2023 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

Cody Umentum

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

Soil Moisture Research at AGM Nature Preserve

Assistant Prof. Katy Hofmeister & Environmental Studies major Kevin Mueller

$1.6 million project protects Winnebago ecosystems

See news coverage of this astounding project.

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

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

14 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

2022 Energy use:

2022 Emissions:

MT CO2e-

Electricity

kWh of electricity

This cost us $2,136,999.16

Natural Gas

Therms of natural gas

This cost us $1,662,363

Focus on Energy Dollars

2023 Sustainability Tours:

Community Members

Employees

Students

Peregrine Falcon project

The three 2023 Peregrine falcon chicks were banded as part of an ongoing monitoring program within the state of Wisconsin. We’d like to introduce a female named Hope and two males named Houle and Leopold!

These names were chosen to honor Marcy Cottrell Houle, and American wildlife biology and writer who wrote “Wings for My Flight: The Peregrine Falcons of Chimney Rock”, renowned environmentalist and author of “A Sand County Almanac”, Aldo Leopold, and Hope because of the feeling ‘hope’ brings for the future of UWO.

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 and nest cam!

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

Community Gardens 2023

52

CSA members
(14 students)

108

shares picked up

Over 1,200

pounds of fresh produce provided

April 22nd, 2023

2023’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 surronding 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.

Evenings in the Praire

UWO Sustainability hosted ‘Evenings in the Prairie’ in July, August, and September at AGM Nature Preserve, the Oshkosh campus, and the Fond du Lac campus. Participants had the opportunity to see the wonderful native grasslands of their local ecosystems.

National Wildlife Federation

UWO received 500 free plants from the National Wildlife Federation – planted by an Honors class with Dr. Sabrina Mueller-Spitz and Dr. Ron Rindo on the Oshkosh campus.

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.

Fruit Tree Planting

UWO was the recipient of a grant from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. Our partner, Kimberly Clark, sponsored 100 fruit trees planted on the UWO campuses and 100 fruit trees given away to volunteers!