Campus Sustainability Menu
Ag, Land Use, and Food Programs
Campus and community programs, events, features, and tips related to agriculture, land use and food
- Campus Beekeepers Club: Part of Pollin-Nation!
- Campus Tree Inventory ~ NEW 2019!
- University of Illinois Sustainable Student Farm
- University of Illinois Energy Farm
- Natural Landscaping
- University Housing Dining Services on environmentally responsible dining
- iSEE feature story on sustainable food on campus
- iSEE feature story on homemade tomato sauce on campus
- iSEE feature story on campus prairie zones
- iSEE feature on Illinois Biodiesel Initiative taking used cooking oil to make fuel and soap
- The U of I’s Bee Campus USA website and Facebook page; Facilities & Services news announcement of Illinois becoming the 53rd Bee Campus USA (and first in the Big Ten Conference)
- iSEE feature on the student who started the Bee Campus USA movement at Illinois
- iSEE feature on Bevier Café’s sustainable practices
Water/Stormwater Programs
Billion-Gallon Water Challenge
The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) is doing the Billion Gallon Water Challenge, with a goal of conserving a billion gallons of water in Illinois. ISTC seeks to help industry, business, communities and citizens with water conservation measures. The Center also is funding water conservation projects. Check out more here.
Land & Water iCAP Team
“At-a-glance” key points from the iCAP 2020 Land & Water theme. Click for an enlarged version.
Read iCAP 2020 Chapter 4: Land & Water >>>
The Land & Water Team examines land use, agriculture on campus, carbon sequestration, water, and stormwater issues outlined in the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP).
Newly formed in 2019, this team covers the mandates outlined for the former ALUFS and WSW Sustainability Working Advisory Teams (see below) — except for food topics, which moved to the Zero Waste SWATeam.
iCAP Topical Teams report annually on progress made toward Illinois Climate Action Plan objectives in their area of focus.
Current Team Members
- Faculty: Maria Chu, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2022-)
- Faculty: Emily Heaton, Professor of Crop Sciences (2022-)
- Faculty: Carmen Marlene Ugarte, Research Assistant Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (2021-)
- Staff: Brent Lewis, Facilities & Services Campus Landscape Architect (2015-) Read more about Brent >>>
- Staff: Betsy Liggett, Coordinator of Special Programs, Facilities & Services Safety & Compliance (2020-)
- Staff: Jonathan Mosley, Animal Sciences Farm Director (2022-)
- Student: Mickey Castigador, Undergraduate in Landscape Architecture (2022-) Read more about Mickey >>>
- Student: Therese Egner, Undergraduate in Sustainable Design (2022-) Read more about Therese >>>
- Student: Kavya Mula, Undergraduate (2022-)
- Clerk: Nikki Palella, Undergraduate in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability (2022-) (Email)
Retired Team Members (see toggles below for fuller list)
- Faculty: Momcilo Markus (Co-Chair), Research Associate Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2020-22)
- Faculty: Art Schmidt (Co-Chair), Research Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2015-22) Read more about Art >>>
- Faculty: Reid Christianson, Research Assistant Professor of Crop Sciences (2017-22) Read more about Reid >>>
- Staff: Eliana Brown, Water Quality Outreach Specialist, U of I Extension (2019-22)
- Staff: Jamie Ellis, Natural Areas Coordinator, Illinois Natural History Survey (2019-22)
- Staff: Allen Parrish, Crop Sciences Research and Education Centers Director (2019-22) Read more about Allen >>>
- Student: Marcus Benoff, Undergraduate in Landscape Architecture (2020-22) Read more about Marcus >>>
- Student: Julia Marsaglia, Undergraduate in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability (2021-22) Read more about Julia >>>
- Student: Nicolas Ramkumar, Undergraduate in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability; and Economics (2021-22)
- Student: Claire Rathslag, Undergraduate in Civil Engineering (2021-22)
- Clerk: Mallory Mahen, Undergraduate in Technical Systems Management (2020-22) Read more about Mallory >>>
- Faculty: Ashlynn Stillwell (Co-Chair), Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2020-21)
- Student: Victoria Reidenbach, Undergraduate in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (2020-21)
- Student: Aviv Zelniker, Undergraduate in Strategic Business Development and Entrepreneurship (2020-21)
- Faculty: Bruce Branham, Professor of Crop Sciences (2014-20)
- Faculty: Rabin Bhattarai, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2015-20)
- Student: Ella Liskiewicz, Undergraduate in Public Policy and Law (2019-20) Read more about Ella >>>
- Student: Vikram Sudhan Muthuvel, Undergraduate in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability (2019-20) Read more about Vikram >>>
- Student: Claire Samojedny, Undergraduate in Civil Engineering (2019-20)
- Clerk: Valerie Ramirez, Undergraduate in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (2019)
View more about the ALUFS SWATeam and its work from 2014 to 2019
Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration
The Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration SWATeam, which formed in 2014 and continued through 2019, examined the Illinois Climate Action Plan goals and accomplishments in this theme.
By FY20, campus aims to reduce emissions from on-campus agriculture, food procurement, and land use by 30%. Dining already procures 28% of food from sources within 150 miles of campus – including 95% of all the produce grown on the Sustainable Student Farm.
Going forward, campus will undertake several studies to precisely determine where and how emissions are created from its 6,368-acre landscape to aid in designing strategies for further reduction. By FY25, campus also hopes to purchase 40% of its food supplies from local vendors.
SWATeams report annually on progress made toward Illinois Climate Action Plan objectives in their area of focus.
2018-19 Members
- Faculty: Reid David Christianson (Co-Chair), Research Assistant Professor of Crop Sciences (2017-19) (Email) Read more about Reid >>>
- Faculty: Bruce Branham, Professor of Crop Sciences (2014-19)
- Staff: Thurman Etchison, University Housing Food Service Administrator (2015-19) Read more about Thurman >>>
- Staff: Brent Lewis, Facilities & Services Campus Landscape Architect (2015-19) Read more about Brent>>>
- Student: Joseph Edwards, M.S. Candidate in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (2015-19) Read more about Joseph >>>
- Student: Ella Liskiewicz, Undergraduate in Public Policy and Law (2019) Read more about Ella >>>
- Student: Vikram Sudhan Muthuvel, Undergraduate in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability (2019-)
- SWATeam Clerk: Colleen Williams, Undergraduate in Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2017-19) (Email) Read more about Colleen >>>
Retired Members
- MJ Oviatt, Undergraduate in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (2018)
- Adriana Noboa, Undergraduate in Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Horticulture (2015-18) Read more about Adriana >>>
- Chibu Asonye, student clerk in Earth, Society and Environmental Sustainability (2016-17)
- Jennifer Fraterrigo, Associate Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) (2015-17) Read more about Jennifer >>>
- Maggie Thomas, student (2015-16)
- Rob Klein, student clerk, Agriculture Leadership Education (2015-16)
- Neal Merchen, College of ACES Associate Dean for Research, Professor of Animal Sciences (2014-15)
- Brett Stillwell, Architect, Capital Planning, Facilities & Services (2014-15)
- Dawn Aubrey, Associate Director of Housing Dining Services (2014-15) Read more about Dawn >>>
- Carol Strohbeck, University Housing Assistant Director of Dining Services, Equipment & Facilities (2014-15) Read more about Carol >>>
- Alexandra He, student (2014-15) Read more about Alexandra >>>
- Amanda Jacobs, student (2014-15)
View more about the WSW SWATeam and its work from 2014 to 2019
Water and Stormwater
The Water and Stormwater SWATeam, which formed in 2014 and continued through Spring 2019, examined the Illinois Climate Action Plan goals and accomplishments in this theme.
Two goals are listed for campus water use: 1) reduce annual potable water use by 25% by FY20; and 2) capture and reuse 25% of campus stormwater by FY20.
Stormwater is the “new frontier” in water sustainability. Rather than discharge this water (along with any pollutants it is carrying) to the Boneyard Creek, stormwater could be used for irrigation across campus acreage, freeing up potable water for other campus uses. Campus will undertake a number of studies and pilot projects to better understand its water usage and plan for smarter consumption.
SWATeams report annually on progress made toward Illinois Climate Action Plan objectives in their area of focus.
2018-19 Team Members
- Faculty: Art Schmidt (Chair), Research Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2015-19) (Email) Read more about Art >>>
- Faculty: Rabin Bhattarai, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2015-19)
- Staff: Vacant
- Staff: Nandakishore Rajagopalan, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center Associate Director for Applied Research (2014-19) Read more about Kishore >>>
- Student: Bridget Flynn, Undergraduate in Finance (2018-19) Read more about Bridget >>>
- Student: Claire Samojedny, Undergraduate in Civil Engineering (2019)
- SWATeam Clerk: Colleen Williams, Undergraduate in Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2017-19) (Email) Read more about Colleen >>>
Retired Members
- Keith Erickson, Facilities & Services Associate Director of Utilities and Energy (2014-19) Read more about Keith >>>
- Lauren Excell, Undergraduate in Civil Engineering (2016-18) Read more about Lauren >>>
- John Berens, M.S. Candidate in Civil Engineering (2015-18)
- Stephanie Cash, student clerk in Civil and Environmental Engineering (2016-17)
- Francisco Sobral, student in Civil and Environmental Engineering (2016)
- Amy Liu, student in Urban and Regional Planning (2015-16) Read more about Amy >>>
- Scott Douglas, student in Landscape Architecture (2015-16) Read more about Scott >>>
- Carley Meeks, student clerk in Crop Sciences (2015-16) Read more about Carley >>>
- Lance Schideman, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2014-16)
- Mary Pat Mattson, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture (2014-15)
- Lance Langer, student (2014-15) Read more about Lance >>>
- Danielle Thayer, student clerk (2014-15)