University of Connecticut
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

Established in 2019, the Institute of the Environment (IoE) has a mission to advance research, education, and engagement concerning the environment and sustainability at the University of Connecticut. It acts as an umbrella organization to enhance synergy, collaboration, and cooperation across all facets of the University including the arts and humanities; biophysical, engineering, and social sciences; law and policy; and health and agriculture. The Institute engages faculty members, staff members, and students to address some of the most pressing challenges facing society in the 21st century, from climate change and biodiversity loss to air and water pollution, energy and food security, and sustainability.

The IoE currently comprises more than 170 faculty members and includes four administrative units: the Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering (CESE), the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History (CSMNH), the Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA), and the Office of Sustainability (OS).

Undergraduate Level

Environmental Literacy GenEd Requirement - In 2019, UConn began to require that all undergraduate students take and pass an environmental literacy general education course in order to graduate from any degree program. Environmental Literacy (EL) courses provide students with the ability to understand, and articulate perspectives on, the interactions between human society and the natural world, as well as the challenges of environmental stewardship. A course from any disciplinary area may satisfy the EL requirement, provided that it focuses throughout on one or more of the following:

1. theories, observations, or models of how humans impact the health and well-being of the natural world;
2. theories, observations, or models of how the natural world affects human health and well-being;
3. public policies, legal frameworks, and/or other social systems that affect the environment;
4. moral and/or ethical dimensions regarding the environment;
5. cultural, creative, or artistic representations of human-environment interactions.

https://geoc.uconn.edu/https-geoc-uconn-edu-criteria-environmental-literacy/

The UConn Environment Corps - The UConn Environment Corps, or E-Corps, was created to provide assistance to the communities of Connecticut by harnessing the power of trained undergraduate students. Each E-Corps course is a two-semester experience: a hands-on, interactive classroom semester followed by a “practicum” semester where student teams undertake environmental projects in the community. There are three classes offered focusing on brownfields redevelopment, climate resilience, and stormwater management. All classes have a focus on the local (municipal) perspective. See below for detailed information on each class, and check out the top navigation for project-wide info. https://ecorps.initiative.uconn.edu/

Environmental Sciences Major - The major in Environmental Sciences is based in the physical and biological sciences, but also includes course work in selected areas of the social sciences. The major leads to a Bachelor of Science degree, and may be adopted by students in either the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources or the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This curriculum offers a comprehensive approach to the study of environmental problems, including not only a rigorous scientific background, but also detailed analyses of the social and economic implications of environmental issues. The complexity and interdisciplinary nature of environmental science is reflected in the core requirements of the major. These courses, assembled from several different academic departments representing two colleges, provide both breadth and depth, preparing students for careers that deal with environmental issues and for graduate study in environmental sciences and related fields. https://envs.uconn.edu/

Environmental Studies Major - The Environmental Studies major is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives needed to understand the interactions between human society and the environment. Understanding the ethical and cultural dimensions of our relationship with the environment, as well as the challenges of protecting it, requires insights from multiple perspectives, including the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. Core courses in the major ensure familiarity with basic principles from these three areas. With this shared core of knowledge, majors will focus their studies on an area of special interest, taking electives and related courses that allow greater specialization. Among the many possibilities are environmental sustainability, issues concerning public policy and environmental justice, and the literary and philosophical legacy of human encounters with the non-human world. A capstone course will allow each student to research a distinct perspective on a contemporary environmental issue. A major in Environmental Studies might lead to a career in a variety of fields, including public policy, environmental education, eco-tourism, marketing or consulting, journalism, or advocacy.

The major leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) or the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR). The student’s choice of colleges should be made in consultation with faculty and advisors based upon the student’s interests and career goals. https://evst.uconn.edu/

UConn@COP Fellowship Program - Each year, the UN Conference of the Parties (COP) (to the UNFCCC) holds its official Climate Change Conference in a different host city around the world. The event brings together diplomats, business executives, heads of government, university leaders, environmental activists, NGO's and other delegates to discuss progress in dealing with climate change. UConn began sending students and faculty to attend the conference in 2015, the year of COP21, which culminated with the landmark Paris Agreement. UConn students and faculty have attended COP each year since, and in doing so have gained a unique perspective on the global effort to combat climate change and promote climate justice. The UConn@COP Fellowship Program strives to build future leaders in climate science and policy and to promote UConn’s leadership on climate change and sustainability issues through four main pillars: Student Engagement, Experiential Learning, Interdisciplinary Group, Discussion, Cultural Immersion Fellowships are awarded by a panel of faculty and staff selected by the Deans of each college.

The highly competitive application process considers GPA, relative extracurricular involvement, commitment to DEI and environmental justice, and a 700 word essay that speaks to their interest in the program. Upon returning to campus, they share their experiences through appearances on campus & through online publications. In order to attract the best & brightest environmental leaders, the cost of the trip, including airfare, lodging, & conference fees is almost entirely funded by the University & donors. Through this program, UConn students have participated on panels at international press conferences, networked with global NGO's, environmentally-minded businesses & renewable energy companies, engaged in immersive art exhibitions, attended film screenings put on by the directors themselves, interacted with international delegates & core members of environmental justice movements, and connected with like-minded, passionate students at other colleges & universities in the U.S. and around the world. https://sustainability.uconn.edu/uconn-at-cop/

Office of Sustainability Internship Programs - Since 2003, the OS’s practical internships have enabled undergraduate students to:

1. Gain excellent work experience at competitive hourly pay rates– OS interns gain project management and teamwork skills in an office environment. Their job duties and responsibilities, and performance expectations, are similar to those of entry-level employees, such as college graduates, working in business and industry, non-profit organizations or public sector jobs.

2. Hone leadership skills– Bolstered by their OS work experience, many interns have served as elected presidents and officers of environmental student groups and organizations, ranging from EcoGarden to Engineers Without Borders and USG. A few interns have been captains of UConn varsity and club sports teams while others have been nominated for (and even won) the University’s most prestigious student leadership awards.

3. Win academic scholarships– Over the past 16 years, OS interns have won a multitude of national scholarships, including UConn's first Rhodes Scholar, 4 national Udall/Environmental Policy scholarships and 2 Udall Honorable Mention scholarships. Dozens of others have been among the select few students nominated annually by UConn for this coveted, national award. Our interns have also won other scholarships and fellowships during and after their UConn years, based on both their academic excellence and OS work experience.

4. Be accepted at prestigious graduate schools- Recent OS interns are attending and working towards graduate degrees, or have received graduate degrees, in a range of environmental disciplines from programs here at UConn as well as Yale, Columbia, Brown, Duke, Cal Santa Barbara, Vermont Law School, Colorado (law school), Oregon State and Imperial College of London.

5. Pursue an environmental or sustainability-related career– Former OS interns currently hold or have held positions, ranging from entry level to management, at United Natural Foods, Inc., Waste Management, Inc., Sunlight Solar Co., the CT Green Bank, the Environmental Defense Fund, Housatonic Valley Association, Siemens Energy, Inc., Fuss and O’Neill, BL Company, GZA, UTC, Northeast Utilities (Eversource), Dominion Energy, and the Hampshire Council of Governments, plus financial services firms such as HAIG in Boston and RBS in Stamford. Past interns have also held various positions with the CT DEEP, the Peace Corps, and the Student Conservation Association after leaving UConn.

The Office of Sustainability provides two internship programs, the traditional office internship and the EcoCaptain internship program.

Office of Sustainability Interns: About 10 undergraduate students work at the Office of Sustainability to provide leadership, collaboration and advocacy for sustainability at UConn. The 10 hour per week positions help enact the Office's critical university programs. Interns host campus sustainability engagement events, carry out UConn's strategic sustainability plans, and research best environmental practices to improve sustainability at UConn.

EcoCaptain Interns: In collaboration with ResLife, there is an EcoCaptain Intern (EI) in each residential hall that conducts sustainability related programming and educational activities for their residents. EIs act as liaisons between the Office of Sustainability and UConn's resident students. There are 20 EIs hired each year and they work 5 hours per week.

https://sustainability.uconn.edu/meet-the-interns-2/oep-interns/

Organization for Tropical Studies: African Ecology and Conservation in South Africa - The African Ecology and Conservation program centers on learning to do quality field research in South Africa’s varied biomes. The course travels through national parks and reserves and visits historical sites from the far north of the country to the Cape. Students spend the majority of the semester in Kruger National Park, one of the largest conservation areas in Africa and the oldest national park in South Africa. Students are mentored by local and international academics, conservation managers, and other practitioners in ecology and conservation. By designing research projects with their professors, students will contribute meaningful scientific data to issues faced by managers in South African National Parks. A highlight of the course is a three-night homestay in a rural community; students leave touched by their time shared with the community and gain a deeper sense of cultural and social awareness.

South Africa is a diverse, progressive, dynamic developing nation that continues to redefine itself in the post-apartheid era. It has strong tradition of environmental protection, which has resulted in the creation of many protected areas that offer excellent research opportunities for students. https://app.studyabroad.uconn.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10975

Environmental and Social Sustainability Small Grants Program - The Office of Sustainability and the Institute of the Environment started a funding program to support student-faculty projects that enhance environmental sustainability and campus-wide engagement with sustainability issues at the University of Connecticut and in Connecticut communities through research, authentic community engagement, campus operations, or education. Projects must increase both environmental and social sustainability at UConn, and address one or more of UConn's strategic sustainability goal areas (climate change, energy and buildings, waste, outreach and engagement, water resources, food and dining, purchasing, transportation, or grounds, open space and conservation areas) and one or more related social challenges (fostering inclusion of diverse perspectives, addressing systematic inequalities, environmental justice, social and health inequity, community development, etc). Project activities occur at any of the UConn campuses and extend to Connecticut communities outside of the University campuses. Special consideration is given to interdisciplinary projects that advance equity and justice or incorporate the arts and humanities. Funded teams present their project findings and impacts at a symposium in the Fall following their Spring award. https://sustainability.uconn.edu/environmental-social-sustainability-small-grants-program/

Graduate Level

Team Terra Program - Team-TERRA is a newly funded transdisciplinary training program in the Center of Biological Risk at the University of Connecticut. The training program consists of a 2-year sequence of coursework, teamwork, a real-world internship, and associated workshops. We use the northeastern US megalopolis stretching from Boston to Washington, D.C. as a living laboratory to understand, predict, manage, and communicate risks to food, energy, water, and ecosystems in the face of global change. As part of the training program, trainees work in diverse teams to predict and solve complex problems of the future in regions that are urbanizing and stretched to both provide the essentials for human wellbeing while maintaining the many benefits of biodiversity and natural ecosystems. https://terra.biorisk.uconn.edu/

MEEM Program - The Master of Energy and Environmental Management (MEEM) program offers a Master of Science (MS) degree through an interdisciplinary partnership involving the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Department of Geography, School of Law, and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering. The MEEM is designed for college graduates looking for advanced study in energy and environmental management fields, and working professionals looking to enhance their skills and knowledge in science, management, and policy. https://meem.uconn.edu/courses/?gclid=CjwKCAjwiOCgBhAgEiwAjv5whCFGE8b6P7ngymvEPFbfIXza63tCckUD-ZxC-ZS-R8MX1_D4ttUo3xoCBGIQAvD_BwE

Stormwater and Water Efficiency Programs - UConn has reduced its potable water consumption by 58.5% since 2005.
• UConn’s on-site Water Reclamation Facility provides non-potable water that is used by the on-site Co-Generation Plant, which converts the reclaimed water to steam in order to generate electricity and heat for the campus. The water reclamation facility has allowed UConn to save from 200,000 to 600,000 gallons of potable water a day, with a storage capacity to save up to 1,000,000 gallons per day.
• Rainwater collection is a feature of the Oak Building. The water is used for irrigating adjacent quads. There are two 25,000 gallons tanks that are designed to collect ground water and infiltrating rainwater from the LID features near Oak Hall.
• An irrigation pond at the research farm has a network of channels meant to increase the amount of rainwater collected during storms, lowering the need for pumping to irrigate the research fields.
• All campus residential halls underwent low-flow retrofits in 2015-16, including the installation of low-flow showerheads and aerators on sink faucets.
Soccer, baseball, softball, and recreation fields on campus have been converted to artificial turf which requires no irrigation or pesticide use.

The University of Connecticut Sustainable Design and Construction (LEED Policy) - Since 2016, UConn requires that all new construction and major renovations exceeding $5M in estimated project cost achieve LEED Gold Certification as a minimum standard. https://policy.uconn.edu/2014/10/01/the-university-of-connecticut-sustainable-design-and-construction-policy/

Clean Hydrogen Hub - The state of Connecticut joined a consortium in March 2022, along with other state partners New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, with Maine and Rhode Island joining recently to develop a multi state hydrogen hub. The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) is leading the effort, and Connecticut represents the gateway to New England as well as a key part of the I-95 corridor. UConn was announced as a strategic partner in the proposal in late August. The hydrogen hub – one of at least four proposed nationally – is designed to advance leadership in clean hydrogen infrastructure deployment, research, and development. UConn is the first public R1 research university, defined as a doctorate-granting institution with a very high level of research activity, in New England to sign the memorandum of understanding for the hydrogen hub. The agreement includes high-profile companies such as Pratt & Whitney and Eversource Energy, both of which have research centers within the Innovation Partnership Building at UConn Tech Park. Consortium partners will work together on initiatives designed to advance safe clean hydrogen energy innovation, address climate change, improve public health, and invest in the economic development of the states involved. In addition, the members will continue to integrate other forms of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, to reduce dependence on carbon-based sources. https://today.uconn.edu/2022/09/uconn-applies-clean-energy-expertise-to-multi-state-hydrogen-hub/

Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) - C2E2 is an interdisciplinary research center at the School of Engineering focusing on building the next generation of energy technologies. We welcome visitors to our site to collaborate and explore opportunities to conduct research in all aspects of clean energy including discovering new materials, and designing and building new energy devices and systems that enable more efficient energy conversion and storage. We work with many industrial partners to implement these technologies into the next generation energy ecosystem. We take great pride in educating our next generation of energy professionals by focusing on cutting-edge research and offering educational programs, such as the interdisciplinary Master of Science degree in Advanced Manufacturing for Energy Systems.

The Center for Clean Energy Engineering faculty work with various federal, industrial and state funding agencies. This large network of industrial partners from various energy disciplines provides a forward thinking environment where industrial leaders, faculty and students work together to come up with creative solutions to solve real-world problems. C2E2 provides shared experimental facilities that include various material synthesis and characterization capabilities, testing and evaluation capabilities for small and large devices and systems that provide opportunities to explore and build on these creative ideas for a greener future for tomorrow.
https://www.energy.uconn.edu/

Eversource Energy Center - The Eversource Energy Center's mission is to be the foremost energy utility-academia partnership advancing leading-edge interdisciplinary research and technology assuring reliable power during extreme weather and security events.
-Advancing the next generation of storm damage modeling to shorten outages.
-Applying best practices for sustainable and storm resistant trees.
-Educating communities how to be Stormwise.
-Implementing electric grid efficiency and storm resiliency improvements.
https://www.eversource.uconn.edu/