UTA earns national sustainability award
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) announced The University of Texas at Arlington as a recipient of a 2026 AASHE Sustainability Award for outstanding achievements and progress in higher education sustainability.
UT Arlington received the Campus Sustainability Achievement Award on behalf of the The Urban Resilience Fellows Program: Bridging Higher Ed and Municipal Innovation.
"We are incredibly honored to receive the 2026 AASHE Campus Sustainability Achievement Award for The Urban Resilience Fellows Program,” said Meghna Tare, chief sustainability officer. “This initiative represents a vital bridge between higher education and municipal innovation, allowing our students to apply academic research to real-world urban challenges. By showcasing these projects we hope to inspire further progress toward a sustainable future where universities play a central role in driving resilient, local solutions."
The Urban Resilience Fellowship Program connects faculty experts and students to local government and industry partners to develop innovative solutions for pressing sustainability challenges facing our community. The program cultivates innovative talent in North Texas by providing a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment for students to research, ideate and make recommendations on key issues in the community.
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AASHE bestows its prestigious awards on the institutions and individuals that help lead higher education to a sustainable future. In 2026, AASHE received nearly 80 entries resulting in 16 winners announced across four categories. Entries were judged on overall impact, innovation, stakeholder involvement and other criteria specific to each category. To date, close to 170 higher education institutions and people have been recognized through this prestigious award program since its inception in 2006.
“The 2026 AASHE Sustainability Award winners each reflect a powerful commitment to advancing sustainability in higher education. I commend these winners for leading transformative change across their campuses, showcasing dedication, innovation, and vision through each of these outstanding initiatives,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser.
Tare adds the recognition underscored UTA’s commitment to leading transformative change that benefits both UTA and the broader North Texas community.
“Being honored with a 2026 AASHE Sustainability Award highlights our efforts to bridge the gap between academic excellence and municipal resilience, fostering a more sustainable and equitable future for all," she said.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.