University of Kentucky students have been making a difference across campus through the UK Sustainability Internship Program and Student Sustainability Council. Over the last 10 years, student-led research and projects have included creating a Waste Reduction Week focused on the importance of waste issues, highlighting student art related to climate change and revitalizing campus landscaping through tree planting events and garden design.

The UK Office of Sustainability in Facilities Management is now accepting applications for two student opportunities for the 2025-26 academic year.

Sustainability Internship Program (SIP)

The Sustainability Internship Program pairs undergraduate students with sustainability-related offices and units across campus to advance sustainability initiatives in exciting and meaningful ways. Interns earn $15.55/hour and work eight to 10 hours per week from mid-August through the end of the spring semester. Through the program, interns work with mentors to support sustainability initiatives and develop a sustainability project or initiative that addresses a campus need.

There are 15 internship opportunities available for the 2025-26 SIP, covering a variety of expertise areas:

• Alternative Transportation

• Campus Kitchen

• Campus Woods

• Chemical Upcycling

• Dining Sustainability

• Energy (Lab Environments)

• Food Connection Scholarly Engagement

• Kentucky Climate Consortium

• Recycling

• Stormwater Outreach

• Sustainability Digital Media and Communications

• UK HealthCare Sustainability

• Urban Environment and Sustainable Design

• Urban Forest Initiative

The Sustainability Internship Program application deadline is March 30. Students can apply here.

Student Sustainability Council (SSC)

The Student Sustainability Council plays a key role in guiding sustainability efforts at UK by working to evaluate and fund sustainability projects that benefit the entire campus community.

The student-led initiative began in 2009 and has since funded more than 460 projects including the recent hydration stations that offset nearly 22,000 single-use water bottles during Big Blue Move-In last fall. Any member of the University of Kentucky community can submit a proposal for funding support for a project that will enhance the culture of sustainability on UK’s campus. The Student Sustainability Council distributes nearly $200,000 for campus sustainability projects each year.

The Student Sustainability Council application deadline is March 23. Students can apply here.

Learn more about UK’s sustainability initiatives and opportunities by visiting https://sustainability.uky.edu/.