UMBC offers many opportunities for students to explore and experience different aspects of sustainability throughout the campus.  Students can engage with different sustainable systems on campus, from our unique urban forest ecology study areas to one of five green roofs. To celebrate this year’s Campus Sustainability Month, Sustainability Matters (the University’s Office of Sustainability) and the Student Government Association collaborated to create the UMBC Sustainability Retriever.  The new interactive web-based mapping application provides easy access to a full range of UMBC’s many sustainability features, programs, and activities.

The interactive map provides information and links to a wide range of topics organized into the following categories:

·         Built Environment

·         Lifestyle

·         Natural Environment

·         Outdoor Air Quality

·         SGA Transit Activity Guides

·         Transportation

·         Retriever Essentials

·         UMBC Transit

Each category is marked on an interactive map, which provides locations of notable features. Points of interest on the map include photos and links to additional information. Sustainability Matters will regularly update the map with new information. Anyone who has updated information for items currently listed on the map or would like to include additional items may contact Ryan Kmetz at rkmetz@umbc.edu .

Along with Team Drive-Less (a proposal to install a car counter at the Commons Garage to indiciate when it is full), the proposed project, 'The Garden@ UMBC' won the top number of Prove-it votes with 70% of the students voting for the community garden. The organizers have been building momentum and partnerships and seeking approval and space for over a year. They're now asking anyone interested in a garden plot to use their Food Plot Application.

In their own words:

"We're building a community food garden on UMBC's campus. We are growing food, and a lot of it! If a Master Gardener used the space we've been provided, we could grow over $39,000 worth of food a year--that's incredible.

In addition to that we're trying to bring all of UMBC together: all majors, all interests, every kind of student to show that we all can contribute to something together. The actual space is a collaboration of Mechanical Engineering students and Linehan Visual Art Scholars, we've already had three classes from three different departments incorporate our project into their curriculum, and the Undergraduate Research Awards have already begun to be doled out.

Above all, The Garden is a model for how students can change their university. Research doesn't just exist in the lab, and service doesn't have to be at an off campus service site. We don't have to go to someone else for those opportunities. As students we can create them on our campus on our terms. We've already established the pool of campus and community partners to support every kind of engagement possible, and now we need the students.

Let's grow UMBC together."

Vote here for a thrift store from rescued items!

SGA's Prove It! competition features many student groups looking to create real change on campus. This week, UMBC students vote for the grant proposals they like the most. The two winning ideas will receive $10,000 to implement their programs on campus.

One of the campaigns that students can vote for is Retriever Treasure.

During the move-out period every May, UMBC deals with a significantly larger trash load than average. Much of this extra waste is from residential students cleaning out their rooms. A lot of what students discard isn't trash; materials in good or nearly perfect condition end up being tossed because students cannot bring them home. Come fall semester, students need to buy many of the same things again at full price.

What a waste to throw out materials like bookshelves, coat hangers, garbage bins, and printers! How can UMBC students stop this destructive cycle of waste?

We think Retriever Treasure is the answer!

A group of students from SEA (Students for Environmental Awareness) is working to set up a student-run system of collections to save students' unwanted but usable materials.

The campaign strives to eliminate excess waste while saving students money through a few steps:

1. STUDENTS DONATE: A collections drive will be set up near residence halls and dumpsters during the move-out period in May. This would allow students to donate their gently used, unwanted items.

2. STORAGE: The Retriever Treasure team will rent trucks and storage space to store the collected items over the summer.

3. THRIFT STORE!: Come fall semester, Retriever Treasure will bring the items back to campus during the move-in period to have a yard sale. There, students would be able to buy items that other students/faculty donated at a fraction of the prices found at commercial stores!

The proceeds of the sale go back to the UMBC community by sustaining this program year after year. And additional funds will be put towards a revolving fund for students looking to start their own initiatives to make campus a better place.

You can make Retriever Treasure a reality! Vote for this campaign this week, Monday March 24 through Friday March 28 in the myUMBC Prove It! poll.

***EDIT: Vote for us HERE: http://my.umbc.edu/discussions/11313