 2008. For more information, please see the Facilities Services Urban Forestry page, which includes information on the campus TreeKeeper inventory and tree conservation.

US Green Building Council (LEED and PEER)

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is the organization that runs the LEED-certified green building program.

The University of Texas at Austin has been a USGBC member since 2004. In 2014, UT Austin became the first PEER certified campus in the world. 

This certification is made possible due to the efforts of Utilities and Energy Management and Planning, Design and Construction.

Bee Campus USA

Bee Campus USA provides a framework for universities to come together and conserve native pollinators by providing them with healthy habitat that is rich in a variety of native plants, provides nest sites, and is protected from pesticides. 

The University of Texas at Austin became a certified Bee Campus in 2020 due to the efforts of the Beevo Beekeeping Society, UT Landscape Services, and UT Housing and Dining. 

League of American Bicyclists

The University of Texas at Austin is a recognized Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists. Their goal is to create safer roads and to strengthen communities through bicycling. 

This certification is made possible through the efforts of Parking and Transportation Services. 

Healthier Hospitals Initiative/ Practice Greenhealth

The Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas was awarded a Greenhealth Partner for Change Award, which recognizes superior performance in environmental sustainability, covering a range of different sustainability programs and activities. Winners have also made substantive progress on mercury elimination. 

 

Contact Us

For media inquiries, please contact media.sustainability@austin.utexas.edu. 

To request a tour or other information, please contact sustainability@austin.utexas.edu. We can also help direct questions to the appropriate person if one of our campus partners.  

To give feedback on our website, please contact sustainability@austin.utexas.edu.

General Email and Phone
sustainability@austin.utexas.edu
(512) 232-7840

Visiting Address:
Student Services Building
100 W. Dean Keeton St.
SSB 1.302

Mailing Address:
Office of Sustainability
100 W. Dean Keeton Street, Suite 1.302
Student Services Building
Mail Code: A6600
Austin, Texas 78712