On any given day at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), a student might pause along the 1.25-mile campus trail to read one of the new interpretive signs about Great Basin ecology, or a group of children might release pollinators into the campus garden. These moments reflect the heartbeat of a college where sustainability is not just an initiative but a defining part of campus life.
In 2022, TMCC launched a “Year of Sustainability,” launching a movement that continues to transform its culture, infrastructure, and educational approach. “We should and can have a major impact,” said faculty leader Cecilia Vigil. “That’s why we implemented the Year of Sustainability.” The urgency of climate action and the responsibility of higher education to lead by example made this focus both timely and essential.
At the heart of the initiative was a commitment to intergenerational equity and ecological stewardship. In 2024, the year’s central theme, Civic Engagement, encouraged students, faculty, and staff to view sustainability as a shared responsibility that extends from campus to the global stage.
Embedding Sustainability Across Campus
From infrastructure to academics, sustainability became a unifying thread. TMCC invested in wind and solar energy, expanded water-saving systems, and installed hydration stations that activate only when used. Electric vehicle charging stations and public transportation access provided greener commuting options. The college also maintained its Bee Campus USA designation, fostering pollinator habitats, reducing pesticide use, and weaving pollinator conservation into coursework.
Academically, sustainability reached every corner of the curriculum. Through the Faculty for Radical Empowerment and Enlightenment (FREE) program, professors explored new ways to integrate environmental literacy into teaching. Professional development workshops and cross-campus collaboration ensured that sustainability was not confined to science labs but extended into the humanities, arts, and social sciences.
Civic Engagement in Action
Workshops trained students and faculty to participate in governance at local, national, and even planetary levels. A civic engagement panel brought together representatives from the Reno government, TMCC administrators, and students for a dialogue. Faculty also connected with regional climate activists at Reno-area climate confabs, strengthening TMCC’s ties to the broader community.
Student and Community Leadership
Students played a leading role in sustainability projects. They collected and recycled bottle caps with the Shane McConkey Foundation, while the pollinator garden became part of the Northern Nevada Pollinator Garden Tour. The interpretive trail signs brought environmental education directly to the campus community and visitors alike.
Earth Day: A Culminating Celebration
The year’s efforts came together during TMCC’s Earth Day celebration, the college’s second-largest annual event after commencement. More than 40 campus and community organizations participated in a day of music, children’s theater, environmental justice sit-ins, pollinator releases, and hands-on projects. The City of Reno even proclaimed the day “TMCC Earth Day,” underscoring the college’s regional impact.
A Sustainable Culture That Lasts
To date, TMCC has launched more than 230 initiatives. These changes embedded sustainability into departmental operations and daily campus life. “Sustainability is infused throughout our operations,” said TMCC President Jeffrey Alexander. “Our Year of Sustainability was a terrific way to celebrate our efforts and recommit to this important work.”
That momentum continues through the Sustainability Champions Committee, which hosts workshops, develops curriculum, and connects TMCC with the Reno-Tahoe community. As committee chair Roger Putman explains, “Faculty, staff, administration, and students are working together to bring environmental literacy and sustainable living into most aspects of campus life.”
The Year of Sustainability proved that sustainability at TMCC is not a moment but a movement, one that prepares students to become tomorrow’s leaders, scientists, and professionals. True sustainability is sustained action, and TMCC has shown what it means to lead by example.
