Welcome to Green Grounds, Hoos!

If you’re interested in sustainability, here are just a few ways you can get involved at UVA: 

Join a Student Sustainability Leadership Program 

The Office for Sustainability runs many leadership programs that students can join to learn more about sustainability, create projects, and make a difference on Grounds. 

Sustainability Advocates 

Sustainability Advocates work directly with the Office for Sustainability to develop sustainability student leaders across Grounds. They work on semester-long projects aimed at increasing sustainable practices and awareness on Grounds. Apply for the 2024-25 year and learn more here. 

Zero Waste Ambassadors

This program allows student-leaders to directly contribute to UVA’s ambitious waste minimization goals. ZWAs help expand and implement composting around Grounds. Apply for the Fall 2024 cohort and learn more here. 

Eco-Leaders

The Eco-Leaders program is centered around professional development, volunteer experiences, and educational opportunities for first year and transfer students living on Grounds. Working with the OFS, students have the opportunity to advance their sustainability knowledge and connect with faculty. Apply and learn more here.

Green CIOS

There are also many clubs and organizations at UVA that center around sustainability that students can join to engage in sustainability happenings on Grounds and in the Charlottesville community. 

Growing for Change: 

GFC works to develop stronger social ties between the University of Virginia and Westhaven community through collaborative efforts in creating individual gardens. 

SWAP @ UVA:

Swap @ UVA plans and hosts clothing swaps on Grounds, where you can donate clothes to find new ones!

Environmental Justice Collective:

Through direct action, community buildings and mutual education, EJC strives to provide a safe space for students of color and the UVA community to discuss environmental injustices in the U.S and abroad.

There are several other sustainability-related community groups at UVA, ranging from engineering to advocacy. To look at are more clubs and organizations that focus on sustainability at UVA, here is a non-exhaustive list of organizations. 

Practice Stewardship

The Office for Sustainability has many volunteer opportunities for students to get involved in! 

Green Games

There is composting implemented at every home football game at UVA and select home basketball games, and there are volunteer opportunities available for every game! Green Games are fun, high-energy events and volunteering is a great way to get behind the scenes of sustainability at UVA. Sign up here. 

Corner Cleanups

Every 2-3 weeks, UVA Sustainability hosts a Corner Cleanup where groups of students collection trash and recycling alongside streets by the Corner. Volunteers get bagels before the cleanup and commit about an hour to trash picking. Keep an eye out for Corner Cleanups on our events calendar here.

Student Garden

The UVA Student Garden hosts 1-2 work days a week where volunteers water, weed, plant, and harvest in the garden. Stay updated with the garden by following @ StudentGarden_UVA on Instagram. 

Volunteer in the Charlottesville Community

Students can also volunteer with organizations and nonprofits in the Charlottesville community. 

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry:

Community food pantries help reduce food insecurity by providing low or no-cost food and hygiene products. Volunteer at Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry and help bag food products or pack grocery carts to deliver to clients’ cars.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville:

Habitat for Humanity partners with people in the Charlottesville community to help them build or improve a place they can call home. Volunteers can help out in the office, Habitat store, or with construction on building teams. 

Emergency Food Network:

The Emergency Food Network provides balanced meals to individuals and families in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Volunteers can help out as an office volunteer, bagger, driver, distributor, shelver, and translator. 

Service CIOs

Similar to the clubs and organizations mentioned above, there are groups that students can join that center around service and volunteering. 

Alpha Phi Omega: 

APO is a gender inclusive, student-run service fraternity following the three cardinal principles of leadership, friendship, and service. Many of their service projects are focused on environmental efforts. 

FeelGood at UVA:

FeelGood makes and sells fresh grilled cheese sandwiches outside of Clemons Library every Sunday night to raise proceeds for The Hunger Project.

Food Assist at UVA:

Food Assist members combat hunger and excessive waste by recovering unused food from events and donating it to local soup kitchens. 

Hoos Littering:

Members of Hoos Littering participate in weekly trash cleanups at the Corner, Mad Bowl, JPA, and other locations on and off Grounds, followed by a trip to Bodo’s. 

Incorporate Sustainability into Your Education

There are many sustainability-related courses across many different departments at UVA. Addressing sustainability challenges globally and locally requires research and solutions from a wide range of disciplines. We hope every UVA student, regardless of major, is able to integrate sustainability-related curriculum into their studies if they so choose. These classes can also fulfill your general education requirements! 

Some classes include ENGL 2599: Ecologies Across Genres, EVSC 1010: Intro to Environmental Science, and HIAF 3112: African Environmental History. Some majors/minors include Environmental Science, Global Environments and Sustainability, and Urban and Environmental Engineering. To find out more about classes and majors/minors, click here. 

Stay in the know with events and opportunities with UVA Sustainability 

• Follow @SustainableUVA on Instagram.

• Sign-up for the UVA Sustainability bi-weekly newsletter.

• Bookmark the UVA Sustainability Events Calendar.