Sustainability at the U

University of Miami student, faculty, or staff, recently completed the Sustainability Culture Assessment survey. The responses informed us onwhat we're doing right and what we need to improve upon. The best five answers to the open-ended question are below, participants won solar chargers and green prizes, thanks to them for their honest input!

1. I would like to see the landscapers stop using gas-powered blowers all over campus!
2. More programming outreach specifically for buildings with limited student interactions. For example, the Newman Alumni Center does not offer any programs or education.
3. Plan to divest from big oil as a university which is counter-productive to all of these goals.
4. More trees throughout the campus and programs to teach students how to properly plant them.
5. Habitat restoration and more native landscaping on campus.

We invite you to watch this video and take the Green U survey to assess your knowledge of sustainability!

Here are the winners of the 2021 Green U Survey:
Andrea Ruiz, Noah Ross, Denise Hassinger, Thomas Champney, Melissa Winch, Marta Pavelka, Kandra Velz

Thank you all for participating in this important assessment, and here are some of the most original ideas that you listed:

On the 201 individuals who took the 2021 Green U Survey, 47% were staff, 41% students and less 9% faculty members. Full results are available here.

The observations made from the results are as follows:
- Answers to local sustainability related matters (2 questions) were 88% accurate.
- Answers to workplace sustainability related best practices (7 questions) were 80% accurate.
- General questions for other topics like Water Conservation, Sustainable Food and Environmentally Preferred Products (8 questions)  were 78% accurate.
- Questions on international policies, climate science and sustainable development goals received a much lower score: 59% accuracy (6 questions)

The overall average of accurate answers to the survey was 76%, 4% more than last year'survey.

In 2019, the University of Miami earned a Gold rating on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). By taking this survey, you will help us improve our 2022 rating. The ultimate goal of this survey is to learn how UM can do a better job in educating its community about sustainability and environmental issues. The best answers to the open question will receive one of the following prizes: a bike, a hammock, a beach chair, or a cooler—courtesy of Coca-Cola Florida!

TAKE the 2020 ECO Pledge!

All faculty, staff, alumni and returning students are invited to take the ECO pledge. The Covid 19 pandemic has taught us new ways to be more mindful of our individual ecofootprint. Don't forget to share your experience with us on Facebook adn Instagram. 

Now that the holiday season has begun, we all are starting to think about what the new year will bring and how we can better ourselves and the world around us. As you reflect on this year and how you can make a positive difference, try starting at the root of everything—our environment. From swearing off single-use plastic to committing to incorporating plant-based meals into our diets, there are small changes we can make that together would have a big impact. While the change we can create pales in comparison to the necessary changes needed at a large-scale level, we can still foster a healthier and more sustainable planet for future generations. Take a look at our video below to see what staff, students, and faculty at the University of Miami are doing.

So as you start to think of your new year’s resolution, let small lifestyle changes help you think big. Take our ECO Pledge and join over a hundred of your colleagues and friends who are committing to changing the world and our future.

The first 20 pledges received a Sustanability Starter Kit! and here are the winners:

Results: