Integrating Sustainability into Teaching & Research

Loyola has committed to supporting sustainability in teaching, research and learning and supports our students, staff, and faculty in integrating sustainability concepts into their work. In an ever more interconnected world, the intersectional approach that sustainability learning provides, creates opportunities to understand impact, and more importantly, develop and scale solutions.

This page provides resources to Loyola’s academic approach to sustainability.

Link to September 29, 2022 Webinar recording: Integrating Sustainability Resources for Faculty

Sustainability Degrees and Programs

Academic Affairs has made meaningful commitments to sustainability in the form of degrees, faculty positions, and supportive programs. While all non-science undergraduates take the foundational Scientific Literacy course, the Scientific Basis of Environmental Issues, there are degrees that develop skills and knowledge in specific sustainability disciplines. This is a list of sustainability offerings across Loyola’s Schools and Departments:

College of Arts and Sciences

Biology with Ecology Emphasis (BS) – Department of Biology

Bioethics Minor – Department of Biology

Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies Minor – Department of Theology

Urban Studies with Sustainability Emphasis Minor – Center for Urban Research and Learning

Accelerated Bachelors'/Master's with master of public policy and BA/BS in environmental policy, studies or science (SES)

Arrupe College

All students must take ACISC 101 – Scientific Basis of Environmental Issues and ACISC 102 - Environmental Processes, Challenges, and Methods.

Accelerated Bachelor's/Masters with Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's with Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's with Master of Environmental Science and Sustainability

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's with Master of Public Health (MPH)

Accelerated Bachelor's/Masters with Master of Communication in Digital Media and Storytelling or Global Strategic Communication

MS in Environmental Science & Sustainability: Research Track

MS in Environmental Science & Sustainability: Professional Track

Graduate Certificate in Environmental Law and Policy

Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

Graduate Certificate in Sustainability Assessment and Planning

Environmental Action & Leadership Minor

Environmental Science Minor

Environmental Economics and Sustainability Minor

Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health

Public Health (BS)

Five-Year Dual Degree Master of Public Health with BA/BS in Environmental Policy, Studies, or Science (SES)

The Graduate School

Master of Urban Affairs and Policy

Institute of Pastoral Studies

MA in Social Justice – Social Enterprise Concentration

Academic Resources:

Faculty Center for Ignatian Pedagogy

Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship

Center for Urban Research and Learning

Office of Research Services

Supply Chain and Sustainability Center (QSoB)

Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility (QSoB)

Center for the Human Rights of Children (School of Law)

Civitas ChildLaw Center (School of Law)

Rodin Center for Social Justice (School of Law)

Rule of Law for Development – PROLAW (School of Law)

Sustainability Across the Curriculum

Loyola is working to advance sustainability across curriculum in classes from the Stritch School of Medicine to the Corboy Law School to the Felice Rome Center and everywhere in-between. Our academic and research strengths in Environmental Science, Business Ethics, and Sociology provide a focal area for disciplinary study in sustainability.

Interdisciplinary study and research through Centers of Excellence, including the Center for Urban Research and Learning, Baumhart Center for Social Entrepreneurship, and Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship, provide rich and transformative educational experiences.

Below are just some of the ways Loyola is advancing Sustainability Across the Curriculum.

Sustainability Across the Curriculum Committee

From 2015 – 2017, a group of faculty and staff convened to identify the strengths and challenges to expand sustainability across the curriculum of Loyola. This Report (SAC Working Group Report) summarizes their work identifying sustainability curriculum in the Core, Engaged Learning, Ignatian Pedagogy, Research, and Teaching. It also lists a series of recommendations that can be considered to expand this work even further. Thank you to members of the committee for their efforts and to Academic Affairs for your support of this important value at Loyola.

Sustainability Learning Outcomes

The following are some of the learning outcomes we intend to augment through the integration of sustainability principles in the University life of our students:

Knowledge

Explain how biophysical and social systems are interdependent and interact to prevent or foster sustainability.
Describe how sustainability relates to environmental issues, social justice and economic development.
Reflect and provide examples how sustainability relates to one’s area of study / discipline.

Values

Articulate and demonstrate a personal philosophy or commitment to address sustainability in one’s personal life, community involvement and civic engagement.
Articulate and demonstrate a commitment to promote a more just and humane society within a sustainable global environment.

Skills

Articulate a long-term vision for individual, societal and ecological well-being.
Develop and demonstrate skills as a strategic change agent in the context of sustainability.
Demonstrate ability to apply sustainability through engaged learning on campus or in their community.
Ability to understand, describe and take part in reflective or contemplative practice

Sustainability in the curriculum recognizes classes that address sustainability competencies including systems thinking, applying context to larger issues, interdisciplinary problem solving, and capacity to analyze or synthesize new knowledge from existing data as well as environmental topics.

Sustainability in Research

As a Tier 1 research university, sustainability can be a useful resource to inform research endeavors. Either as a path to applied or multi-disciplinary work, or as an opportunity to explore novel and emerging facets of a field. Loyola supports sustainability-related research for both faculty and students in a number of ways including the Office of Research Services, University Libraries, Loyola Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, Office of Pre-Health Advising, Loyola Fellowship Office, and Research Services at Health Sciences Campus.

There are links at these sites to internal and external support in the form of funding, equipment, and other resources to advance research and the distribution of research findings through publications, conference attendance, and similar.

If you are a faculty member incorporating sustainability in your research, the Office of Sustainability wants to know about it! Please send an email to sustainability@luc.edu with a description or a link to your research summary.

Sustainability Principles

The following principles are intended to broadly guide the framework for integrating sustainability in the campus life and academics of students at Loyola University Chicago:

Students are integrated in process, decision-making, action and reflection as part of a transformative education
Our Jesuit, Catholic values inform all actions as we seek to represent the social, economic and environmental impacts of our decisions
Sustainability is reflected in our culture, communication, and identity
Strive for metrics, measurement and continuous improvement
Endeavor to be inclusive and collaborative, building collaborative bridges and nourishing connections between departments, units and campuses

University Core Curriculum

The University's Core Curriculum seeks to play a key educational role in every Loyola student's undergraduate experience. Designed to provide both breadth and depth to a student’s program of study, the Core Curriculum introduces students to key concepts and modes of thought in a variety of areas of human intellectual endeavors. Students take 16 courses across ten knowledge areas:

College Writing Seminar(3 Credits)- Demonstrate effective written communication skills.
Literary Knowledge (6 Credits) - Demonstrate knowledge of, or experience in, literary traditions and expressions
Scientific Literacy(6 Credits) - provides individuals with fundamental principles, concepts, and knowledge of the sciences, and introduces them to the methodology of scientific inquiry.
Artistic Knowledge and Experience(3 Credits) -Demonstrate knowledge of, or experience in, artistic traditions and expressions.
Philosophical Knowledge(6 Credits) - Demonstrate an understanding of philosophical questions and traditions
Theological and Religious Studies(6 Credits) - Develop familiarity with the basic content of, and modes of scholarly inquiry into, selected theological and religious systems, including forms of religious ethics, and to develop productive intellectual attitudes.
Historical Knowledge(6 Credits) - Encompasses all aspects of the human experience and illuminates how the past causes the present and thus the future.
Quantitative Analysis(3 Credits) - Develop an understanding of the nature and history of mathematics, its role in scientific inquiry and technological progress, and its importance in dealing with issues in the public realm.
Societal and Cultural Knowledge(6 Credits) - Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships among cultural, economic, political, and social forces, and their impact on human behavior.
Ethics - Demonstrate ethical awareness, the ability to do ethical reflection, and the ability to apply ethical principles in decision-making.(Satisfied by completing one course that has been approved for Ethics in either Philosophical Knowledge or Theological and Religious Studies Knowledge Areas.)
Engaged Learning - Expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith.

Each course promotes at least one of the following skills: communication, critical thinking, ethical awareness and decision-making, information literacy, quantitative and qualitative analysis and research methods, and technological literacy.

Finally, these courses integrate the understanding and promoting of four Values essential to a Loyola education: understanding diversity in the US or the world; understanding and promoting justice; understanding spirituality or faith in action in the world; and promoting engaged learning.

Campus as Lab

For Loyola, one of our sustainability efforts is to connect the academic and operational aspects of the university. Utilizing a ‘Campus as Lab’ framework, we support students and faculty in providing research and learning opportunities that advance our campus’ sustainability activities. We’ve provided a few examples here but welcome your requests. Contact sustainability@luc.edu for more information.

Water Conservation – After receiving a grant from the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, a project was designed to implement water conservation retrofits and behavior change messages and activities in our residence halls.
Energy Master Plan – A 2016 Energy Audit included a team of students conducting room-level equipment audits and collecting environmental data. This information was analyzed by the consulting engineers and identified projects that will realize 20% energy reductions by 2022 for Lake Shore Campus.
Biodiesel Program – The Loyola Biodiesel program is a line of research and action that takes waste oil and creates new products including vehicle fuel and hand soap.

Other projects have included:

Energy efficiency study of Dumbach Hall and design of Cuneo Hall
Waste audits for campuses and priority spaces
Biodiversity inventories
Tree and vegetation inventories
Behavior modification studies on waste diversion
Institutional internal cost on carbon
Campus landscape resilience and adaptation

We often have sustainability challenges that we can use the support of Loyola students and faculty to address. Here is a list of potential research partnerships:

Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) submittals:

Every three years we report to AASHE STARS and we rely on Loyola students and faculty to assist with this data collection.

Campus Energy Use - Further research is needed related to:

Energy use at the building level,
Energy savings through behavior change and improved scheduling,

Alternative Transportation Options - Additional information is needed that:

Encourages more students biking, car sharing and carpooling for all campuses, and shuttle options at the Health Sciences Campus.
Electric vehicle fleet options and charging locations

Greenhouse Gas Inventory – Solutions to our climate impact are needed including:

International Travel
Commuting Choices
Historical emissions
Construction and material emissions

Further analysis is needed related to:

Integrated Pest Management
Indoor Air Quality
Green Procurement Policies
Waste Reduction
Sustainable Investing

Resources available to support faculty and students interested in advancing these efforts include Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching and Scholarship (CELTS), Loyola Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programs (LUROP), and University Libraries, and resources from the Office of Research Services.