Dear R’Garden supporters,

Thank you sincerely for reaching out regarding the future of the R'Garden. We share in the disappointment that the recent student referendum to secure ongoing support for R’Garden did not meet the minimum 20% voter participation threshold for approval, despite majority support from those who voted.

Although the R'Garden referendum did not pass, the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) and campus leadership remain committed to the values that R’Garden represents: supporting basic needs, advancing sustainability, enriching educational experiences, and fostering community engagement.

In the short term, CNAS is working with campus leadership to explore bridge funding options that could sustain operations through the next academic year. CNAS is also prepared to continue supporting R’Garden by extending the use of land, water and other agricultural resources such that the operation of R’Garden can continue until a new referendum can be put to a student body vote in 2025-26.

The responses over the past week reflect strong support for the R'Garden. We look forward to continued dialogue with the campus community as we work toward a sustainable path forward.

Sincerely,

Peter

Peter W. Atkinson
Dean
College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences