April 26, 2024
University of Houston Celebrates Earth Week
The University of Houston hosted several campus events to celebrate Earth Week (April 22 - 26). Several departments, including the Student Centers, came together to make this week a success. A new university goal is to improve awareness of sustainability and educate the community on efforts to use our resources more responsibly.
Earth Week events included a plate waste audit, a lunch and learn, an e-waste drive, plus several others. Student, faculty, and staff participation was highly encouraged.
“I recognize sustainability in almost every part of our daily lives, and I am hoping our Earth Week Events reflected that,” said sustainability coordinator Beatrix Madersbacher Edie. “We partnered with student organizations and multiple staff partners to create events that students feel a connection to (Student Center, UH Dining, Center for Student Empowerment, UH Horticulture Society). Our office goal was to inform students of the university's efforts and invite them to participate with thoughts on what they find important and what we can potentially look at.”
During the plate waste audit, 204.9 pounds of food waste was collected in Cougar Woods Dining Commons over a 3-hour period. Zero Waste Houston, UH Dining Services’ compost provider, will turn the waste into 67 pounds of compost which will stop 530 pounds of CO2 from entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The e-waste drive called for old electronics and wires to be recycled. Two pallets of e-waste was collected.
The Sustainability Lunch and Learn on Monday, April 22, was the last of a semester-long program conducted by Eve Esch, the Student Centers executive director. These lunch and learns bring farmers, educators, and activists to the Multipurpose Room of the Student Center South for a presentation around their respective sustainability initiatives. For Earth Week, Esch invited a UH Downtown alumni to discuss the importance of microgreens.
“I enjoyed learning about the nutritional benefits of microgreens and the hydroponic systems they use for growing their greens,” said Bridget Portier, associate director of the Student Centers. “They grow all of the greens indoors in a controlled environment where they can use minimal water. They also sell microgreen growing kits, which I am considering purchasing to grow my own microgreens in my kitchen.”
In addition to the Earth Week events, the University of Houston has an official Office of Sustainability and a Campus Sustainability Committee that works year-round. For more information on the Office of Sustainability, please contact Beatrix Madersbacher Eide at blmaders@central.uh.edu. For more information on the Campus Sustainability Committee, please contact Eve Esch at emesch@central.uh.edu.
March 28, 2024
UH Student Recognized at Annual Conference
Sarah Khan of Kolkata, India, a junior journalism major and marketing minor at University of Houston has been awarded the 2024 C. Richard Scott Memorial Scholarship by the ACUI Awards Committee.
"I’m so grateful to the Student Centers and the Center for Student Involvement for providing me such amazing opportunities to learn and grow in this field,” Kahn said. “From my first UH award at Campus Leaders Awards Ceremony to my first National award it’s been a long journey and none of it would have been possible without their love and support."
The C. Richard Scott Memorial Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students that take on leadership and involvement duties on their campus. Recipients will be able to participate in an ACUI-sponsored educational activity to network with mentors and peers, learn more about the profession, and take part in leadership and community development activities.
In addition to her studies at University of Houston, Khan serves as the director of the Council for Cultural Affairs and chair of the Student Center Policy Board.
After graduation from the University of Houston, Khan hopes to pursue a career in Student Affairs or her master’s degree in higher education.
For more information on this award and ACUI, contact Eve Esch, Executive Director of the Student Centers, at emesch@central.uh.edu.
February 7, 2024
I Heart My Student Centers
On February 7, the Student Centers welcomed over 290 students to the Ballroom for the annual I Heart My Student Centers celebration! Students enjoyed several Valentine's Day themed activities like make-your-own Valentine's Day cards designed by Creation Station, and personalized, heart-shaped keychains from the vendor Art and Fun. The Center for Student Media provided a DJ and there was dancing throughout the afternoon. Staff members came together with smiles on their faces to volunteer and provide a fun atmosphere for the event.
For more information on Student Centers events, please contact Erin Woods, Assistant Director of Marketing, at ewoods4@central.uh.edu.
September 29, 2023
Sustainability Lunch and Learn
The Student Centers hosted their first Lunch and Learn of the semester on Thursday, September 28 in the Student Center South Multipurpose Room. The featured guest was Jessica Haney with the Cougar Cupboard, and a farm-to-table lunch from The Dish Society was provided.
The Cougar Cupboard, in partnership with the Houston Food Bank, addresses the food needs of students and works to combat food insecurity by providing a service that acts like a grocery store. Enrolled students can receive up to 30 pounds of groceries every week. Good nutrition is an important key to academic success and the University of Houston wants students to be successful.
“I’m really glad there’s more awareness around food insecurity” said Jessica Haney, program manager of the Cougar Cupboard. “Having this program at the university helps students get their education and improve their financial station. There aren’t a lot of requirements or qualifications to join this program and that’s important to us because that can reduce access. Our only requirement is to be a current UH student and then enroll into the Cougar Cupboard program.”
Food distributions are every Friday this fall semester from 10:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. at the Student Center South Circle Drive, by appointment only. A new, larger space in the Lofts is anticipated to open in the spring and their hope is to provide daily services.
If you would like to donate to the Cougar Cupboard, please text "Cupboard" to 71-777. For more information, email uhcupbrd@cougarnet.uh.edu and visit the Center for Student Advocacy and Community website at uh.edu/csac.
The next Student Center Sustainability Lunch and Learn will be at noon on October 24 in the Multipurpose Room.