UConn Among First Universities to Gain ‘Green’ Rating at All Dining Halls

In keeping with the University’s environmental sustainability plans, all of our eight residential dining units (Whitney, Buckley, South, McMahon, Putnam, Northwest, North & Gelfenbien) have been approved as Certified Green Restaurant® with the Green Restaurant Association. Founded in 1990, The Green Restaurant Association, an international nonprofit organization, has pioneered the Green Restaurant® movement as the leading voice within the industry, encouraging restaurants to green their operations using transparent, science-based certification standards. With its turnkey certification system, the GRA has made it accessible for thousands of restaurants to become more environmentally sustainable in Energy, Water, Waste, Food, Chemicals, Disposables, & Building. For more information: http://dining.uconn.edu/locations/

Now that flu season is upon us, if you become ill and cannot make it to a dining unit for a meal, you may call the dining facility you normally eat in, ask for the manager on duty and request a meal “to go.” Please provide the manager with your PeopleSoft number as well as the name of the individual who will be picking up your meal. When the designated person picks up the meal for you, they may swipe in their own card, swipe in the requesting student’s card and contact the unit manager to assist with the take-out.

The Environmental Leadership Awards (ELAs) presented by UConn’s Office of Environmental Policy, were created as a way to honor those individuals that have truly excelled in their efforts to contribute to environmental awareness and promote progress in our ‘green’ efforts. These individuals have worked with other groups to make real, immediate improvements in the sustainability of our campus and beyond.

A winner is selected for each of the major categories: Undergraduate Student, Graduate Student, University Faculty/Administrator, and Staff. There are also ELA awards given to UConn-Affiliated Groups (e.g., Clubs, Organizations, Centers or Institutes), Alumni, and Special Recognition/External groups and individuals who have made significant contributions in executing major projects and initiatives for the University of Connecticut.

Presenting the awards was Dr. Gene Likens, UConn’s Special Advisor to the President on Environmental Affairs and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Dr. Likens, a world renowned scientist, discovered acid rain.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Dining Services Wins the Staff Group Award

Dining Services staff: Rob Landolphi, Mike White, Tracey Roy and presenter Dr. Gene Likens

Dining Services’ Spring Valley Student Farm Wins the Student Group Award

Julia Cartabiano, Manager of Spring Valley Student Farm, Wins the Staff Award

For the fifth time in as many years, the University of Connecticut is among the top 10 schools in the Sierra Club’s “Cool Schools” ranking. UConn placed ninth on the list this year, and was one of only a few Carnegie Level One Research Institutions still in the top 10. A change in survey methodology knocked previously high-ranking schools lower down the list, and put smaller liberal arts colleges and schools with specialized environmental programs into the top spots.

http://today.uconn.edu/2016/09/uconn-sierra-club-cool-schools-top-10/?utm_source=launchdistribution&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_email

Dining Services would like to thank everyone who patronized the Farm Fresh Market this season. We look forward to serving you in the spring of 2017.

To view the recipes that two of Dining Services’ chefs presented at the Storrs Center festival, please click here.