For Students
Get involved with sustainability through student groups, academic endeavors, and more.
Students are some of the University’s most ardent supporters of sustainability and agents of positive change. There are many ways to get involved in the movement for a more just and sustainable future, in and out of the classroom.
Topics on this page:
Curriculum
From environmental science, to engineering, to public health, the University of Rochester offers several degree programs and course offerings related to sustainability for undergraduate and graduate students.
Internships and Experiences
Summer in Environmental Health Research Fellowship
A summer research opportunity for students from different academic disciplines who are passionate about finding solutions to environmental health challenges.
Sustainability, Food, and Local Cultures Summer Program in Italy
Rooted in immersive learning and grounded in sustainability, the program travels from northern to southern Italy, with each region offering its own traditions, environments, and perspectives on Italian life.
Center for Community Engagement
Get involved in the Rochester community through volunteer and fellowship opportunities.
Certificate of Achievement in Community-Engaged Learning
Build scholarship and address pressing issues facing communities locally, regionally, nationally, and globally by pursuing an academic certificate in community-engaged learning.
LLE Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
Students engage in an individual research project in the fall, spring, or summer term under the mentorship of scientists and engineers at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics.
Inertial Fusion Energy Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
IFE-STAR, a Department of Energy-funded, Laboratory of Laser Energetics-led national platform dedicated to accelerating the development of inertial fusion energy, offers summer research experiences for undergraduates through partnering institutions.
Team Green InternshipsÂ
The Sustainability Office hires undergraduate student employees to work during the summer and academic year. Applications are currently open for the 2026-2027 year for the Sustainability Marketing Assistant and Zero Waste Programs Assistant positions.
Student groups
Discover student organizations that are committed to environmental sustainability.
EcoReps
First-year and upper-class students who promote on-campus environmental efforts and change.
Food Recovery Network
Undergraduate students dedicated to minimizing food waste through donations of packaged food items to local organizations.
Grassroots
Undergraduate environmental advocacy group that undertakes on- and off-campus projects to raise awareness.
SAVVY (Student Association of Vegan and Vegetarian Youth)
Undergraduates working to increase awareness of animal rights issues and the impacts of a plant-based diet.
Sustainability through Engineering
Undergraduate students committed to promoting sustainability through interdisciplinary student-led projects and networking.
UR Outing Club
Undergraduate student club that celebrates nature with outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, and kayaking.
Bee Campus USA
Students, faculty, and staff working together to conserve native pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides.
URMC Medical Student Sustainability Team
Medical students at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry dedicated to addressing climate change and fostering sustainability in healthcare.
Society of Earth Science Students
A community for students enthusiastic about earth sciences, including the environmental sciences and geosciences, to bond over similar passions and expand their academic and professional networks.
Sustainable Labs Initiative
Students addressing the environmental impact of laboratory practices, aiming to foster eco-conscious research, reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, and implement sustainable solutions to ensure a healthier planet.
Want to take more action?
Visit the Sustainability Toolkit to learn about actions you can take to be sustainable and promote green practices around campus.