Read more about HSF projects

All Approved Projects
The goal of photovoice exhibition was to use pictures to move people to action by using emotional or moving photos to change policy.
This project assisted in the rebuilding of a campus community and further allowed viewers to decompress their experiences and transitions during covid.
The Giving Garden mural was completed during the 2023 Earth Week. This event brought together community members and the University, but it was a time to promote the garden’s mission and purpose as well as other sustainability efforts on campus.
The objective of this project was to deliver hands-on scientific activities centered around marine biodiversity and environmental sustainability to middle schools in Tacoma
In partnership with the Student Activities Board, the HSF brought Thy Nguyen, Tacoma Poet Laureate, and UWT Alumni, to campus. She performed spoken word on the topic of sustaining and retaining culture in America, providing a space for cultural awareness.
High quality and long lasting kitchen supplies are often too expensive, or inaccessible to college students.
With HSF’s support, the UW Tacoma Giving Garden SHED (Sustainable Hub for Education and Demonstration) received a solar power makeover in spring 2023.
During Earth Week, the CSI hosted a Welcome Days event that created a fun and engaging activity during the sunny spring quarter. Students painted a pot and planted their own succulent.
This informational brochure, created by an undergrad student, aims to help pregnant mothers using opioids to help bring awareness to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS),
 

Project Ideas

Education

Consider speaking to:

  • School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (Science and Mathematics)
  • Faculty within SIAS Science and Mathematics
  • School of Urban Studies
  • Sustainable Urban Development faculty
  • Tacoma community schools

Potential projects:

  • Host or propose a seminar
  • Create a Public Service Announcement
  • Art installation or art exhibit 
  • Workshops focused on zero waste, climate change, human impacts within the south sound
  • Invite guest speakers who do relevant research or work in the community
  • Sustainability movie nights
Food

Consider speaking to:

  • Center for Equity and Inclusion
  • The Pantry
  • Local restaurants
  • UWT Giving Garden
  • Local Food Depot
  • UW Tacoma Integrated Facilities Management

Potential projects:

  • Local food cooking classes
  • Host a farmers market group walk
  • Campus cookbook
  • Host a volunteer day or activity to help the Giving Garden 
  • Satellite Pantry locations on campus 
  • Design a notification system to alert students of extra food after events on campus
  • Mapping the path of food on campus from restaurant to waste bin
  • Create a map of free meal locations near campus with weekly offerings 
  • Food truck pilot program
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Consider speaking to:

  • Center for Equity and Inclusion
  • DEI student workers within CSI
  • RSOs
  • UW Tacoma Social and Historical Studies School
  • Psychological and Wellness Services

Potential Projects:

  • Expanding sustainable health products on campus
  • Events centering student voices and needs 
  • Events/workshops/presentations around climate change impacts on marginalized communities
  • Projects around improving infrastructure
  • Expanding wifi access into outdoor spaces. i.e. Giving Garden 
  • Design and propose more green spaces on campus
  • Create a newsletter, zine, or publication focusing on community storytelling 
Waste

Consider speaking to:

  • Integrated Facilities Management
  • Environmental and Health Services
  • Local thrift shops

Possible Projects:

  • Composter for the Giving Garden
  • Reuse and Repair Clinic
  • Thrift market, re-sale day, swap meet
  • Waste reduction campaigns
  • Recycled art installation/show
  • End of the year gear, clothing, kitchenware, etc exchange
  • Cap and gown reuse/rental
  • Composting bins for dorm rooms in Court 17
Water

Consider speaking to:

  • Integrated Facilities Management

Possible projects:

  • Organize campus clean-up
  • Host waste workshops: recycling and composting properly on campus
  • Rain gardens redesign and maintenance 
  • Installation of low flow fixtures within Court 17
  • Water reduction campaigns within bathrooms and dressing rooms
  • Rainwater harvesting in Giving Garden
  • Permeable pavement
Transportation

Consider speaking to:

  • UW Tacoma Transportation Services
  • Sound Transit
  • Local bike and scooter shops

Possible Projects:

  • Create a map with bike stations around campus
  • Implement a bike/scooter rental program
  • Promote the use of the U-Pass
  • Bus stop art installation
  • Electric car charging stations
  • Night bus- help students get safely to their cars or back to Court 17
  • Vanpool or student-led car service 
  • Host a group bicycle ride around campus and the nearby neighborhoods 
  • Create a program that generate an individualized travel plan for students 
  • Create an app or sign-up sheet for students to connect for carpooling 
  • Create a bus buddy program
  • Social media campaign explaining how public transport works, address commons fears and misconceptions, and share personal student stories
  • Create a PSA or educational materials about impacts of single-rider transportation on the climate and human health
Efficiency

Consider speaking to:

  • Integrated Facilities Management

Possible Projects:

  • Use smaller solar panels during UW hosted outdoor events 
  • Solar projects or expansions
  • Installation of efficient surge protectors
  • Encourage green office certification programs
  • Motion sensor lighting
Labs & Research

Consider speaking to:

  • Environmental Health and Safety
  • College labs
  • Green lab coordinator
  • Research faculty on campus
  • Center for Urban Waters

Potential Projects:

  • Require all labs to be Green Lab certified
  • Start a research project using the Giving Garden greenhouse
  • Conduct innovative technology feasibility studies

Current Initiatives

UW Tacoma Sustainability Blog 

Integrating Sustainability Into Your Everyday Life- Aisha Ali

How to Build a Sustainable Wardrobe- Aisha Ali

Blog Access

Preferred Vendors List 

 

Compostable Cutlery
Supplies and Promo Items
Paper
Cookware

GreenLife

bambu® | Sustainable Home Goods & Eco-Friendly Dinnerware (bambuhome.com) 

 

https://www.carawayhome.com/?irclickid=XqEWFxVtBxyNR3GXQqXrPQqqUkAQB0WjVW9fVc0&irgwc=1&utm_campaign=2433284_Sustainable+Jungle&utm_source=impact_radius&utm_medium=affiliate&irpid=2433284&tgclid=0901004b-0b36-4f9b-b800-1065644033a4 

 

https://greatjonesgoods.com/?sscid=41k7_r2j7v&utm_source=shareasale&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=314743 

 

https://fromourplace.com/?utm_source=pepperjam&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=160403&clickId=4355664989 

 

https://www.greenpan.us/?Cjevent=3f680413dee011ed807a07490a1eba24&cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww 

 

https://www.etsy.com/au/c/vintage/home-and-living/kitchen-and-dining/cookware?explicit=1&ref=catcard-1033-490480351&source=aw&zanpid=10781_1681929423_cdec4b061e882d74d5b65019831733f3&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_campaign=au_buyer&utm_content=447821&awc=10781_1681929423_cdec4b061e882d74d5b65019831733f3 

General products
Local Vendors
UWT Resources

https://tacomamakes.ds.lib.uw.edu/ (students can use this space to: 3D print, Sew, Poster Print, etc.) 

https://www.washington.edu/anyhungryhusky/the-uw-food-pantry/ (students can get free food)