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Office of Sustainability
Enhancing Educational Experiences within the Office of the Dean of the College
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EcoFund: Local Perspectives on COP28
CC has a profound affinity for providing students with the knowledge and resources necessary to become society’s next generation of leaders. One way student innovation and leadership are fostered is through the EcoFund, a fund designed for and committed to the college’s core value of environmental sustainability while aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During Block 4, Zoraiz Zafar ’25 was awarded the Ecofund, which he utilized to broaden climate change dialogues beyond the confines of the United Nation’s COP28 conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and actively involve local communities. This initiative reflects his commitment to a comprehensive and critical approach towards COP28. The Office of Sustainability appreciates Zafar’s commitment to expanding his perspective on international climate change discussions, and we welcome the campus community to read Zafar’s story.
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Pictured above, left–right: COP28 UAE EXPO Center and Zoraiz Zafar ’25 pictured left on boat outside The Palm Jumeirah, UAE.
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Passion to Action: Building a Sustainable Creative Career
In February, the Career Center, Arts & Crafts, and the OOS partnered to present a three-part series, “Passion to Action: Building a Sustainable Creative Career.” is tonight, Feb. 27, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. at the Career Center Carriage House. It will focus on different practical aspects, such as portfolio development. We hope to see you there!
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Earth Week is Coming Soon
for CC’s annual Earth Week? Taking place from Apr. 22-26, this action-packed, and meaningful event is a great way to celebrate and protect our planet! Coordinated by the OOS and in conjunction with many other campus and community partners, Earth Week will host various activities aimed at engaging the community in a week of learning, consciousness, and celebration. We hope you will participate in our annual festivities, from trash clean-ups to environmental film screenings and more. If you have an event that you would like to be featured during Earth Week, please reach out to sustainability@coloradocollege.edu as soon as possible.
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Meet the Emissions Team
Over the past four blocks, the OOS has detailed the challenges and successes of four key intern teams: CC Exchange, the Waste Team, the Communications Team, and the STARS Team. Today, we are excited to highlight our last student intern team of the year: the Emissions Team! Interns Erin Mullins ’24, Tâm Phan ’25, and Ethan Stewart ’25, alongside their three fantastic volunteers, Sadie Curtin-Adelman ’27, Chris Burich ’24, and Emma Nawara ’24, help analyze and record critical emissions data every academic year. “The Emissions Team’s primary purpose is to collect data on the various sources of emissions for which CC is responsible,” Stewart says. “This includes direct sources like fuels consumed by our vehicle fleet as well as indirect sources like student, faculty, and staff travel.” The interns’ main goal right now is finishing up their annual greenhouse gas inventory report, which will be published by the end of Block 6. Mullins emphasizes that, “a GHG [greenhouse gas] inventory calculates how many emissions are emitted during the year based on the school’s operations and behaviors.”
Without measurement tools in place to track our campus’ emissions, CC would not be able to make recommendations about future sustainability projects and readjust our emissions targets. Phan conveys that the flexible nature of the OOS has allowed her to transition to the Emissions Team after having first worked as a Campus Programming Intern last year. Lastly, Phan acknowledges the OOS has made me feel safe stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new roles. The OOS has supported me with a solid foundation with help from Sustainability Coordinator, Mae Rohrbach, the OOS team, and learning materials passed down from previous OOS generations, on I can confidently rely.” Here’s a big thank you to the Emissions Team for your continued hard work. We can’t wait to read your final report!
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Pictured above, left–right: Erin Mullins ’24,
Tâm Phan ’25, and Ethan Stewart ’25
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E-Waste Drop-Off Event for Block 6
Do you have electronic waste you want to dispose of? The OOS has a solution for you! We are hosting another E-Waste Drop-Off event at Breton Hall Garage on Friday, Mar. 1, from 1:30–3:30 p.m. To drop your items off, please refer to the map below to locate the Breton Hall Garages (the NW corner of parking lot C-1). Staff will be there to help you unload your items. If this drop-off is not possible for you, please use this request form for a pick-up, and a representative will contact you about your request within three business days.
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We recycle electronic waste, including items that are no longer wanted, working, or at the end of their “life.” Acceptable and commonly recycled items include TVs, monitors, keyboards, cables, appliances, digital media players, cell phones.
Please note we cannot recycle alkaline batteries, which include most household batteries like Duracell, Energizer, and others.
*Please note that if your items are both college-issued AND contain a hard drive (laptops, computers, etc.), you must reach out to ITS for them to wipe this hard drive before recycling. Additionally, a pickup option is available ONLY for office/departmental requests. Drop-off at the E-Waste garage is the only option for any personal requests from CC community members.
**The Office of Sustainability does not take Alkaline batteries. However, if you are an office and/or department with a collection of Alkaline batteries, you can reach out to Environmental Health & Safety for disposal.
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Spring Revival Event Recap
Last block, the OOS organized Spring Revival, an annual post-Winter Break event for Sustainability interns and volunteers to unite and foster connection and reflection. The event was in partnership with Arts & Crafts, located in the basement of Worner Campus Center. Students were encouraged to take a break from their busy schedules and indulge in painting and block printing activities alongside their peers, tying together sustainability, art, and wellness. Arts & Crafts graciously provided students with art supplies, materials, and the instructor’s help and guidance throughout the session. The event was a wonderful place for the office to interact with each other and take a moment to relax while enjoying yummy desserts!
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Pictured above: OOS Team and volunteers show off their block printed tote bags and sweet treats.
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Sustainable Wednesdays Recap and Announcement
The CC Exchange recently hosted the OOS’s fifth Sustainable Wednesdays event of the year at the Worner Campus Center, featuring an exciting scavenger hunt. Students were given descriptions of outfits, such as clothing that’s all one color, to pick out in the CC Exchange to win a donut. Paige Simenz ’24, an intern with the CC Exchange, expressed gratitude to all who participated. “We love every chance to bring new faces into the CC Exchange, and we hope you will come back and visit during our open hours!” Simenz says. The CC Exchange is a unique program that offers a variety of items, including clothing, books, and miscellaneous goods, all available for free to students. Best of all, donations are not required to obtain items. Open each Thursday from 2–4 p.m. in the basement of Worner, we’d love to see you there to donate or add some new flair to your wardrobe. The next Sustainable Wednesdays event will be hosted by the Emissions Team on Feb. 28, from 12:30 p.m-1:30 p.m. where there will a block-printing activity and trivia. See you there!
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Pictured left-right: Kate Lamkin ’24 and Paige Simenz ’24 interact with CC students while tabling for Sustainable Wednesdays.
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