Tennessee Higher Education Sustainability Initiative

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TDEC’s Office of Sustainable Practices (OSP) serves as the primary contact to provide technical and developmental assistance and support for enhancing sustainability efforts at colleges and universities across the state through the Tennessee Higher Education Sustainability Initiative. These institutions are anchors for economic development in many communities and are responsible for preparing professionals who will develop, lead, manage, teach, and influence society’s future and generations and their activities.  Moreover, these institutions often operate as fully integrated communities capable of modeling social and biological sustainability and illustrating their interdependence with local, regional, and global communities. Providing support and technical assistance to these institutions as they make sustainability an integral part of operations, planning, design, and investments and tying those efforts to the formal curriculum provides an unparalleled educational opportunity for both students and the larger community.

TDEC provides positive, impactful assistance to Tennessee’s higher education institution’s students, faculty, and staff in a complete circle by supporting sustainability and resilience through establishing public-private partnerships to complete community improvements; providing a network for sustainability collaboration and support; and also addressing the most basic human need by providing salvaged food that would have otherwise been wasted to food insecure people.

The Tennessee College/Underserved Community Partnership Program (TN CUPP) works to establish partnerships between underserved communities and Tennessee Higher Education Institutions (TN HEIs) in Tennessee. Through these partnerships, TN HEIs can provide a variety of low to no-cost technical support and manpower to address environmental, economic, and health issues that impact the quality of life in nearby underserved communities.  

All participants benefit from the TN CUPP program. Communities benefit from innovative and no-cost technical assistance provided by students attending nearby academic institutions. Professors and students benefit by gaining hands-on experience in their areas of study, with students earning college credit and building their resumes; and professors gaining recognition for their department and university. 

Projects will be evaluated based upon support of TDEC’s mission and specific factors to determine a project’s value. Project value is determined by the following:

  1. How the project will benefit the community and how many residents it will serve
  2. Partners and their contributions, whether monetary or a service and its value
  3. Number of volunteers and/or volunteer hours
  4. Avoided costs by a TN HEI performing services for no or very little cost that would otherwise cost a community more if completed by a private group. Services can include maintenance, clean-up, studies, mitigation plans, mitigation cost analysis, grant writing, etc.
  5. If necessary for project execution, funding amount already obtained and/or committed and associated source of funding

A few examples of creative, community-specific solutions which could qualify as TN HEI CUPP projects include but are not limited to:

  • Design of nature trails, rain gardens, rubber porous walkways, and/or outdoor spaces
  • Restoring historic landmark(s) owned by the municipality
  • Restoring or establishing new wetlands
  • Design and/or implementation of alternative fuel projects
  • Energy assessments to identify municipality opportunities for resource conservation
  • Water and/or wastewater treatment plant assessments to identify opportunities for resource conservation
  • Work study for future potential water and wastewater treatment plant operators
  • Waste assessments to identify opportunities for increased diversion of materials from the landfill
  • Research and development for rubber modified asphalt projects
  • Planning and design of State Revolving Fund program qualifying projects

TN CUPP Projects

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students assist with lead testing in 186 state-licensed child care facilities in Bradley, Hamilton, and Marion Counties.

TDEC is currently conducting drinking water testing in state-licensed child care facilities as part of the WIIN Grant, Lead Testing in Schools and Childcare Facilities. Through a partnership with both TN CUPP and EPA CUPP programs, and funding from the Children’s Environmental Health Grant, students are informing child care facilities about free lead testing services, ordering the number of test kits needed to be shipped directly to the child care facility, providing education about lead and the importance of testing, and assisting Providers needing to take corrective action(s) with technical assistance and making referrals for funding to complete remediation and/or fixture replacement as needed.

Tennessee Tech

Tennessee Tech takes a watershed approach to stormwater management in the town of Gainesboro.

Effective stormwater management of a community requires a comprehensive understanding of the watershed where it is located. Many studies have implemented the watershed approach to stormwater management. However, Tennessee Tech discovered through research that watershed approaches are not executed in smaller urban communities meaning this application of a watershed study was unique relative to typical practice. Through TN CUPP, Tennessee Tech initiated the development of a watershed-wide stormwater management plan for the Town of Gainesboro, which is a small, rural community in Jackson County, Tennessee. The town of Gainesboro is located within the Doe Creek watershed and experienced significant flooding in June 2018. However, prior to this study, limited data was available to determine the factors contributing to the flooding and other stormwater issues within the Doe Creek watershed. View more about the project.

University of Memphis

University of Memphis partners with the town of Spencer.

The Town of Spencer is one of the first recipients of EPA’s Assistance for Small and Disadvantaged Communities Drinking Water Grant funded under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN). The project goal was to help bring the water treatment plant into compliance with the maximum contaminant levels (MCL) specified by the Federal Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule for trihalomethanes (THMs) and halo acetic acids (HAAs). The University of Memphis used bench-scale studies and jar testing to optimize treatment practices. The second phase of the project included applying and fine-tuning the conditions developed during Phase 1 for application at the plant.

The full scope of work for the town included planning, design, and technical assistance in preparation for improvements to the existing water treatment plant and distribution system, as well as addressing long-term water supply. All critical functions were conducted by appropriately certified personnel.

Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University partners with Metro Nashville Public Works.

TSU students are assisting Metro Nashville Public Works Solid Waste Department in evaluating ways to increase recycling in the Bordeaux area of Nashville. This work consists of exploring existing limitations in maximizing community recycling and developing recommendations to aid in Metro Nashville’s outreach to the Bordeaux community.

Lemonyne-Owen College

Lemoyne-Owen College students assist with lead testing in 185 state-licensed child care facilities in Shelby county.

TDEC is currently conducting drinking water testing in state-licensed child care facilities as part of the WIIN Grant, Lead Testing in Schools and Childcare Facilities. Through a partnership with both TN CUPP and EPA CUPP programs, and funding from the Children’s Environmental Health Grant, students are informing child care facilities about free lead testing services, ordering the number of test kits needed to be shipped directly to the child care facility, providing education about lead and the importance of testing, and assisting Providers needing to take corrective action(s) with technical assistance and making referrals for funding to complete remediation and/or fixture replacement as needed.

Successful Projects Under EPA's College / Underserved Community Partnership Program

Lipscomb University and City of Pegram

The city of Pegram, TN sent a request to the Civil Engineering Department at Lipscomb University for the provision of engineering services to assist with flooding issues at the 500 block of Highway 70, Pegram TN. Flooding at this location occurs multiple times a year, typically incurring property damage. Because the flood area is commercial, business is disrupted and often drives business owners away. It is also reported that the flooding will overtop Highway 70 in a large storm, creating safety issues. The scope of this project was to provide analysis, and design for the purpose of proving that the existing conditions cause the culverts under HWY 70 to fail per TDOT standards, and to provide design development drawings to aid in future design and construction of a flood control plan. View the program report.

TSU and City of Pleasant View

The city of Pleasant View, TN wanted a preliminary land use assessment conducted for their city. Pleasant View represents the conditions and circumstances that raise the question and concern of how will the community representatives respond to an increasing demand for a more metropolitan character and the balance of the traditional. TSU performed a land use assessment of Pleasant View and made recommendations for future land use and community strategies. View the program report.

Applicable Communities

Establishing partnerships between TN HEIs and underserved communities with close geographical proximity enables the TN HEIs to maximize community support provided by college students in their area of academic study while being overseen by professors supporting the effort.

Communities with one or more of the following criteria may qualify for the TN CUPP:

  1. Located within one of Tennessee’s distressed counties1
  2. Community population less than 10,0002
  3. Median income 50% below state average for the last five years
  4. Home values declining over the last five years
  5. Unemployment 50% higher than the state average over the last five years
  6. Lack of access to fresh food (food desert)3
  7. Persistent public health issues due to environmental issues in the city or community
  8. Heavy industrial or other activities that involve toxic substances and/or waste and located in or near the community
  9. 20% of the population living in poverty over the last 30 years
  10. 20% of the population comprised of children and adults of retirement age of 65 or older

The mayor or designated community representative may submit a Community TN CUPP letter of interest (LOI) to the TDEC – OPSP to participate in TN CUPP. LOIs should briefly address the aforementioned community qualifications and potential projects of interest which have a focus on supporting TDEC’s mission. The LOI can be received by emailing tdec.tnhesi@tn.gov. Specific project request(s) may also be identified and submitted along with the LOI.

Resources

Higher Education Institution Criteria

Establishing partnerships between TN HEIs and underserved communities with close geographical proximity enables the TN HEIs to maximize community support provided by college students in their area of academic study while being overseen by professors supporting the effort.

All TN HEIs must have a non-discrimination statement and observe all other Title VI requirements as defined by the Civil Rights Act of 1984 to participate as a partner under TN CUPP. A participating TN HEI must also be an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. Additionally, a TN HEI which meets the following criteria may qualify to participate in the TN CUPP:

  1. Have the area of academic expertise necessary to complete qualifying projects
  2. Offer project participation through either internships, practicums, independent studies, and/or capstone projects
  3. Agree to complete projects within the timeframe determined at initial meeting with the community designated representative and OPSP
  4. Give status updates for all designated milestone checkpoints

If you are a higher education institution interested in participating, please complete the four questions in the questionnaire. The information you provide will be used to identify a community needing assistance with a qualifying TN CUPP project that is well-suited for your area of academic expertise.

If a specific project topic(s) or service has already been developed that you would like to complete through TN CUPP, a letter of interest (LOI) to participate can be submitted to TDEC that states how the institution and community both meet eligibility requirements and briefly states project specifics. The LOI can come from either the Dean of Students, academic department(s), individual professors, and/or sustainability departments. The LOI can be emailed to tdec.tnhesi@tn.gov.

Tennessee Higher Education Sustainability Network

TDEC’s Office of Sustainable Practices (OSP) serves as the host and primary contact for the Tennessee Higher Education Sustainability Network (TN HESN). Through the TN HESN, faculty, administrators, staff, students, and other organizations who interact with Tennessee’s higher education institutions come together to collaborate, support, share, and advise on best practices for incorporating sustainability into schools and with community projects that address environmental, economic, and health issues that impact resident’s quality of life. This statewide network brings a variety of perspectives together, creates a collaborative platform to work through common challenges and key issues, and builds mutual ownership in the development of a stronger foundation for sustainability education and practices throughout the State of Tennessee.

To sign up for our Higher Education Sustainability Newsletter or the network’s Listserv, click “Get Involved” below.

Higher Education Sustainability Newsletters