Hello to all UCCS Students, Staff, and Faculty, UCCS Alumni, and the Colorado Springs Community,

My name is Isabella Polombo. Today I come to you, with a dilemma that was surprising to come across during a Student-Forum for UCCS. It calls into question basic needs of support on campus, transparency and communication, and support for students during a time when UCCS has only begun to approach budget cuts and filling a deficit.

As the Student Body Vice President and Co-Founder of Clyde’s Clothing Corner, which operates under the Dean of Students, I am deeply concerned.

Yesterday, April 9th, 2026, I went to a student forum, in which I realized I was one of the only Student Government Executives to not be a part of the panel. Already feeling excluded from voicing opinions and supporting students, I joined the public forum, to listen to student concerns and see where I could support them.

During the forum, a student came forward with a question about the Sustainability House. This student stated that they felt disrespected by Upper Administration[NJ1]  because just a week earlier on April 4th, 2026, the UCCS Sustainability Staff and Student Employees were emailed that they would need to move out of the UCCS Sustainability Demonstration House by the beginning of May so our UCCS H.R. team could move in. This of course shocked me, as Clyde’s Clothing Corner, a student needs-based project exists within the House, and prior to this meeting I had not been communicated this information.

UCCS Upper Administration and the Chancellor responded by asking the student to stay curious and that it was a necessary aspect for budget cuts. When I asked Upper Administration why communications had not gone out to all parties that were involved in regard to this decision, they responded by saying it was not necessary as this was only in the planning stages and was not fully confirmed. This of course was not true as within the past week, measurements and plans for installations had already begun for the move for H.R. When I asked if this project was confirmed and if they were putting into place plans to remove sustainability from the house, I instead was responded by being told it was necessary, and that there were possible plans to house sustainability offices all the way in Columbine or in different locations across campus, and that they would investigate claims of confirmation for this move.

I left the meeting frustrated. Questions unanswered, and with the knowledge that an entire department was being invalidated and not communicated with. Including that Upper Administration had not in fact been transparent with the Student Government Association surrounding the impacts on students in relation to budget cuts.

The importance of the Demonstration House on Campus and its uses cannot and should not be underestimated. It provides and is a space for innovative programs on campus and vital resources, this includes but is not limited to:

·      UCCS Sustainability Committee

·      Green Action Fund

·      Office of Sustainability Employees

·      Clyde’s Clothing Corner

·      Heller Center of the Arts

·      Radical Social Work Study Groups

·      Social Work Events

·      Various tours from all colleges and departments

·      Girl Scouts tours summer

·      GPS tours

·      Plugging Events

·      Climate Café

·      Donation Supplies for Support of Different Campus Wide organizations

·      Multiple UCCS Clubs and Organizations usage of Sustainability House for club events

The space and its support towards community building, basic needs, and so much more unfortunately seems to have become forgotten by the Upper Administration. Which is ironic, as when UCCS has moved towards rebranding on their pillars, one which happens to be Sustainable & Strategic Growth which includes, but are not limited too the following:  

“Through a focus on sustainable, strategic growth, we are committed to growth that strengthens enrollment, expands in-demand academic programs, and strives for affordability for students. Through community partnerships, curricular innovation, expanded cutting-edge research contributions, and diversified revenue streams, UCCS will attract and graduate more students while building a strong financial foundation.” – You can read this on their website: strategicplan.uccs.edu

So, an office that is being used to help support retention rates and support that UCCS is a space for community development, opportunity, and leadership, a place for students, is also being asked to move out?

UCCS, would you like to know where they asked the Sustainability Office to move?[NJ2]  Simply move into the farmhouse, where no offices exist to fully do the work that is required and done by the Sustainability Department. The office of Sustainability has many positions that require 1-on-1 meetings, delineations on budgets, and other work that requires spaces to process information and privacy. Tell me how grant coordinators, and other staff and student-employees are meant to have 1-on-1s and important meetings in an open space, when even our own campus administrators have their own offices and need their own spaces to conduct their own meetings?

In addition, the UCCS Sustainability Demonstration House, is not a space built for the H.R. department. The space is open enough, even with rooms for offices where anyone can hear different conversations in different spaces, a collaborative space. Whereas H.R. handles sensitive, private discussions and matters in relation to people's jobs and lives. Is the UCCS Sustainability Demonstration House really the best place to move H.R. too?

We urge the UCCS Upper Administration to reconsider this decision. Relocating the Office of Sustainability compromises the offices' ability to function effectively and completely undermines the institutions' mission to champion sustainability. We propose that UCCS reassess their space allocation strategies to allow Human Resources the expansion they need without displacing the Sustainability office and its invaluable contributions

We ask the UCCS Community and Colorado Springs Community, and anyone onward who supports Sustainability and the Office, to come together to protect the Sustainability House, ensuring that it continues to serve its role for sustainability initiatives, community growth, student leadership, and more. Sign this petition to demand that UCCS preserve the Sustainability House space, protect the office of sustainability from moving spaces, and uphold its pledge to sustainability and the welfare of its student body.     

Thank you,

Isabella Polombo
Student Body Vice President
Member of Pi Lambda Chi Latina Sorority, Inc.
Co-Founder of Clyde’s Clothing Corner 
Member of Queer Trans People of Color
Chancellors Leadership Class
Resident Assistant of Leadership Floor
Fellow Student Peer