Student Groups

Two students planting a tree on campus

Highlighted Student Groups

Environs | Environs is a long-standing student-led environmental advocacy group at KU. We work hard to promote sound environmental practices on campus, in Lawrence, and regionally. Each semester gives us no shortage of activities to work on. Our only requirement for joining is that you share our common interest in striving for a sustainable campus and world. It isn't all busy work, however. We have plenty of social activities, which can include: hiking, camping trips, and our always amaaazing potlucks.

ESSA |  As ambassadors, our goal is to facilitate communication between students and administration and to create opportunities for them to network with faculty and alumni, to help them achieve their full potential in the program by advising them from our own experiences, to seek out those who could potentially be a double major with environmental studies, and to meet with prospective students who are trying to find where they belong.

Students for a Sustainable Future | Our goal is to represent a comprehensive approach to sustainability activism by organizing ambitious, action-oriented, non-partisan campaigns that are at the intersection of social, environmental, and economic issues. Currently, we are working to eliminate undue corporate influence from academia. Our specific focus is the Koch brothers' funding (over $1.5 million) in the KU School of Business. 

KU Student Farm | The KU Student Farm is a student-run organization committed to offering the community opportunities to learn how to grow food and to connect others to area local food initiatives, gardens, and sustainable farms.

Center for Community Outreach | The Center for Community Outreach works to encourage active volunteerism in both our local and global communities. CCO engages students through meaningful opportunities to serve, respond to community needs, organize semi-annual days of service, develop volunteer management skills, and support community initiatives and non-profits through service opportunities.

Center for Sustainability | The Center for Sustainability promotes a culture of sustainability at the University of Kansas, empowering students, faculty, and staff to make decisions that help protect natural ecosystems, create economic prosperity and treat all people with equality and respect.

Sustainable Agriculture at KU |  Sustainable Agriculture at KU is an organization devoted to the welfare and exploration of our food and the people that grow it and consume it. Through researching new platforms, education, outreach, and project initiatives, we empower others to make sustainable food choices. Our four pillars:  Experimentation, Empowerment, Outreach and Justice form the basis of our policy and action.  We envision this to be a space for all students regardless of their field of study, to contribute their curiosities and expertise in order to promote more sustainable food systems.  Our ultimate belief is that we should be working towards feeding others, not just ourselves.

Directory of Environmental Student Groups

Alternative Breaks – Alternative Breaks is a student-run organization operated by a group of 17 undergraduate KU students focused on making these experiences interesting and valuable to our fellow students. We are dedicated to giving students hands-on opportunities with service work where they can gain experience with some of the most pressing social issues facing our generation. As one of the biggest service learning initiatives at KU, we provide service trips for more than 500 students each year. We provide a class component for our week-long Winter, Spring and Summer programs. We also include educational components for our shorter Fall and Weekend Breaks.

Daily Bread – Daily Bread is the first Food Recovery Program at the University of Kansas that currently partners with the KU Dining Services and the Center for Community Outreach to donate the campus' surplus bread and produce before each break to the Salvation Army.

Ecohawks – Through the use of theory and practical implementation, a diverse group of engineering students strive to build an environmentally and socially conscious vehicle.

Ecumenical Christian Ministries – Ecumenical ministry with higher education with students, faculty, staff at KU and in Lawrence; sponsored by Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, Church of the Brethren, Quaker, and Unitarian Universalist denominations.

Engineers Without Borders – To partner with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through implementation of environmentally sound and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible students.

Native Faculty and Staff Council – The Native Faculty & Staff Council comprises KU faculty and staff interested in issues affecting Native Americans/American Indians at the University of Kansas. NFSC welcomes any KU faculty/staff interested in it's mission.

Peace Corps – To increase awareness of opportunities and activities connected with the Peace Corps.