They walk these buildings every day. Now they’re learning how to improve them.
Every day, students walk into classrooms that are too hot.
Study in spaces that feel stuffy.
Throw something away and wonder, does this even get recycled?
For most, those moments pass without a second thought.
But over the last 30 days, across five HBCU campuses, a group of students has started to see these spaces differently.
They’re asking questions.
Looking closer.
And beginning to take action.
30 Days of Momentum Across Five HBCUs
In its first month, the BIT for Resilient HBCUs pilot has launched across:
- Texas Southern University
- Spelman College
- Clark Atlanta University
- Xavier University of Louisiana
- Morgan State University
From Kickoff to Action
At each campus, five student fellows are stepping into roles as sustainability champions, focused on energy, water, waste, indoor air quality, and storytelling.
But this isn’t theoretical.
From day one, they’ve been working inside their own campus buildings, learning by doing.
Following a series of on-campus kickoff events, fellows quickly moved from training into practice.
With Champion Toolkits in hand and support from campus partners, they began:
- Observing building systems
- Identifying inefficiencies
- Documenting real conditions
- Collaborating with facilities teams
What might take months in a traditional setting is happening in weeks, because students are embedded in the spaces they’re studying.
Learning from Experts and Rethinking Impact
A key part of the experience has been learning directly from subject matter experts across each focus area.
Fellows have engaged with:
- Storytelling: Mézu Ofoegbu (Infinity Village Lab)
- Energy: Tylesha Giddens (Southface Institute)
- Water: ValaRae Partee (Indian Health Services)
- Indoor Air Quality: Dr. Tonya Calhoun (Environmental Defense Fund)
And in the coming weeks:
- Waste: Josh Mastromatteo (Rego)
- Implementation: Raphaëlle Mboyo Engele and Kiana Cardwell (WSP)
These sessions are doing more than building technical knowledge, they’re reshaping how students think about their role.
What starts as:
“I turned off a light.”
Becomes:
“I helped reduce energy demand and the pollution that too often impacts Black and brown communities.”
Students are beginning to connect everyday actions to larger systems, understanding how building performance, environmental health, and community outcomes are deeply linked.
Hear It Directly from the Fellows
What makes this work especially powerful is hearing how students describe it in their own words.
Through the “Why I Do This Work” video series, fellows share what drives them—from improving conditions on their campuses to creating healthier, more resilient communities beyond them.
These stories reflect something deeper than a program—they show a generation of students connecting sustainability to purpose, identity, and impact.
Watch the “Why I Do This Work” series and hear directly from the fellows:
What Happens When Students Start Paying Attention
The early findings are both simple and powerful.
Students are identifying:
- Dripping faucets and inefficient fixtures
- Blocked vents and inconsistent airflow
- Lights running in empty rooms
- Recycling systems that confuse more than they help
None of these issues are surprising on their own.
What is surprising is how quickly students are able to connect them to:
- Energy and water waste
- Indoor environmental quality
- Everyday campus experience
And how ready they are to help fix them.
A Shift in Perspective
One of the most important outcomes so far isn’t just what students are finding—it’s how they’re thinking.
They’re beginning to see buildings not as static spaces, but as systems.
They’re connecting:
- Comfort → ventilation and airflow
- Lighting → productivity and focus
- Waste → behavior and design
And increasingly:
- Campus actions → community impact
What the First Month Reveals
Across all five campuses, a consistent pattern is emerging:
When students are given the tools and the context, they quickly become powerful contributors to building performance and campus sustainability.
They’re helping to:
- Surface everyday operational issues
- Bridge communication between students and facilities teams
- Translate technical challenges into relatable actions
In short, they’re becoming a critical link between intention and implementation.
What Comes Next
The next phase builds on this foundation.
Fellows will begin to:
- Measure and validate their observations
- Prioritize opportunities for improvement
- Test behavior-driven solutions
- Engage their peers in visible, collective action
This work will culminate in the BIT in Action Challenge, where ideas move beyond observation and into measurable results.
A Model Taking Shape
In just 30 days, this pilot is already demonstrating something bigger:
- Campuses can function as living labs
- Students can play a meaningful role in operations
- Sustainability becomes more tangible when it’s connected to daily life
- Environmental justice becomes something students can actively influence
And perhaps most importantly, this is a model that can grow.
30 Days Down. A Lot More Ahead.
This is just the first month. And already, students aren’t just learning about sustainability, they’re practicing it.
With Gratitude to Our Partners
This work is made possible through strong collaboration and shared commitment.
We are especially grateful to:
- Sustain Our Future Foundation, primary sponsor and program co-developer
- Environmental Defense Fund, exclusive Indoor Air Quality Best Practice Sponsor
- Rego, in-kind Waste Best Practice Sponsor
Alongside our broader network of partners, these organizations are helping equip students with the tools, knowledge, and support to turn insight into action, on campus and beyond.
Follow the Journey
This is just the beginning. From campus assessments to student-led solutions, the work ahead will continue to build on this early momentum.
Follow along to see how students are turning insight into action, and how their campuses are evolving along the way: https://www.bitbuilding.org/s/bit-for-hbcus