U of A Recognized for Sustainability
University of Arizona students plant native grasses on Tumamoc Hill to encourage the re-establishment of native plants. The effort is an example of how the university integrates sustainability into hands-on learning, research and community engagement.
UA News
The design of the ENR2 building reflects the environmental mission of its faculty, staff and students with a compelling response to the iconic imagery of the Southwest region and the special qualities of the Sonoran Desert.
GLHN / richärd+bauer
The University of Arizona is among only 14 institutions to receive the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability in 2026, the inaugural year of the sustainability classification. This classification recognizes US higher education institutions for embedding sustainability into their broader mission through the integration of sustainability institution-wide, including student-focused programs, research, operations, and community engagement. The classification signals to anyone passionate about sustainability, whether current or prospective students, faculty, researchers, community partners, or others, that the U of A is the place to be.
The sustainability classification, hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder, is the third in the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and American Council on Education elective classifications, which are “earned by institutions that have made extraordinary commitments to their public purpose.” Carnegie classifications highlight institutional diversity in US higher education. Institutions apply for recognition in an elective classification matching their strengths.
The U of A was one of 20 institutions that participated in piloting Carnegie’s 2025 sustainability classification initiative, developing and refining a rigorous framework for assessing and advancing sustainability efforts. The WRRC’s director, Sharon B. Megdal, served on the Advisory Team assembled for this work and to develop the U of A’s application. The multidisciplinary Advisory Team included members from the Office of Sustainability, Office of the Provost, and Office of Research and Partnerships, along with the College of Education, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Arizona Institute for Resilience, and others working together. In addition, community partners provided key letters of support.
Through its application, the U of A demonstrated how sustainability is integrated into the student experience from coursework to employment. It detailed how the sustainability theme connects researchers across departments, centers, initiatives, and programs; how it informs operational planning; and how the university’s community partnerships advance sustainability for public health, climate action, environmental resilience, water stewardship, and research translation.
The WRRC joins others across campus in celebrating this recognition.