Excellence in Innovations in Sustainability

The Excellence in Innovations in Sustainability award recognizes campuses that solve environmental challenges through innovative and sustainable practices or creative partnerships. The award is designed to encourage and reward a campus on the leading edge of facilities trends through its production and application of sustainability outcomes.

2026 Recipient: Portland Community College, Basic Needs, Sustainability, & Leadership

The Portland Community College Basic Needs, Sustainability, and Leadership program is a student-funded initiative dedicated to advancing community health, resiliency, and a sustainable future by holistically addressing student basic needs alongside the climate crisis. The program’s foundation is the belief that the systemic issues of inequity, environmental degradation, and basic needs insecurity are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions. Up to 1,000 students per week access food through the program. The program demonstrates outstanding creativity in its integrated approach, proving economic and environmental feasibility, and making a significant contribution to both quality of life and the sustainable use of natural resources. 

Nominations are not currently open.

Submission materials must include the following:

  1. Name, institution, and contact information of the primary contact for the program.
  2. Title of the program.
  3. A summary, up to two pages, of the program, addressing:
    • Description of the program, including goals and intended outcomes.
    • Description and inclusion of the evaluation methods in place for the program, including brief rationale for choosing stated methods.
    • Evidence that the program meets the criteria identified for this specific award.
  4. And one compiled packet of additional supporting documentation for the program, which could include photos, marketing samples, course materials, budget information, testimonials, etc. No page limit exists, but only the first 15 pages will be considered by the review committee.

The review process includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of these criteria:

  • Demonstrate the use of practices that exemplify outstanding creativity or introduce new approaches beyond what is standard.
  • Be environmentally and economically feasible.
  • Improve, protect, or make a contribution to the sustainable use of natural resources or provides a better quality of life in balance with the natural environment.

Due to the wide variety of programs that can be considered, a program does not need to meet every criterion.

All ACUI member institutions are eligible to apply for this award. For collaborative initiatives or partnerships, all institutions must be ACUI members. Eligible programs must:

  • Have taken place since the beginning of the previous academic year.
  • Serve as a model to other campuses for replication.
  • Achieve its stated program outcomes and objectives, with evaluation tools in place.
  • Agree to allow a summary of their accomplishments to be published.

Electronic notification will be sent to confirm submissions have been received. A confidential Campus Awards Committee, appointed annually by the ACUI president, will review materials to make the selection. One recipient will be chosen, unless otherwise noted for the specific award. One physical award will be given to the recipient, who will be recognized during the awards ceremony at the annual conference and in subsequent publications.

  • 2025: Norris Retail Compost Program, Northwestern University  
  • 2024: Campus Community Garden, University of Akron
  • 2023: Harvest Room, University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh
  • 2021: Cohesive Culture of Sustainability – University of Houston
  • 2020: Borderlands Produce Rescue – Arizona State University
  • 2019: Give + Go Green – Temple University
  • 2018: Eco Social Justice – Portland Community College
  • 2017: The Recirculating Farms Club Aquaponics Exhibit – North Carolina State University
  • 2016: USC&A Green Strategies – Virginia Commonwealth University
  • 2015: Compost Happens – California State University–Long Beach 
  • 2014: South Terrace – University of Arkansas
  • 2012: Bike Project – University of Oregon
  • 2011: Soltrain Project – Pomona College
  • 2010: Biodiesel Project – University of Rochester
  • 2009: Dudley H. Davis Center – University of Vermont
  • 2008: De-construction of the Ohio Union – The Ohio State University