Student Sustainability Programming

Resilient Climate Leaders

Three programs offered by the Office of Sustainability for Tufts students to link their learning with sustainable action.

Based on student feedback and the urgency of the climate emergency, we have designed student programming that meets the needs of climate anxious students through a focus on problem solving, community building, reflection, and celebration. Students in these program develop skills to help them tackle climate challenges in a way that preserve wellness, now and in their future careers.

1) Sustainable Spring

For students who want to find their fit.

Sustainable Spring is a spring semester co-curricular series where first-year and transfer students explore the variety of ways to plug into sustainability at Tufts. We aim to help students answer the question: what are you going to do with your time at Tufts?

During this semester-long program, participants will spend 1 hour a week experiencing:

• Hands on sustainability learning
• Weekly campus excursions
• Meeting others who want to get involved

First-year and transfer students can apply to join this program at the end of each fall semester.

To register for Spring 2024, search EXP-0063: Sustainable Spring on SIS. 

2) Sustainable CORE Fellows

For students who want to build community.

Sustainable CORE (Cultivating our Resilient Environment) Fellows foster a culture of sustainability at Tufts by engaging in inclusive community building that emphasizes sustainable action, equity, and celebration. As a cohort, the Sustainable CORE Fellows serve as a bridge, connecting the mission of the Office of Sustainability to the larger Tufts community.

• Engage the campus community in developing a culture of sustainability
• Facilitate educational opportunities related to sustainability broadly conceived, with a particular focus on the connection between sustainability and justice
• Coordinate with and support campus partners (students, faculty, and staff) in collaborative sustainability and community building efforts
• Create and help plan activities/events that are inclusive and pluralistic
• Attend and participate in meetings on a weekly basis
• Maintain student-led social media presence
• Support our new First Year program and EarthFest celebration in April

Current undergraduate students can apply to join this program at the end of every spring semester.

3) Sustainable Solutions Fellows

For students who want to solve problems.

Sustainable Solutions Fellows learn to become creative problem solvers while making an impact on campus. Fellows are paired with an institutional challenge to tackle during the semester, resulting in the creation of sustainable solutions that model climate work on a global level.

During this semester-long program, participants will spend 5-7 hours a week experiencing:

• Problem analysis
• Stakeholder engagement with university staff
• Bimonthly meetings

Current undergraduate and graduate students can apply to join this program at the beginning of every semester.

Where are the Eco Reps?

The Tufts Eco Rep program, started in 2001 as one of the first in the nation, transitioned in Fall 2023 to become the Sustainable CORE Fellows program. This program refresh was based on student feedback and the urgency of the climate emergency. The updated program centers climate justice, celebration, and wellness.