Project Certified to Sustain

An impressive 67 students showed interest in receiving one or more of the offered certificates! A total of 46 students across both engineering and non-engineering majors were accepted into the program. In the cohort, there were eight Freshmen, six sophomores, 17 juniors, eight seniors, and seven graduate students. Participants underwent peer onboarding and progressed on their certification process until the end of the spring 2025 semester. 

Three study sessions were hosted to provide encouragement and an opportunity to study together. Students also attended the U.S. Green Building Council Tucson chapter's quarterly in-person gathering. While there was strong interest in sustainability certifications, student participation and commitment were inconsistent, as involvement is difficult due to students’ demanding schedules and competing academic priorities, resulting in lower certificate completion rates. Ultimately, 21 students completed certifications, amassing 175 hours of training.  

Student Project Managers sought to increase outreach efforts to emphasize the benefits of these certifications for career development by inviting industry partners to help students see their long-term value. They will continue to explore opportunities to bring in guest speakers or mentors who have already earned these certifications to provide firsthand insights and guidance.