2024 UWO

Sustainability

Impact Report

“The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has built a solid reputation as a leader in sustainability over the last two decades.

With a stellar year behind us, we look forward to the next year with a renewed sense of hope and vision for a more just, resilient, and sustainable future, for all.”

-Brad Spanbauer
Sustainability Director

Give Support to Sustainability Intiatives at UW Oshkosh

All donations directly impact sustainability and student programs at UW Oshkosh. Your donations will make a positive impact that will be felt for years to come.

Click Here

Cody Umentum

Featured on Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch – UW Oshkosh ’17 Alumni shares how sustainable initiatives and study abroad programs positively impacted him.

$1.6 million project protects Winnebago ecosystems

See news coverage of this astounding project.

Message about the 2023 Impact Report

“This has been a busy year for sustainability at UWO! To name just a few of the things we’ve been up to: planting over 100 fruit trees on our campuses; partnering in the Clash Collective Thrift Shop which kept over 2,000 donated student items out of the landfill; conducting a campus resiliency assessment for our Climate Action and Resilience Plan; launching major research initiatives on Harmful Algal Blooms and sustainable agriculture which provide research and job opportunities for scores of students; and hosting high-profile speakers and events on global food sustainability, biodiversity loss, and more.

As you can see, we are committed to supporting inquiry, education, and action for sustainability- all while maintaining a focus on providing high-impact opportunities for our students. Read below for more- and please get in touch!”

-Stephanie Spehar & Brad Spanbauer
SIRT Director & Sustainability Director

Tree Campus Higher Education Institution

15 Years Oshkosh Campus
12 years Fox Cities Campus
5 years Fond du Lac Campus

Earth Day 2022, Chancellor Leavitt signs Second Nature’s Climate Commitment and calls for Climate Neutrality by 2030

2023 Energy use:

2022 Emissions:

MT CO2e-

Electricity

kWh of electricity

This cost us $2,369,936.87

Natural Gas

Therms of natural gas

This cost us $1,742,895.03

Focus on Energy Dollars

Peregrine Falcon project

These five 2024 Peregrine falcon chicks were banded on May 20th, 2024 as part of an ongoing monitoring program within the state of Wisconsin. We’d like to introduce 5 falcon chicks named after the Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario!

“Falcons Gaylord and Julia produced five offspring that have been living in the nesting box at Gruenhagen Conference Center… The UW Oshkosh nesting box is among more than 30 active peregrine nests that are located around Wisconsin and produce more than 100 chicks annually.”

– UW Oshkosh Today News Bureau

Read the story here

If you have not checked it out recently, the nest box on GCC where a nest cam can be viewed from a live YouTube stream

Please visit the webpage if you would like to support the Peregrine Falcon project!

A gift account has been established for the project and donations can be made by check or online.

Donations help support the maintenance of the box for the falcons and nest cam!

SIRT email: sustainuwo@uwosh.edu or sirt@uwosh.edu.

UWO Community Gardens 2024

Every year we are thrilled to see the progress in the community gardens and developments to support our ecosystem. This year we had 14 paid plot renters. One garden bed was set aside for indigenous garden planting for student Kendra White and faculty Margaret Huettl. We had 3 student interns this year to help keep up with garden efforts.

On April 27th, 2024 we benefitted from 10 volunteer students/staff/faculty and community members. We also had a hand from a class event work day from Dr. Shannon’s Quest 3 class.

This year we made progress to remove dilapidated composting areas and rebuilt raised beds. We added woodchips to pathways and much more to make our gardens a better place.

We look forward to next season full of fresh veggies and produce!

Over 1,200

pounds of fresh produce provided this year

45

CSA members
(17 students)

108

shares picked up

April 27th, 2024

2024’s Earth Day was a huge success. Multiple teams of students were able to get involved on campus and make a green impact on their everyday surroundings.

One group helped clear out trash and re-mulch multiple areas by Sage and Kolf. The other toured around campus grounds picking up trash and debris while learning about the local wildlife and ecosystems. Our campus continues to benefit from all the help these students were able to provide.

Pop-Up Shops

Following the success of the first Clash Collective pop-up shop by New Student and Family Programs, SIRT hosted a pop-up shop in Reeve Concourse where all students were able to come and pick up free clothes. Through SIRT’s green initiatives students moving out of the residence halls at the end of the semester donated clothes which were collected and organized for on-campus pop-up shops.

Read this article from the Advance Titan to learn more about how the Clash Collective Thrift Shop started by New Student and Family Programs at UWO won a national award making a positive impact for so many new students and families.