Sustainability
The University of Cincinnati recognizes its role as a leader in sustainable practice, research, and education. UC seeks to consider the environmental, social, and economic impacts of its decisions and commits to incorporating the concept of sustainability into its academic and research programs; the design, operation, and maintenance of its buildings and landscapes; and its organizational structure and management.
“Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable—to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” - Our Common Future, World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
Sustainability can be described as each of us doing our part to build the kind of world—economically, environmentally and socially—that we want to live in, and one that we want our children and grandchildren to inherit. It means becoming aware of the interconnections—visible and invisible—in which we as humans influence the intricate balance of social, economic, and ecological systems.
UC's Office of Sustainability is within the Department of Planning + Design + Construction. The staff includes a full-time Sustainability Coordinator, a full-time Assistant Sustainability Coordinator, and a team of student workers that are known as Sustainability Advocates.
The Office of Sustainability facilitates a variety of programs including the co-curricular Environmental Literacy Certificate, UC Bike Kitchen & Bearcat Bike Share, the annual Sustainability Awards, the UC Garden, Bearcat Recycling, and the Annual Bike Show. Office staff also co-coordinate annual events with groups on and off campus, most notably Sustainability@UC Week and Move In/Move Out Uptown Waste Diversion.
Finally, the office works with several cross-campus & external stakeholders to execute & document progress toward the University’s goals laid out in its Sustainability + Climate Action Plan.
Through providing a variety of programs that seek to educate, engage, and empower, the Office of Sustainability strives to enhance the culture of sustainability at the University.
The University of Cincinnati recognizes its role as a leader in sustainable practice, research, and education. UC seeks to consider the environmental, social, and economic impacts of its decisions and commits to incorporating the concept of sustainability into its academic and research programs; the design, operation, and maintenance of its buildings and landscapes; and its organizational structure and management.
Sustainability is also a critical part of UC's Strategic Direction, Next Lives Here.
UC's sustainability efforts have been recognized many times, including the following:
- 4 Star Certified Green Restaurant (On the Green Dining Center) (2026)
- Princeton Review's Top 50 Green Colleges: #8 in USA, #1 in Ohio (2026)
- Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS: Gold (2023)
- Bike Friendly University: Silver (2022)
- Green Umbrella's Sustainability INNOVATION Award (2022)
- AASHE STARS: Gold (2020)
- Sierra Club's Cool School List: #78 (of 282) (2019)
- AASHE's Campus Sustainability Index: #4 in USA (of 339) in Water category (2019)
- Bike Friendly University: Bronze (2018)
- Green Umbrella's Transit Friendly Destination: Platinum (2018)
- AASHE's Campus Sustainability Index: #1 in USA (of 303) in Water category (2017)
- AASHE STARS: Gold (2017)
- Green Umbrella's Transit Friendly Destination: Diamond (2015)
- AASHE STARS: Silver (2014)
- Cincinnati Business Courier's Green Business Awards: Building (2014)
- Queen City Bike's Bike Friendly Destination: Gold, 2013
- Cincinnati Business Courier's Green Business Awards: Advocacy (2013)
- Duke Energy's Power Partner of the Year, 2012
- Cincinnati Business Courier's Green Business Awards: Policy and Design (2011)
- US EPA Energy Star Combined Heat and Power Award, 2011
- US EPA Partner of the Year Award, 1997