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C a s e S t u d i e sa s e S t u d i e s
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204 P P a r t I V : a r t I V : C

The UWRF has a rich history of supporting sustainability and sustainable community
development both on campus and in its service area of the St. Croix Valley. The university
defines sustainability principles in a broad context of economic, ecological, social justice, and
human and physical resources that meet current needs without decreasing opportunities for
future generations. Some of the formal and informal partnerships, events, and activities
include:

• Faculty and staff are members of the UW-Extension Sustainability Team, which
advocates for agent and community literacy in all aspects of sustainable community
development. In addition, the campus members are involved with the Local
Foods Network and Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin, which includes participation by
UW-Extension, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection, and local producers.
• UWRF has been a cosponsor and active participant in the ongoing “What We Need
Is Here” community forums on sustainable community development.
• Faculty and staff are working with River Falls Municipal Utilities, the City of River
Falls, Wisconsin Public Power Inc., Xcel Energy, and nongovernmental organizations
to form partnerships to create opportunities for academic programming and
installation and implementation of alternative energy generation. Other such
partnerships include work with the City of River Falls, the Kinnickinnic River Land
Trust, and the Kinnickinnic Priority Watershed Steering Committee for protection
and enhancement of the river and Lake George.
• UWRF helped create and advises the board of the Western Wisconsin
Intergovernmental Collaborative (WWIC), available to 99 local government units
in Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix counties. The WWIC meets to share information and
address the issue of sustainable communities, among other concerns.
• Sustainability principles are incorporated into many UWRF courses and programs.
The university offers a major and minor in Environmental Science and incorporates
the principles into majors and minors in Conservation, Geology, Land Use Planning,
and Agriculture Engineering Technology, as well as a minor in Hydrogeology.
Graduate offerings include a master’s degree option in Sustainable Community
Development.
• The College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences has successfully
instituted compost-bedded pack barns at its lab farm and offers the compost for sale
to the public. The farm completely replaced its traditional liquid manure system
and has implemented this environmentally sound method of reusing organic farm
waste.
• UWRF students have actively encouraged energy conservation. During the 2007 spring
semester the Student Senate, ECO Club, and several residence hall–based student
groups encouraged students to be energy efficient, which resulted in a 7 percent
reduction in water, heat, and electrical consumption in housing. The education
program is being continued this academic year for the 2500 students who live on
campus.