The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Sustainability Committee was selected as an award recipient for the 2016 Sustain the Rock Awards in the category of educator.

The awards recognize local organizations and individuals for their contributions to a more livable Little Rock through the promotion and adoption of sustainable practices.

The award was presented at the seventh annual Little Rock Sustainability Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center.

The summit serves as a gathering of business, environmental, and civic leaders to discuss and promote sustainable “green” efforts in Little Rock.

UALR created the Sustainability Committee 10 years ago with goals to research, evaluate, and recommend measures the university should take in the interest of campus sustainability, including how best to spend an annual budget.

Additionally, the committee was tasked with informing, educating, and encouraging the university community to conserve resources and protect the environment.

Since its formation, the Sustainability Committee has helped implement numerous measures supporting long-term sustainability by achieving:

• Bronze Status in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Reporting System, an initiative of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education  
• An updated campus transit system in 2015. The six battery-operated and solar-powered vehicles replaced the contracted diesel-fueled trolley shuttle service that was in use since January 2012
• Dedicated charging stations for electric-powered and low-emission vehicles
• The launch of a new small grant program to support the incorporation of sustainability into research activities at UALR. Today, nearly 30 percent of UALR academic departments have faculty engaged in research related to or focused on sustainability
• Establishment of the UALR Campus Garden, a collaborative partnership between the Sustainability Committee, Anthropology Club, Nonprofit Leadership Student Association, the Biology Club, the UALR Anthropology program, the UALR Biology program, the Central Arkansas New Agrarian Society, and the University District neighborhood. Founded in spring 2012, the garden uses only organic and sustainable methods and techniques  
• The upgrading and retrofitting of several campus areas to enhance energy conservation in public buildings and reduce energy consumption by up to 30 percent by 2017
• The completion of several Gold-rated LEED Certified Buildings, including the new Engineering and Information Technology Building, the Nanotechnology Building, the Student Services Center, and West Hall
• Participation in the Take Back the Tap national initiative included working with students to promote the use of tap water over bottled water