September 2026

Welcome back, everyone!

Welcome back, everyone! We look forward to another year engaging in topics both familiar, such as air quality, and new directions.

We’ve already begun planning the 18th Intermountain Sustainability Summit, to be held on the Ogden campus on March 18-19, 2027. This year’s theme is Start Where You Are: How Small Innovations Can Spark Systematic Change. We hope you’ll consider submitting a proposal, participating in a student poster session, and/or coming to hear our speakers and browse our sponsors’ tables. 

You’ll see in the remainder of our newsletter information on exciting topics such as the E-bike discount program, an introduction to new staff, information about Sustainability, Teaching, Application and Research (STAR) Grants for faculty, the Green Badge and Green Team Programs, as well as a mention of our Sustainability Clubs, and, for faculty, an application guide for the Sustainability Course Attribute (SUS).

Remember to look at our new Weber State Sustainability Home and its associated programs. If you are interested in learning more and/or engaging students and classes at the Home, please reach out to Bonnie Christiansen at bchristiansen2@weber.edu.

Meet SPARC's New Student Staff

Fawn Worthen, a Communications major with a Civic Advocacy emphasis and Criminal Justice minor, has joined the SPARC team as the new Student Communications Coordinator. He has a passion for advocacy work and community-centered outreach as a means to make the world a better place for everyone–  regardless of their story. With a background in mentoring and student growth, he previously worked as a Peer Mentor and Student Program Manager within the Office of Mentoring Programs here at Weber State for the past 2 years. He is also involved with the Gender & Sexuality Alliance Club (GSA) on campus, has served as the club’s Treasurer since Fall 2025, and was recently appointed Vice President. In his free time, he enjoys playing musical instruments such as guitar and piano. He also finds comfort in visiting the great outdoors, taking in the world around him and admiring its natural beauty. Looking ahead, he will be helping plan and edit our upcoming newsletters, post on social media, and contribute to our website.

Pragya Acharya, an international student majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Geology, has joined the team as the new Student Sustainability Coordinator. Pragya is involved in a variety of campus activities, including serving as a mentor for the First-Year Experience (FYE) program and as a Senator for the College of Science for the 2026-2027 school year, so you might see her around campus! During the school year, she will be supporting sustainability efforts on campus and in the community. She explains, “I feel that SPARC has been doing a great job taking meaningful steps toward sustainability, and as both a learner and practitioner of sustainability, I am excited to continue learning, growing, and putting my knowledge into practice,” and “I think SPARC is a great place for me to do that while also contributing to a more sustainable campus community.” In her free time, Pragya enjoys watching movies, mixed martial arts (MMA), wall climbing, and cooking. 

Apply for SUS Course Attribute

Boost your course with the SUS Attribute! Sustainability-inclusive courses enable students to recognize their own position of power and equip them with the necessary skills and understanding to address the challenges we face both at home and in the global arena. Teaching sustainability and using the SUS attribute can provide additional benefits for students, faculty, the institution, and our wider community.

How to Apply:
The application involves two steps: preparing your syllabus to include the required SUS elements and completing the HIEE attribute form (used for all course attributes, e.g., CEL, SUS, CRE). Visit here for details. 
All disciplines, perspectives, and skills are needed to address our collective sustainability challenges and improve life for all. If you teach a class that connects with sustainability or you would like to see how it could, you are encouraged to explore and apply for the Sustainability (SUS) Course Attribute. Currently, 65% of WSU departments offer one or more SUS classes – that’s 2% more than last academic year. Does your department offer SUS courses? If not, keep reading to learn more.

Application Due Dates:
October 1, 2026, for SUS to be included in upcoming spring courses.
March 1, 2026, for upcoming summer and fall courses (applications may be submitted at other times, but these are the deadlines for review before the upcoming semester).

Teaching sustainability across the curriculum increases students’ awareness and comprehension of how healthy human societies are fostered and supported through a complex web of interconnections between their physical, social, and economic dimensions. 

WSU is on track to become carbon neutral by 2040, and our courses can contribute to generating the ideas and practices that contribute to this accomplishment. As Provost Leslie Durham notes, “When students understand how sustainability shapes decision-making in fields such as science, technology, performing arts, healthcare, business, and education, they are better prepared to lead with insight and ingenuity in the communities they serve.”

If you have questions, please reach out to Heather Root, heatherroot@weber.edu, the SPARC Faculty in Residence, or Hal Crimmel, hcrimmel@weber.edu, SPARC’s Interim Director.

Apply for STAR Grant

SPARC is excited to announce another round of funding for the Sustainability Teaching, Application, and Research (STAR) Grants. These grants aim to support WSU faculty in leading research and practices that foster engagement with sustainability at Weber State.

Projects may receive up to $5,000, with up to $10,000 for high-impact, collaborative initiatives. Each year, $20,000 is allocated for grants. Proposals should be submitted to heatherroot@weber.edu by Friday, September 18, 2026, and include a statement about project goals, impacts, community engagement, budget, timeline, and other relevant information.

Sustainable Clubs Highlight

A new semester means new opportunities to get involved with sustainability at Weber State. The Environmental Ambassadors, Garden Club, and Food Recovery Network are giving students hands-on ways to learn, connect, and make a difference on campus and in the community. 

This semester, Environmental Ambassadors will meet throughout the semester and connect activities to Weber State's Green Badge themes, including an OGX trip to the Weber State Sustainability Home (WSSH) in September for Air Quality Month. Other activities include a campus cleanup, DIY beeswax wraps, the Free Swap, and a secondhand holiday party. 

The Garden Club will get hands-on with composting, campus gardening, and seasonal projects. Highlights include a Red Butte Garden adventure, building and preparing garden beds, and a winter botany trip to the Ogden Nature Center. 
The Food Recovery Network will host meal-kit-building and food recovery activities, helping provide food to local shelters while giving students opportunities to be paid for volunteering. 

Students can also join Zero Waste Athletics at Weber State football games throughout the season and help promote recycling and waste reduction at Homecoming. 
Whether you love gardening, want to reduce waste, or simply want to try something new, there’s a place for you in the Sustainable Clubs!

Weber State Community E-bike Discount Program

 

Are you looking for an efficient, eco-friendly way to navigate your daily commute? 

The Sustainability Practices and Research Center (SPARC), in partnership with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), is launching the Weber State Community E-bike Program this fall. Eligible residents living in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, and Tooele counties can apply for an e-bike voucher worth either $400 or $800, depending on household income.

E-bikes combine standard pedal power with an electric motor, offering a powerful alternative to traditional driving. By switching to an e-bike, you can improve your personal well-being, save money on fuel, and actively contribute to reducing air pollution in Utah.

The application window is open briefly from September 21 to September 25. A total of 50 vouchers will be randomly distributed to successful applicants, with a primary focus on low-income households. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old and must not have participated in the DEQ’s Summer 2026 E-bike Program. 

Once approved, participants must complete a quick online safety video and purchase their bike from an approved retailer within four weeks. 

If you are interested but unsure of how to navigate the process, Weber State is offering free consultations with an energy professional to guide you. Take charge of your commute and apply between September 21 - 25 to secure your discounted ride.

Green Badge Program

Participate in the Green Badge Program and start earning your badges today! September’s Green Badge is “Air Quality."

Learn more about local air quality issues and ways you can reduce your emissions.

20 people earned summer’s “Biodiversity” Badge. Way to go! 

Green Team Update

The Green Department Program is for faculty and staff to learn ways to make their departments or offices more sustainable. Green Teams work together to earn points and recognition by implementing changes and taking actions outlined in a Green Team checklist.

Two new teams joined the Green Department Program over the summer! The new “Browning Center Administration” Green Team achieved Gold certification in May, and the new “Wildcat Advantage” Green Team achieved Silver certification this August. Welcome and congratulations on your achievements! 

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

Food Recoveries
Starbucks, Shepherd Union Building
Tuesdays and Fridays
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Volunteer here

Weber State Sustainability Home Open House
Weber State Sustainability Home 
Thursday, September 17, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Learn more

Community E-bike Program 
Online Application
September 21 - 25
Learn more and apply here

Wildcats Go Zero Waste-Football
Stewart Stadium
Saturday, September 19
5:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Volunteer here 

Annual Sadler Lecture: Michael Childers
Barlow Lecture Hall (LH 101)
Tuesday, September 29
7:00 p.m.
Learn more about Michael Childers

Read Childers’s most recent book: The Mountains Are Calling: Tourists and the Unmaking of Yosemite National Park

 

News & Resources

Odgen, Utah, United States Historical Air Quality Analysis | AQI

Wildfires threaten progress on air quality - scientists warn | Energy Live News

Frequently Asked Questions on Air Pollution | Clean Air Blue Skies

Low-cost ways to improve your indoor air quality | American Lung Association

Utah's air quality & what it could mean for the 2034 Olympics | Watch News4Utah

Resource: 14 Ways to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution