Awards

The Sustainability Office operates out of Upham Greenhouse. Upham Greenhouse is located on the south end of the first floor of Upham Hall. The door to enter the greenhouse is at the very end of the Physics Department hallway.

The Sustainability Coordinator office is located at 500 N. Fremont Street, Whitewater WI.  It is on the second floor of the General Services building, which is accessible using an exterior staircase or wheelchair ramp at the north end of the building near the receiving dock. Visitor parking for General Services is available in Lot 21 near the FP&M main office door. Handicap parking is located up the hill next to the receiving dock. At the top of the stairs/ramp, you can enter exterior door #14 from 7 AM – 3 PM and the office is immediately on your left.  

The aim of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is to inspire schools, districts, and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to strive for 21st-century excellence by highlighting promising school sustainability practices and resources that all can employ. To that end, the award recognizes schools, districts, and IHEs that: 

reduce environmental impact and costs; 
improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and 
provide effective environmental and sustainability education

Combined progress in ALL three of these areas, known as Pillars, serves as the basis for recognition. UW-Whitewater was recognized as a Green Ribbon School in 2020. UW-Whitewater's submission can be found here.

The annual Green Star Awards® Program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence. The program complements other national landscape award programs that recognize outstanding landscape design and construction. This program salutes the grounds superintendent responsible for maintaining a well-manicured landscape year round. Grand, Honor and Merit Awards are offered in 15 categories, covering all types of private, public, commercial and industrial landscapes. To qualify for entry, a landscape must be at least two years old and under your continuous maintenance for at least two years. 

UW-Whitewater received the award in 2020.

The purpose of the Regents Diversity Awards is to recognize institutional change agents who have established a successful record in fostering greater access and success for students who are members of historically underrepresented populations (including African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Southeast Asians), first-generation, and/or economically disadvantaged. Established by the Board of Regents during Plan 2008, the award signifies the Board’s commitment to “…achieving educational diversity at all UW System institutions… in order to fully develop advanced human potential, the jobs that employ that potential, and the flourishing of communities that sustain it,” (UW Board of Regents Resolution # 8970).

UW-Whitewater Sustainability Office received the award in the Program category in 2024 for our work with the Campus Garden donation program to local food pantries. You can read the Campus Garden Program profile here or visit the Campus Garden and Food Pantries webpage to learn more.