University Housing is committed to educating residents and staff on sustainability through programs and trainings throughout the academic year.
Sustainability in University Housing
GreenHouse Learning Community
The GreenHouse learning community started in 2010 in Leopold Residence Hall. Students in GreenHouse have access to a greenhouse to learn about sustainable food and urban agriculture. GreenHouse is an inspired community of approximately 90 students working toward increased sustainability through volunteering and education.
Sustain-a-Bash
Each fall, Housing hosts Sustain-a-Bash, an event to celebrate sustainability and connect student’s interest in sustainability to their campus living experience. Students learn how to apply their environmental passions through campus academic and engagement resources. Interactive activities led by student organizations educate students on behavior choices, particularly how they relate to waste, food, water, and energy.
Resident Sustainability Ambassador Program
The Resident Sustainability Ambassador (RSA) Program is an environmental leadership program for students living in residence halls. Since 2021, an annual cohort of volunteers have spent 2-3 hours per week serving as peer educators to help build capacity and community around sustainability at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
RSAs serve as representatives for their residence hall and dining unit through peer education and outreach. Weekly training from Housing Sustainability staff and campus experts prepare RSAs to navigate complex solutions within Housing relating to operational energy use, food sustainability, and waste. In the spring semester of the program, ambassadors transition from learning about sustainability efforts within Housing and Dining to developing their own sustainability-focused projects that aim to improve current operations and culture within Housing.
As a Resident Sustainability Ambassador, you can expect to:
- Connect with other passionate, sustainability-minded students
- Get involved with the environmental community on campus through partnerships with the Office of Sustainability, the ASM Sustainability Committee, and sustainability-focused student organizations
- Learn about and take part in sustainability initiatives within University Housing and Dining
- Complete hands-on activities like food waste audits, event planning, recycling research, energy competitions, food recovery, working at the Dining farm, and more
- Create and lead educational campaigns about food waste, recycling, and other environmental issues on campus
- Prepare grant applications for sustainability solutions
- Gain professional sustainability experience through leadership opportunities, volunteer involvement, and career development programming
- Complete most requirements for the Leadership Certificate, with the opportunity to reflect on the experience and gain credit for your commitment to furthering sustainability
RSAs are expected to participate in the following program requirements:
- Attend weekly large-group meetings or trainings (required)
- Participate in weekly group activities, including outreach events, programming, audits, etc.
- Complete a minimum of (2) Sustainable Move Out volunteer shifts at the end of the year (required)
- Accomplish Leadership Certificate checkpoints to qualify for the certificate (optional)
Housing residents who are passionate, hard working and team oriented are encouraged to join! Please contact sustainability@housing.wisc.edu with any questions. This program is open to residents in any major and no prior experience is necessary.
Ambassadors from past cohorts have gone on to hold internships with the Office of Sustainability, Zero Waste team, farms, research labs, sustainability consulting firms, and more. What do past RSAs have to say about the program?
“The RSA program is a perfect opportunity to be involved in sustainability and community development experiences guided by passionate educators”
“It’s a way to get directly involved in Housing and Dining sustainability and provides great opportunities to expand your knowledge on various portions of campus sustainability”
“RSA is a fun way to get involved in the UW-Madison community that acts as a stepping stone to greater places by teaching you essential leadership and communication skills.”
Make an Impact
Work with Us!
There are several paid positions available with Housing Sustainability. Look for postings on the Housing Student Job site or contact sustainability@housing.wisc.edu to be notified of upcoming openings.
Make an Impact
- Attend a campus sustainability event!
- Join student orgs related to sustainability
- Volunteer with one of the many environmental groups in Madison, such as The Lakeshore Preserve, The Urban Tree Alliance, Badger Volunteers, and Slow Food UW