University of Utah Sustainability Office

What University of Utah Sustainability Office does

The University of Utah Office for Sustainability Education (OSE), formerly the Sustainability Office, is an institutional department within the public University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Founded in 2008 alongside the Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF) — a student-fee funded green grant program proposed by the Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) — the office was reorganized in May 2025 into the Office of Undergraduate Studies and rebranded to emphasize its educational mandate. Its core offerings include the SCIF green grant program (which awarded a record $281,000 across 29 projects in 2025-26), Edible Campus Gardens (operating since 1996), Sustainability Across the Curriculum faculty development, the Applied Sustainability Learning Program, an Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability, and event-driven programs including the Farmers Market, Pop-Up Thrift Shop, U Bike Week, and Earth Month.

The office operates as a program-based sustainability platform built on curriculum integration, experiential learning, and campus community engagement rather than proprietary technology. Supporting infrastructure includes a blog (Sustainable Utah), social media channels, email and university publication communications, a bi-weekly GCSC Seminar Series, and the Sustainable Utah website. The office has twice earned a STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and was a finalist for AASHE's Racial Equity and Sustainability Collaboration Award. The underlying technology stack is conventional web and collaboration tooling (Google Search, Google Forms, Canva, Google Slides) with no proprietary software product.

The office's revenue model is institutional rather than commercial. It is funded by University of Utah budget allocation, supplemented by student fees that flow through SCIF governance. Its primary segments are University of Utah students, faculty, staff, and adjacent community partners (U of U Health, Alta Environmental Center, Feed U Pantry). GTM is community-led and event-driven — sustained through volunteer programs, campus gardens, grant cycles, and recurring seminar series — rather than through sales motions. There are no paying customers, no commercial pricing model, and no external investors.

Name

University of Utah Sustainability Office

Legal name

University of Utah

Website

https://sustainability.utah.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The University of Utah Office for Sustainability Education is a department within the public University of Utah that administers sustainability curriculum integration, the SCIF green grant program, Edible Campus Gardens, and engagement programs for students, faculty, and staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Sustainability Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPABALAK

Sustainability Engagement, Training & Behavior Change Programs (On-site)

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Waste, Recycling & Sustainability Programs (On-site)

SECONDARYEDAMABAD

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/STEM Enrichment & Science Programs

SECONDARYEDALADAL

Sustainability, Waste Reduction & Composting Programs

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Dining, Food Services & Campus Retail

Keywords

• Sustainability education programs
• Campus sustainability initiatives
• Green grant funding
• Urban farming education
• Sustainable curriculum integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Student Fee Funding: SCIF is a student-fee funded green grant program proposed by ASUU in 2008, providing funding for sustainability projects proposed by students, faculty, and staff
2. University Budget Allocation: Office operates under University of Utah budget with strategic integration into Office of Undergraduate Studies

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Office for Sustainability Education (OSE) delivers sustainability-focused educational programs, green grant funding, and community engagement initiatives for the University of Utah campus. Its core offerings include the Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF) green grant program for student/faculty/staff projects, the Edible Campus Gardens urban farming program, Sustainability Across the Curriculum faculty development, the Applied Sustainability Learning Program, and an Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability, complemented by events such as the Farmers Market, Pop-Up Thrift Shop, Earth Month, and U Bike Week.

Product overview

The University of Utah Office for Sustainability Education operates as a unified program portfolio focused on campus sustainability education and action. The core offerings include the Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF) - a green grant program for student, faculty, and staff projects; the Edible Campus Gardens - an urban farming initiative; Sustainability Across the Curriculum - faculty development and curriculum integration; the Applied Sustainability Learning Program - experiential learning; and the University of Utah Farmers Market. Supporting programs include Pop-Up Thrift Shops, Green Office Certification, an Events Calendar, U Bike Week, and the Sustainable Utah Blog. The office coordinates STARS reporting for the university and administers the Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability. Together, these programs empower students, employees, and the broader community through education, engagement, and collaborative action to build a sustainable future.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF) A student-fee funded green grant program enabling University of Utah students, faculty, and staff to propose and receive funding for projects that enhance campus sustainability, facilitating collaborative interdisciplinary work at the crossroads of academics and operations.
• Edible Campus Gardens An urban farming and garden-based education program that engages the University of Utah campus community through food production and environmental stewardship to foster community resilience and food access.
• Sustainability Across the Curriculum A faculty development program that helps University of Utah faculty integrate sustainability topics into courses across disciplines, providing teaching resources, small grants for faculty, and STARS reporting coordination.
• Applied Sustainability Learning Program A hands-on sustainability education program providing real-world project experience for University of Utah students in partnership with campus operations.
• Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability An academic certificate program for University of Utah undergraduates to gain expertise in sustainability across multiple disciplines.
• University of Utah Farmers Market A weekly on-campus market connecting the University of Utah community to local food vendors, supporting local agriculture and healthy food access.
• Pop-Up Thrift Shop (WGACA) A free on-campus pop-up thrift store collecting gently used items from students moving out of residence halls, designed to meet students' basic needs and move toward zero-waste.
• Green Office Certification A certification program helping University of Utah campus offices learn sustainable practices and contribute to university sustainability goals through a revised, more accessible framework with improved sustainability tracking.
• Heat People, Not Spaces (Electric Blanket Exchange) An energy conservation program that exchanges space heaters for electric blankets to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on the University of Utah campus, with applications submitted via Google Forms.
• Sustainability Pledge for Graduates A program encouraging University of Utah graduating students to commit to sustainable practices as they enter their post-graduation lives.
• Earth Month Celebration An annual University of Utah campus-wide celebration of Earth Day with events focused on sustainability, connection, and climate action.
• U Bike Week An annual University of Utah event promoting bicycling as sustainable transportation, with safety education, bike resources, and community-building activities.
• SCIF Student Stipend Program A stipend program introduced to offer financial compensation to University of Utah students who cannot pursue SCIF sustainability projects due to financial barriers, increasing accessibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29 projects funded totaling $281,000 in 2025-26 (largest SCIF funding year)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alta Environmental Center (AEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partnership with Alta Ski Area's environmental center providing service learning opportunities for ENVST students, tree planting initiatives (over 1,200 trees planted), and the Alta Sustainability Leadership Awards program.
• ASUU (Associated Students of the University of Utah)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008ASUU proposed and helps govern the Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF), a student-fee funded green grant program established in 2008 to support sustainability projects on campus and provide real-world project management experience.
• Feed U PantryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to distribute sustainability kits and free produce from Edible Campus Gardens to underserved student populations.
• Facilities Management (Landscape Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on campus sustainability projects including landscape maintenance, tree planting, green infrastructure, and SCIF project implementation.
• AQ&U (Air Quality and U)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-governmental air quality monitoring network in Salt Lake County developed and overseen by the University of Utah, supporting community air quality assessment research.
• UTA (Utah Transit Authority)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing free transit access for students with U Card to encourage sustainable commuting and reduce single-occupant vehicle trips.
• Campus Bike ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversity bike shop providing affordable bicycle maintenance services to support active transportation and sustainable commuting.
• AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association providing STARS rating framework, resources, and networking for higher education sustainability programs. University is an AASHE member institution.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on incorporating equity and wellness into sustainability programs and policies, including SCIF bylaws revision process.
• Global Change & Sustainability Center (GCSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity center co-hosting the GCSC Seminar Series featuring interdisciplinary sustainability research presentations from faculty across campus.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UC Berkeley Office of Sustainability: UC Berkeley's sustainability office runs student-led grants, gardens, and STARS-aligned programs that mirror the University of Utah's SCIF and Edible Campus Gardens models.
• Arizona State University Sustainability: ASU's sustainability office runs campus grants, curriculum integration, and STARS-aligned programming across a large public university system, directly comparable in scale and structure.
• Oregon State University Sustainability Office: Oregon State's sustainability office coordinates student grants, gardens, and curriculum integration programs similar to the University of Utah OSE portfolio.
• MIT Sustainability Office: MIT's central sustainability function runs campus grants, curriculum integration, and engagement programs with similar structure and mission to the University of Utah sustainability office.
• Stanford Office of Sustainability: Stanford's central sustainability office coordinates campus-wide programs including grants, curriculum integration, gardens, and STARS reporting, directly comparable to the University of Utah Office for Sustainability Education.
• Yale Office of Sustainability: Yale's sustainability office runs student grants, curriculum initiatives, and engagement programs with a structure closely paralleling the University of Utah sustainability education portfolio.
• University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Center: CU Boulder's Environmental Center runs student-led sustainability grants, gardens, and Zero Waste programming, making it a strong direct peer for the University of Utah's SCIF and Edible Campus Gardens.
• University of Michigan Sustainability: University of Michigan's central sustainability office coordinates Planet Blue grants, curriculum integration, and campus gardens, with a comparable portfolio to the University of Utah OSE.

Others

• Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE): AASHE is the sector professional body that administers the STARS framework the University of Utah uses; it is an enabling ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Second Nature: Second Nature is a higher-education climate action nonprofit that convenes university climate commitments and supports campus sustainability offices in their strategic planning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-utah-sustainability-office

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Utah Sustainability Office