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Award-Winning Sustainability: Celebrating the U of A’s Commitment

An photo of a person standing in Biosphere 2 looking up through the canopy.


The University of Arizona has been named among 14 institutions receiving the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, recognizing the university's efforts to prioritize sustainability and climate action on our campus. 

U of A was one of just 20 institutions selected to participate in the 2025 pilot program and among the 14 institutions receiving the classification, it was also the largest R1 research university and the only four-year university in Arizona receiving the designation. 

This recognition is all-encompassing – it isn’t about one building, one major, or one research project. Instead, the Carnegie Classification for Sustainability reflects the way sustainability is integrated throughout the university, from classrooms and research labs to student organizations, campus infrastructure, and partnerships throughout Tucson. 

And it’s true! Sustainability is hard to miss around here. 

Here are a few ways Wildcats are building the foundation for a more sustainable future. 

A Clean Campus 

To Wildcats, sustainability isn’t just another classroom lesson – it’s built into the place we call home. Since 2021, the U of A has sourced 100% of its grid electricity through a renewable energy partnership with Tucson Electric Power, making sustainability a permanent part of the campus’ identity. To do this, the university draws from the TEP Wilmot Energy Center, utilizing more than 300,000 solar panels to capture clean energy. 

Students Driving Change

The University of Arizona works hard to ensure that students have the opportunity to shape the future of sustainability. Through the Campus Sustainability Fund, mini and annual grants are given to Wildcats who propose projects designed to improve campus sustainability, giving them the opportunity to turn their ideas into action. To date, the campus has provided nearly $2M of funding for projects through this program, and it doesn't have plans of stopping anytime soon. A few recent standout projects include:

Research

As a leading research university, the U of A is asking important questions surrounding our planet’s future. From the world’s largest enclosed research facility at Biosphere 2, where researchers analyze complex ecosystems and their response to environmental change, to centers like the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research, where scientists study the climate record present in trees, university researchers are working to understand how patterns of climate change over time – demonstrating our university’s commitment to bringing sustainability into cross-disciplinary settings. 

Getting Around Tucson 

The university also applies sustainable practices to transportation. Through U of A transportation programs like GoRide, SafeRide, and CatTran, Wildcats have plenty of options to help reduce their carbon footprint when traveling around campus and the city. The university also lends support to bike owners, creating several spaces on campus to store or repair bicycles. But this isn’t anything new, the U of A has been recognized as a Gold-level Bicycle Friendly University since 2011. 

Sustainability Beyond Graduation

Sustainability stays with us. Through the Green Graduate Pledge, graduating Wildcats can commit to carrying sustainable practices and values into their careers and communities. It serves as a reminder that sustainability is more than a campus initiative; it’s habits and knowledge that you will keep and apply throughout your life. 

Conscious Campus

The beautifully designed bike paths and unique buildings across campus aren’t just pretty to look at – they’re intentionally sustainable, too! Much of the university's infrastructure takes environmental factors like weather conditions and water levels into account. Bike paths around campus serve a dual purpose as their permeable structure helps restore water into the ground, and support natural ecological cycles through design features that disperse rainwater that could otherwise flood areas. Also, one of campus’s most popular buildings, ENR2, features an intentionally narrow design that naturally channels water and cools air. 

Sustainability through Expression

The university’s efforts towards sustainability reach into places you might not immediately think of – in addition to infrastructure, community initiatives on campus also play a major role. Campus Closet provides students with gently used professional clothing, working to reduce clothing insecurity on campus; and the Replay Clothing Line upcycles vintage clothing and athletic wear into every-day pieces for sale at the Campus Store. These initiatives demonstrate the community’s persistent commitment to sustainability here on campus. 

As the world faces challenges around climate, water, energy, and natural resources, the transition toward sustainable, climate-forward practices is becoming increasingly important. At the U of A, that transition has been underway for years through research, innovation, and student-led initiatives. 

The new Carnegie Classification for Sustainability is a commemoration of the work and effort the university has put forth to build a safer tomorrow, and a recognition of its commitment to instill that purpose in its community. 

Want to see it for yourself? Take the University Campus Sustainability Tour to explore some of the projects, locations, and practices that set the University of Arizona apart.