The University of Arizona’s Commitment to Sustainability Recognized with Prestigious Classification
The University of Arizona (U of A) has been awarded the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability. This honor acknowledges the university’s dedication to integrating sustainability across its academic and operational spectrum, including curriculum, research, operations, and community engagement.
Among the pioneering group of 14 institutions, the U of A shares this distinction with Pima Community College and Tohono O’odham Community College, maintaining this status until 2033. “This designation positions us as a national leader in sustainability and reinforces the work we have been doing,” expressed Trevor Ledbetter, senior director of the U of A’s Office of Sustainability, who spearheaded the application process.
The Carnegie Elective Classifications serve as a rigorous, independent assessment, recognizing institutions for “extraordinary commitment to, investment in, and accomplishment at, an important aspect of its public purpose.” This sentiment resonates with U of A senior Salomé Arrieta, who said, “This designation makes me proud of the work I’ve been able to do with the Campus Sustainability Fund and other environmental organizations on campus.”
Emerging as a Sustainability Leader
The U of A’s classification follows its involvement in the 2025 Elective Classification for Sustainability pilot program. This initiative brought together diverse higher education institutions to refine the classification’s framework, process, and criteria. U of A was one of 20 participants and emerged as the largest R1 research university among those awarded the classification.
Hosted by the University of Colorado, Boulder, in collaboration with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the classification is a testament to the U of A’s strengths in teaching, research, and community engagement. Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation, remarked, “The first group of inaugural institutions help bring this new classification to life.”
The university’s focus on the “three H’s”—heat, health, and water—was central to its application. Chris Edwards, an associate clinical professor in the College of Pharmacy, will lead initiatives to integrate these themes into academic discourse and curriculum through a speaker series.
Voices from the University
Andrea Romero, vice provost for faculty affairs, highlighted the collective effort: “We are very proud of all the work of students, staff and faculty at the U of A… The success of our classification… truly demonstrates that we are leaders in this area in higher education.”
Paloma Beamer, associate dean for community engagement, emphasized the importance of research at the intersection of water, climate, and health: “It is wonderful to be part of a land-grant institution that invests in being a leader of innovative research at this nexus.”
Sharon Collinge, director of the Arizona Institutes for Resilience, celebrated the university’s commitment to climate action: “The classification is a celebration of the U of A’s long-term commitment to environmental science, climate resilience and sustainability.”
Ladd Keith, director for Heat Resilience Initiative, spoke on the university’s responsibility to address heat resilience: “This recognition reflects how our research, education and partnerships come together to help communities in Arizona and beyond prepare for and respond to extreme heat.”
Sharon Megdal, director of the Water Resources Research Center, noted the critical nature of water stewardship: “With Arizona’s water situation at a critical juncture, this classification provides recognition and validation of the U of A’s broad and deep attention to water sustainability.”
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