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The University of Arizona has earned the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability in recognition of efforts across curriculum, research, operations and community engagement to embed sustainability into its academic mission. 

The U of A was among the first cohort of 14 institutions to receive this classification, along with Pima Community College and Tohono O’odham Community College. This cohort holds this honor until 2033. 

"This designation positions us as a national leader in sustainability and reinforces the work we have been doing," said Trevor Ledbetter, senior director of the U of A's Office of Sustainability, who led the designation's application process. "That being said, we need to keep walking the walk. Every major stakeholder group wants to see the university continue pushing in the space of sustainability."

Carnegie Elective Classifications provide an independent, rigorous assessment of an institution's "extraordinary commitment to, investment in, and accomplishment at, an important aspect of its public purpose."

“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,” said Salomé Arrieta, a senior studying environmental science. “I grew up in Tucson, so being able to have that impact in the Tucson community has been a really special thing.”

A leader from the start

The classification comes after participation in the 2025 Elective Classification for Sustainability pilot program, which brought together diverse higher education institutions to test and help shape the classification's framework, application process and review criteria. The U of A completed a collaborative and rigorous self-study and provided feedback on the Carnegie framework, prompts, evidence requirements and review process.

The U of A was one of 20 schools to participate in the pilot. Out of the 14 schools who received the final classification, the U of A was the largest of the six R1 research universities to receive it and the only one in Arizona. 

The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability is hosted by the University of Colorado, Boulder, working alongside the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education.

"The first group of inaugural institutions help bring this new classification to life," said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. "We're proud to recognize their leadership and the many ways they are advancing sustainability across their campuses and communities."

The application drew from the university's strengths: teaching, research and community engagement, according to Ledbetter. From there, he and the advisory team – made up of 12 faculty, staff and students – narrowed the focus to what the university does best in that space. They landed on what the advisory team is now calling the "three H's" – heat, health and H2O, or water. 

Learn more about the initiatives and programs that helped us earn us the classification.

In the near future, Chris Edwards, an associate clinical professor in the College of Pharmacy, is serving as Sustainability Faculty Affairs Fellow this year and has organized a yearlong speaker series on topics of heat, water and health that will showcase our faculty experts and student voices in these topics. 

Edwards will also be working to help faculty learn new ways to consider sustainability in their courses and curriculum.

Ledbetter stressed that the application was not all inclusive of the myriad sustainability efforts happening on campus from student-driven projects to faculty research that shapes policy. And, he added, “there’s more work to be done.” 

What they are saying

Andrea Romero, vice provost for faculty affairs, Office of the Provost: "We are very proud of all the work of students, staff and faculty at the U of A that allowed us to showcase their important work in curriculum, research, operations, career preparation and community engagement that led to our earning the Carnegie Classification for Sustainability. The success of our classification as one of the first 14 to receive it truly demonstrates that we are leaders in this area in higher education." 

Paloma Beamer, associate dean for community engagement; professor, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health: "In our beautiful Sonoran Desert, water, climate and health are intrinsically linked. It is wonderful to be part of a land-grant institution that invests in being a leader of innovative research at this nexus that serves our communities while training the next generation of sustainability stewards. As much of the planet is undergoing desertification, the U of A leadership in this area will bring improved health across the globe."

Sharon Collinge, director of the Arizona Institutes for Resilience: "At AIR, we strive to provide the knowledge that informs communities' ability to adapt to environmental change. The classification is a celebration of the U of A’s long-term commitment to environmental science, climate resilience and sustainability, and I’m so proud that the AIR programs featured in the application are an integral part of making this university a leader in climate action."

Ladd Keith, director for Heat Resilience Initiative; associate professor, College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture: "Extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the United States, and as a land-grant university in one of the hottest regions of the nation, we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead on heat resilience solutions. 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: "Water stewardship is essential to sustainable living in the desert. 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. As we look to the future, I am confident that, by working together with our communities, our faculty, staff and students will contribute to addressing some of our region’s biggest water challenges."