There are so many sustainability-related programs and initiatives at the U that it can be hard to keep track - especially as sustainability becomes a key part of every department on campus, not just the Sustainability Office. This guide is a collection of resources from across the University of Utah related to sustainability - from ongoing projects to academic courses to funding opportunities. It is intended to be just as helpful for the graduate student dedicating their career to sustainability as it is for the first-year student who doesn't know anything about sustainability.

The Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund at the University of Utah has the opportunity to make a student-initiated project economically feasible while solving an existing problem on campus. This project involves installing a bioswale to mitigate flooding issues at the Edible Campus Garden. The primary focus is to improve the productivity and functionality of the Edible Campus Garden but the project will also provide notable environmental, ecological, and social benefits. The primary function of a bioswale is to filter runoff through biofiltration of above ground vegetation and bioretention achieved by an application of engineered soil above the native soil. A high degree of effectiveness has been noted for retention and removal of oil and grease in runoff that is retained in bioswales. Bioswales are also effective to a lesser extent for mitigating sediment, nutrient, metal, and bacteria pollution in runoff.1 In addition to improving garden productivity and operations, this project will provide other valuable benefits. An improved water catchment design will replace a rudimentary trench the garden staff and volunteers dug out of necessity in the fall of 2022 that has raised safety concerns for pedestrians. This project also presents educational opportunities by way of signage along the walkway and/or near the public benches and picnic tables in the garden. Lastly, retaining rainwater in close proximity to the planting rows is very likely to reduce the irrigation demands from that portion of the garden. Managers of the campus garden have the potential to utilize the bioswale for plants that benefit from the moisture laden growing conditions of the green infrastructure design.

Deicing agents are necessary to ensure safe conditions on the University of Utah campus during snowy winter months. However, current research suggests that road salt, the deicer widely applied by the U, has severe ecosystem impacts. This project aims to assess road salt’s current application and environmental impact on campus.

The goal of this research project is to identify inclusive spaces on the University of Utah campus, which are physical spaces designed to meet the diverse needs of those who use them. Inclusive spaces are important as they foster a sense of belonging and safety, and encourage diverse social interactions. A survey was distributed across the campus to faculty, staff, and students. In addition, targeted groups such as the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, International Student and Scholar Services, ASUU, and the Center for Disability Services were included. This study aimed to identify how students perceive their surrounding environment based on their demographic information and to implement inclusive design principles to improve campus development. The study also highlights the need for incorporating inclusive design principles and processes outlined in the EDI Strategic Plan into a new campus master plan to ensure sustainable development and inclusive spaces. The findings suggest that there is a clear discrepancy in how students perceive their surrounding environment based on their demographic information. The results of this survey may be used to incorporate inclusive spaces into the university's mission, which aims to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, establish a culture of belonging, and become a model campus for equity, diversity, and inclusive excellence.