Campus Environmental Center

What is the Campus Environmental Center (CEC)?

The Campus Environmental Center (CEC) was started in Fall of 2002 by a group of students led by Corinna Kester. The students founded the CEC as an organization that could effectively build partnerships with UT administrators to improve the campus environment. The CEC officially launched in January 2003 thanks to a grant from the National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology Program and matching funds from Student Government, the Environmental Science Institute, and the Volunteer Service Learning Center.

The CEC is the largest and oldest student sustainability organization on campus, housing three unique project teams dedicated to helping students find their niche within sustainability. The CEC's vision is to build a center rooted in solidarity and empathy where all are empowered to protect people and the planet.

The CEC completes its vision through its three project teams and administrative team: 

• CEC Administration 
  • Our Co-Directors & Advisor support project teams, manage the organization, and build relationships across campus.
  • Our Outreach and Communications team amplifies our work and educates the campus community about the CEC and sustainability.
• Project Teams
  • The Microfarm practices organic and sustainable farming techniques through an on-campus community garden.
  • The Green Events team provides free zero-waste consulting, recycling, and composting services to student organizations.
  • The Trash to Treasure team diverts thousands of pounds of reusable items from going to the landfill through donation drives and sales held throughout the year.

To learn more about the CEC and each project team visit utenvironment.org/

**As of January 1st, 2024- EJC is a Registered Organization and no longer supported by the CEC due to SB 17. The Environmental Justice Collective empowers students to engage with the environmental movement from an intersectional lens through service, community building, and research. Please reach out to them directly if you wish to get involved.

Please contact lillian.young@austin.utexas.edu with any questions.

Application Information

Eligibility and application information can be found on the Application Information page. Applications for the 2025-26 cohort are closed.

2024-25 CEC Leaders