The Shriver Center is looking for  help to collect laptops, tablets, and smart phones for many of the Afghan new arrivals who will use these devices to connect to virtual English as a Second Language (ESL)classes and to access online resources and information that will help their families become better acclimated and connected. 

UMBC'S Green Office Program is back! The ALL NEW version of the UMBC Green Office Program is going live on Tuesday, March 1st – and this time nothing is stopping it!

The program has been 100% redesigned to incorporate the most recent best practices and relevant information. All participants will have access to a hybrid program and a plethora of resources to help your department achieve the best score possible.

Did you say ‘score?’

Yes! This newest iteration of the program is set-up to foster some friendly competition. There are 4 tiers of Green Offices: Green, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Every office that competes will also receive some recognition on the new Green Office Hub (coming in late March). The hub will allow users to explore buildings and departments on campus to understand where others are on their sustainability journey.

What is the Green Office Program? 

The Green Office Program is a voluntary and competitive program that rewards staff and faculty for adopting more sustainable practices. The program seeks to:

• Help offices understand how sustainable their current operations are 
• Train members and provide resources on ways offices can operate more efficiently and sustainably 
• Reward and recognize offices for reducing their impact 

The Green Office Program is designed to cover an array of topics and situations applicable to the various offices and departments across campus. Specific areas include:

• Energy
• Climate
• Waste
• Transportation
• Purchasing
• Education & Outreach
• Innovative Practices

 Learn More!

Please visit: https://sustainability.umbc.edu/home/what-you-can-do/green-office-certification-2020/

The Rachel Carson Council is pleased to announce that the Rachel Carson Council Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for the academic year 2022 - 2023.

The RCC Fellowship Program will select 25 environmental leaders from colleges and universities across the nation. To apply to the program, students propose their own projects that are focused on sustainability and environmental justice to be carried out on their campuses and in their communities. Former fellows have run projects ranging from divestment campaigns to podcasts on environmental justice issues and campaigns for renewable energy infrastructure on their campuses. Learn more about our current RCC Fellows here.

Have an idea and want to partner with UMBC Sustainability?! Get in touch with us to discuss further! Sustainability@umbc.edu

Fellowships are for the academic year 2022-2023 and provide $2,000 for current undergraduates (or master’s level graduate students) to carry out climate and environmental justice projects and campaigns for the RCC from their respective campuses. In July, those selected as RCC Fellows will travel to Washington DC to be in residence for the five-day RCC American Environmental Leadership Institute (AELI) at the Rockwood Manor Retreat Center adjacent to the C&O Canal National Park. Fellows will further develop their writing, organizing, and advocacy skills and begin plans for their projects and campaigns for the coming year. Faculty for the AELI will include RCC staff and some members of the RCC National Advisory Council Throughout the academic year, RCC Fellows will receive mentorship from RCC staff, access to the Advisory Council, and the opportunity to publish. 

Find the application for the Fellowship program here.

Application Deadline is April 1

Does UMBC have wetlands?

The Campus Race to Zero Waste is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Over an 8-week period each spring, colleges across the United States and Canada report the amount of recycling and trash collected each week and are in turn ranked in various categories based on who recycles the most on a per capita basis, as well as which schools have the best recycling rate as a percentage of total waste and which schools generate the least amount of combined trash and recycling.  With each week’s updated ranking, participating schools follow their performance against other colleges and use the results to rally their campus to reduce and recycle more.

National recognition is provided to the winning school in each category on the website and in a national press release. Winning schools receive an award made out of recyclable materials, and win the right to host that category’s special traveling trophy for the coming year.

Links for more info about CR2ZW: https://recyclemania.org/participate/quicklinks/

To learn more about Waste @UMBC please visit: https://sustainability.umbc.edu/home/what-you-can-do/zero-waste/

Register your lab today: https://www.freezerchallenge.org/register.html

Once you have completed the program, please submit a copy of your My Green Lab Ambassador Certificate. Upon submission your lab's status as a UMBC Green Lab will become official. 

The National Wildlife Federation and the Campus Race to Zero Waste Program is excited to announce a new certification program for colleges and universities taking action to reduce the purchase and use of plastics on campus. 

There are three levels of certification:

Bronze (18-48 points): Introductory badge - your college or university is newer to the plastics reduction space, and trying to get the word out about the need for change.

**Silver (49-74 points): Intermediate badge - your college or university is reducing plastics in practice, and your impact is visible campus-wide.

Green (75-100 points): Advanced level badge - your college or university is institutionally committed, and demonstrating leadership in the plastics reduction space as a true change agent.

**UMBC is working towards the Silver designation

More Information about the Plastics Reduction Partner Program: 

The Plastics Reduction Partner program is on a three-year cycle to integrate into action and reporting associated with AASHE STARS processes. Campuses will be asked to re-apply for certification every three years to remain current, and your three year date is determined by the month and year of your last submission.

Campuses are encouraged to review the action and documentation requirements for the next certification level regularly to determine if you are eligible for the next level of certification. Campuses can apply for the next level of certification at any time, they do not have to wait three years. The Plastics Reduction Partner program is eligible for AASHE STARS innovation credits. 

For additional information please visit: https://recyclemania.org/home-4/about-recyclemania/plastics-reduction-partner/

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for additional information and how you can help UMBC!