40 Hours for the Forty Acres Spring 2023

Who We Are

The Campus Environmental Center, founded in 2002, works to educate UT students, faculty, and staff on the sustainability resources available on campus and to improve the current sustainability infrastructure at the university. Our vision is to build an intersectional, inclusive community empowered to protect people and the environment through leadership, education, and action. 

We strive to accomplish our mission through educational workshops, campus events, and advocating for operational change. We also have four unique project teams that help us engage the larger campus community. 

1. Green Events: Creates free composting and recycling services, environmental consulting, and the provision of compostable materials, hundreds of pounds of student-generated waste are diverted away from landfills. 
2. Environmental Justice Collective: Seeks to protect people and the planet by empowering students to engage with the environmental movement through an intersectional perspective.
3.  Microfarm: The first student-run organic farm offering volunteer opportunities to student organizations and educating the student body on sustainable farming practices.
4. Trash to Treasure: Diverts gently-used clothing and dorm goods from the landfill and creates an affordable alternative to buying new through $1 thrift sale events. 

Our four project teams provide students with a unique one-stop shop to engage in sustainability efforts at UT Austin. Each team is run by two paid part-time Co-Directors and fantastic volunteers. The CEC is supported by the Office of Sustainability through a full-time staff advisor. This structure has created a robust internship program where Co-Directors learn pre-professional skills, increase sustainability knowledge, and get the opportunity to lead their peers and enact impactful change at UT.

What We Are Fundraising For

The CEC is celebrating its 20th Anniversary! With the help of the Student Government, the CEC officially launched in January 2003. This semester with 20 Years on the 40 Acres the CEC needs your help to make the next 20 years our most impactful. Our goal is to raise $30,000! We are also hosting an in-person fundraiser at the UT Texas Exes Alumni Center on April 6th, to join us visit.

We are fundraising for all four project teams so your donation will help us with everything from new paid internships, tools for the farm, composting bins for students, storage equipment for donation drives and so much more. To see the full list and breakdown of our donation list visit the CEC website. 

Your Impact

These gifts allow team members to focus less on financials and more on making UT sustainable. With your help, we will be able to increase our internships, allow our project team to create more initiatives, and provide more sustainable opportunities on campus. 

To thank you for your generous gift, you will be recognized throughout 2023, below are our sponsorship levels:

$100 - Handwritten thank you letter 

$300  - Recognition on our CEC Website, including previous gifts

$500 - Recognition in our newsletter, including previous gifts

$1,000 - Recognition signs at our Microfarm, including previous gifts

$5,000 -Recognition at 2023 CEC & Office Of Sustainability on-campus events, including previous gifts

To learn more about the Campus Environmental Center visit our website or contact our advisor Jessi Drummond at jessidrummond@austin.utexas.edu. 

Thank you for helping make UT Austin more sustainable!

-Live Green, Bleed Orange