Partners and Programs

UNM Office of Sustainability

Sustainability is now one of the university's Core Values, and as such, the UNM Office of Sustainability is committed to promoting sustainability on campus. Visit their website to find easy tips on how to be more sustainable in terms of energy efficiency, food, recycling, travel and purchasing.

UNM Parking and Transportation: Alternative Transportation

UNM Parking and Transportation Services and its partner organizations support a variety of alternative transportation options as a means of getting to and from campus. Among these are the ABQRide Free Bus Pass Program, the BikeIt! program, and the short term car-sharing Zipcar program. For more information, call 505-277-1920 to talk to an alternative transportation coordinator.

UNM Recycling Department

The UNM Recycling Department helps to protect the UNM and New Mexico environment by diverting recyclable materials from landfill and ensuring diverted materials are beneficially reused. We collect potentially recyclable materials such as paper, aluminum cans/plastic bottles/glass bottles/tin cans, cardboard, CDs/DVDs, scrap metal, wooden pallets, etc. from UNM campus facilities and store or process the materials for off-site reclamation. Throughout campus there are recycling stations that are designed to help the UNM community recycle; the stations are clearly labeled and easy to use. The Recycling Department is constantly looking for new materials to recycle and new ways to recycle what is already collected from the campus. Please contact the UNM Recycling Supervisor at 277-0842 or recycle@unm.edu if you have any questions about recycling at the University of New Mexico.

UNM Purchasing

UNM Purchasing is implementing the 4-P procurement model, which is designed to ensure fiscal stewardship while promoting practices that improve public health and safety, reduce pollution, and conserve natural resources. In doing so, UNM seeks to establish business relationships with vendors and manufacturers who share our University's values and concerns for the environment and social equity.

UNM Service Corps

Volunteer in the Albuquerque community with the UNM Service Corps and earn an AmeriCorps Educational Award to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. Since 1997, UNM Service Corps members have served in more than 30 communities within the city of Albuquerque and touched the lives of more than 50,000 children. Since its founding, more than 800 students have served one or more AmeriCorps term with UNM Service Corps and received over $1,000,000 in AmeriCorps Educational Awards.

UNM Service Corps encourages students to connect to their communities through the following focus areas:

  • Arts and Digital Media
  • Civic Journalism
  • Community Development
  • Economic Development
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Ethics
  • Health Sciences
  • Youth Development

UNM Research Service Learning Program

The UNM Research Service Learning Program (RSLP) provides undergraduates with an interdisciplinary, engaging, hands-on introduction to a variety of research methods and questions. In addition to its many partners on campus, RSLP also works with an array of community non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, Albuquerque Public Schools and the City of Albuquerque.

UNM Nepal Study Center

Through global connectivity, the UNM Nepal Study Center (NSC) is dedicated to fostering intellectual collaboration and sharing knowledge with a dedicated focus and wider perspective on the socio-economic development and sustainability, health, technology transfer, and environmental issues of the Himalayan region and the countries in South Asia.

UNM Community Learning and Public Service

The UNM Community Learning and Public Service (CLPS) program promotes student leadership for community capacity building. The goals of the program are to:

  • Engage in and support community learning
  • Initiate and engage in community and academic partnerships
  • Incubate projects for community sustainability
  • Cultivate and advocate for social justice and inclusion
  • Promote youth and community advocacy for policy initiatives
  • Actively support civic engagement and community activity

In partnership with the Institute for Community Health, CLPS has been selected to host the first group of New Mexico-based FoodCorps volunteers. The FoodCorps program is designed to address sustainable solutions to food insecurity and community health.

UNM Institute for Community Health

The UNM Institute for Community Health serves as a central point of contact and coordination for programs that engage New Mexico communities in improving health. The office oversees EAT: Everyone's At the Table, a student group working with communities to create sustainable solutions for hunger in New Mexico. This project aims to:

  • Address hunger and healthcare needs in rural New Mexico
  • Partner with NM food banks, mobile healthcare vans, and other community partners
  • Use service learning models for college students to promote civic engagement and create role models for rural youth

LOBO Energy

LOBO Energy, Inc. is implementing a comprehensive energy conservation program for UNM that will reduce utility consumption, save money and benefit the environment. Learn about current energy conservation initiatives on campus.

Chartwells

Chartwells is UNM's campus food provider for the residence halls and university catering services. Chartwells is committed to promoting sustainability initiatives in four key areas: the environment, purchasing, the community, and nutrition and wellness. Chartwells currently composts all food waste with Soilutions; uses biodegradable to-go packaging; recycles cooking grease, cans and cardboard; buys fairtrade coffee, antibiotic-free poultry and pork, sustainable seafood, cage-free eggs and local produce; and has gone trayless (in order to save water).

Chartwells has recently formed a partnership with the student-run Lobo Gardens. As a part of the Extreme Local initiative, La Posada Dining Hall and the Chartwells Mercado (SUB Plaza Level) are now offering food items made with fresh Lobo Gardens produce. Look for the Extreme Local – Made Fresh with Lobo Gardens Produce stickers on special Chartwells Mercado Deli sandwiches. This is food grown by students for students!