With a national reputation for integrating sustainability across campus, the University of Oregon has made green more than just a school color, at attitude reflected in the annual Sustainability Awards Program.

Nominations are now open for this year’s awards, which will be presented at a dinner ceremony Wednesday, May 18. Nominations and self-nominations are due Monday, April 4.

The award categories are: excellence in teaching, research innovation, student leadership, campus operations, campus design, and town and gown.

Excellence in teaching award: This award is open to nontenure-track and tenure-track faculty. Candidates for this award have developed pedagogy and curriculum that reinforce and advance principles of sustainability through course design and instruction. This award celebrates persons who have exhibited excellence in one or both of the following areas:

• Innovation — Creative integration of principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability through innovative curriculum design and instruction.
• Impact — Teaching and mentorship which inspires student engagement in sustainability projects on campus or beyond.

To nominate (including self-nominations):  Send the faculty member’s name, applicable course syllabus and a one-page letter of support to Steve Mital at smital@uoregon.edu by April 4.

Research innovation award: This award is open to a UO project or Oregon company commercializing or distributing products or services developed from UO research that improve sustainability.

To nominate (including self-nominations): Provide a summary (not to exceed two pages) about the project or company and what makes it a leader in sustainability. What solution does it provide? How is the project or company sustainable or how do its products or services encourage sustainability in its users or the community? How is its approach to sustainability innovative, and how does it impact its field? Send nomination information to Evey Lennon at evey@uoregon.edu by April 4. 

Student leadership in sustainability award: This award is given to a sophomore or junior with a minimum 3.0 GPA and whose extracurricular efforts exemplify the UO Office of Sustainability's mission: Shrinking our Footprint, Raising Awareness. Additionally, the Office of Sustainability will provide up to $500 to support the winning student’s leadership development in the following year. These funds can be used to attend a conference or training or to purchase materials in support of a campus event or initiative designed to support campus sustainability.  

To apply: Students seeking this award should submit the following to Steve Mital at smital@uoregon.edu by April 4:

• A 500-word essay explaining how your extracurricular activities have contributed to the Office of Sustainability’s mission: Shrinking our Footprint, Raising Awareness.
• A letter of reference submitted by UO staff or faculty member on student’s behalf.
• An unofficial UO transcript. 

Campus operations award: This award recognizes outstanding individual contributions towards best practices in sustainability during the day-to-day operations at the UO. Small steps taken by individuals often have a big impact on the ability to support a sustainable environment. Examples of operations that can be improved include (but are not limited to):

• Waste and recycling handling
• Landscape planting and irrigation
• Building temperatures and light timing
• Utility conservation methods (steam, chilled water and electricity)
• Vendor selection and purchasing
• Technology usage
• Office habits (e.g. printing)
• Water usage
• Vehicle usage

To nominate (including self-nominations): Summarize the achievements in two pages or less and send to Jonathan Marchetta at jmarchet@uoregon.edu by April 4. In addition to the name of the individual UO staff member applying or being nominated, the letter should:

• Describe the initiative or operational change this individual has pursued. Be sure to explain the old method compared to the improvement.
• Explain how this benefits the UO.  Is there a direct benefit (e.g., a new type of flower cost $0.50 each vs $1.00 each for the old type) or indirect benefit (e.g., the new flowers are watered once per week now instead of three times per week for the old type)?
• State whether this improvement provides an on-going or one-time benefit. 

Campus design award: This award will be given to a project sponsor who has demonstrated leadership, excellence and creativity in implementing the Oregon Model for Sustainable Development. (Note:  Campus Planning, Design and Construction are aware of all eligible projects. Therefore, nominations are not necessary.)

Town and gown sustainability award: This award is presented to campus individuals or groups for projects that promote, educate or enhance a more sustainable community. Recipients will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Community Outreach — Overall quality of community outreach and enhancement of town and gown relationship.
• Impact — The project or program is felt broadly throughout the community.
• Creativity — Project or program is unique, new or considered innovative.
• Partnership — Project is implemented in cooperation with community stakeholders.

To nominate (including self-nominations): Provide a summary (not to exceed one page) about the project and how it meets the above criteria. Send nomination information to Matt Roberts at mroberts@uoregon.edu by April 4.