Students

There are many ways for UVA students to get involved! Check out the options below, this blog post or email Office for Sustainability.

 

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Leadership Programs and CIOs

Office for Sustainability programs, such as OFS Student Employee program, empower students to lead sustainability initiatives across Grounds while developing leadership skills for future careers. Student Employees and volunteers have a hands-on role in developing and implementing waste reduction initiatives like composting waste from food trucks at the amphitheater, peer-to-peer education through a range of campaigns, volunteering to support recycling at athletics events and helping in student gardens.

Sustainability Student Employees: Made up of over a dozen students across six teams, the SSEs serve as the primary connection between the Office for Sustainability and students at UVA, and help oversee a wide variety of sustainability initiatives that engage directly with the UVA community. 

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. Interested individuals can apply using the Fall 2026 Sustainability Advocates application.

Green Dorm Ambassadors is centered around professional development, volunteer experiences, and educational opportunities for first year and transfer students living on Grounds. Working with the Office for Sustainability, students have the opportunity to advance their sustainability knowledge and connect with faculty. Applications can be found using the Fall 2026 Green Dorm Ambassadors application.

Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZWA) directly contribute to UVA's ambitious waste minimization goals. ZWAs will help expand and implement composting around Grounds. Interested individuals can apply using the Fall 2026 Zero Waste Ambassadors application.

Sustainability Student Organizations: UVA has over 30 CIOs working on sustainability initiatives from gardening to entrepreneurship to designing solar cars. Check out this Sustainability-focused CIOs page and Student Council’s EcoNetwork for more details.

Green Living: There are many things that you can do as a resident to reduce UVA’s environmental impact while also improving your student experience.  Check out Green Living for more.

UVA’s Environmental Institute offers many unique opportunities for students, including research fellowships, summer internships, interdisciplinary research opportunities, and more.

Public Service Pathways: The Public Service Pathways program comprises seven subject-focused pathways, including Global Sustainability.

Events and Volunteering

The Office for Sustainability hosts over 90 events a year. Popular volunteering includes Green Games, Corner Cleanups, and major events like Reunions and Final Exercises. Every 2-3 weeks, UVA Sustainability hosts a Corner Cleanup where groups of students collect trash and recycling alongside streets by the Corner. Volunteers enjoy bagels before the cleanup and commit about an hour to trash picking. Keep an eye out for Corner Cleanups on our events calendar. 

Stay informed by subscribing to the UVA Sustainability newsletter, following @sustainableuva on Instagram, or visiting the events page.

Student Garden: Students are welcome to swing by the garden at the corner of Alderman and McCormick any time; check the UVA Office for Sustainability webpage for designated for designated volunteer days when someone from the Office for Sustainability is on hand to guide the work session.

Students volunteering for Green Games

Jobs and Grants

UVA provides numerous opportunities for students to gain professional experience through sustainability-related jobs and internships. Check the Office for Sustainability Careers page for positions in the office or check the Career Center page for positions at UVA and in the community.

Grants & Funding – Have an idea or event you’d like to get started at UVA? Consider applying for grant funding.

Classes

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. To find out more about classes and majors/minors, click on the Office for Sustainability list. 

Stay in the know with events and opportunities with UVA Sustainability