NU Board of Regents Approves Closure of Center for Urban Sustainability

Following more than a year of discussion with campus and community stakeholders, a decision has been made to close the UNO Center for Urban Sustainability, effective immediately, to better align campus resources and efforts with changing community needs.

The decision was formally approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Friday, June 28, 2019.

Originally formed in 2013 as an academic research center, the Center for Urban Sustainability set out on an ambitious goal to examine and address the sustainability needs of metropolitan areas like Omaha through all aspects of urban development.

Moving forward, UNO will continue its strong commitment to sustainability in all of its forms, through faculty-led research efforts and campus-wide initiatives such as the Office of Sustainability’s recent updates to recycling and composting; Student Government’s tradition of planting new trees to celebrate with Arbor Day; and a longstanding partnership with Earth Day Omaha, among many others.

Over six years, thanks to steadfast leadership, the Center for Urban Sustainability has worked tirelessly to foster community partnerships, support faculty efforts, engage with donors, several important first steps have been made towards that very noble and worthwhile goal. Through the efforts of hardworking faculty, staff and community members, many important strides have been made to meet vital environmental, economic and social sustainability needs in the Omaha metro area.

Moving forward, UNO will continue its important support of sustainability both in the classroom and in the community. Currently, the UNO Sustainability Committee is working to update the campus Sustainability Master Plan and new goals are being set for a more sustainable campus in 2030.

For more information on UNO’s sustainability efforts, please visit unomaha.edu/sustainability.