After close to two decades of operation, the University of Florida closed its Office of Sustainability on Monday. 

In an email statement to Mainstreet on Tuesday afternoon, UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldán Hernández wrote that university leadership’s decision to “sunset the Office of Sustainability and its functions” is part of UF’s continuing efforts to determine new efficiencies, eliminate duplicative efforts and cut costs. 

“This decision is in alignment with UF’s fiduciary responsibility to be a trustworthy steward of taxpayer dollars,” she wrote. “Since the Office of Sustainability was created nearly 20 years ago, the university has made great strides in adopting the principles of efficiency, environmental stewardship and economic viability. Those principles are now embedded into our regular business practices.” 

Roldán Hernández wrote that UF leadership established a 5% reduction in administrative costs on July 1, which resulted in roughly $20 million of cost savings for the university. 

“Among the measures taken, approximately 75 positions were eliminated due to vacancies or attrition,” she wrote. 

Four positions at the Office of Sustainability were affected by the closure, Roldán Hernández said, with one role unfilled. 

“As a result, three employees were affected,” she said. 

When asked for clarification, Roldán Hernández wrote that the three employees “are no longer employed with the university.” 

In addition to the Office of Sustainability, Roldán Hernández added that a choice was also made to end UF’s Health Center Police Service Technician (PST) program. She noted that the termination affects 15 jobs, eight of which are currently filled. 

The PST program will continue through the end of the calendar year, Roldán Hernández wrote. 

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News.