This page brings together the full range of our initiatives, including free support services, student engagement, outreach and education, policy research, and more. Click the icons below to explore how we work across sectors to strengthen capacity and create lasting change.
Home of the SU Environmental Finance Center
The Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE) is proud to be home to the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center (SU-EFC), a national leader in environmental infrastructure funding and finance for over 30 years. Since its founding in 1993, SU-EFC has helped communities innovate solutions, develop shovel-ready projects, advance capacity development, and navigate the funding landscape. As a pillar of ISE, SU-EFC continues to provide expert guidance across EPA Region 2 and beyond, supporting communities in addressing the “how-to-pay” challenges of environmental protection and infrastructure investment. Learn More
Key Focus Areas
At ISE, our work is rooted in community partnership, applied learning, and evidence-based solutions. Whether we’re helping local governments build capacity, supporting student pathways into environmental careers, or facilitating regional collaboration through workshops and convenings, each effort reflects our commitment to advancing sustainability on the ground.
Community Capacity Building
Our team of experts offer targeted support services at no-cost to communities of all types, equipping them with the resources and expertise needed to achieve their goals while building their capacity.
Convening & Partnership Facilitation
At ISE, we rely on a broad network of relationships made up of diverse perspectives and cultures to drive our work forward. We actively connect with organizations, businesses, government agencies, and individuals through coordinated events and gatherings that bring together diverse voices to exchange ideas and build lasting partnerships.
Student Engagement
We inspire the next generation of leaders, creating a strong pathway to green jobs and environmental careers. By providing students with knowledge, skills, and professional networks, we plant the seed for lifelong stewardship, preparing them to tackle environmental challenges with creativity and confidence.
Outreach & Education
At the root of our outreach and education efforts is the drive to create meaningful connections. Operating at the intersection of scientific research, community engagement, and human behavior, we act as a bridge between residents, experts, and everyone in between to make complex data understandable and help communities tell their stories.
Research & Policy Analysis
We deliver the insights communities need to make informed decisions and drive impactful change. Through applied research, policy evaluation, and community-focused assessments, we help identify challenges, explore opportunities, and craft data-driven strategies to advance sustainable solutions.
Tool & Resource Development
ISE creates practical tools and resources to help communities move from ideas to action. From interactive locator maps and funding guides to planning models and applied research findings, we create user-friendly resources that help local leaders navigate complex topics and take meaningful steps toward implementation.
Featured Initiatives
Our featured initiatives highlight some of ISE’s ongoing efforts that demonstrate our values, partnerships, and impact. These examples range from hands-on community engagement and applied research to technical innovation and student involvement. While not a full list of our work, they offer a snapshot of the breadth of work happening across the Institute.
Recycle Right New York (RRNY) is a comprehensive outreach and education campaign informed by more than 140 recycling professionals to spread the message, “Know Before You Throw,” to residents throughout New York State. Featured resources include a materials guidance catalog based on your local area, or “recyclopedia”, and hot topic deep dives via social media and blog posts. The campaign is uplifted and amplified by RRNY stakeholder group members (including local recycling coordinators, managers, educators) to unify industry voices across the state. This initiative is coordinated by the NYS Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM), in partnership with the Institute for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University.
To learn more about how RRNY is working to increase participation and decrease contamination in the recycling stream, visit recyclerightny.org.
The SMM Stewardship Program in Puerto Rico, GREEN-PR (Generating Replicable Environmental Education Networks in Puerto Rico), offers university students a unique opportunity to grow professionally and develop leadership in sustainable materials management (SMM). For over 11 years, GREEN-PR has empowered young people to implement SMM projects across Puerto Rico, including in the island-municipality of Vieques.
After receiving training, participants work up to 40 paid hours during the spring semester implementing SMM initiatives alongside their communities, universities, and local NGOs. Completion of the program often leads participants to employment or continued volunteer work with their partner organizations, with many also advancing to graduate studies or securing jobs in environmental fields.
To learn more about GREEN-PR, visit:
Official website (Spanish): Red de Educación Ambiental GREEN-PR – PRRP
Official website (English): GREEN-PR Network – PRRP
Modeled after the successful GREEN-PR program, the New York State Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Program has been operating since 2015. This is a unique, fully remote, paid college internship program designed to immerse participants in the principles of sustainability and waste reduction. Stewards gain hands-on experience by leading community projects focused on reducing, reusing, and recycling a wide range of materials (e.g., plastics, textiles, organics). The program emphasizes professional development, and offers opportunities to build leadership, communication, and networking skills with industry professionals. Many program graduates go on to work in sustainability-related fields, making this an ideal program for those seeking to begin or advance a SMM career. The NYS SMM Stewardship Program helps to expand a robust network of sustainability leaders across New York State.
Learn more about the NYS SMM Stewardship Program by visiting the webpage linked below:
The SU Water Climate Challenge is a paid training fellowship that brings together undergraduate students from Syracuse University and SUNY ESF to explore the intersection of water infrastructure, climate adaptation, and science communication. Fellows work on creative, community-based projects that help communicate real water infrastructure and climate challenges to different audiences. The program features hands-on field trips to water treatment facilities and green infrastructure sites, as well as opportunities to connect with professionals in engineering, policy, and sustainability. Through professional skill-building and real-world experiences, students strengthen their networks, join a national cohort of peers working on similar issues across the country, and build confidence in translating complex topics into clear, compelling messages.
This program is in partnership with the University of New Mexico, Arizona State University, Wichita State University, Morgan State University, and the Environmental Finance Center Network.