Take Action
While it is critical that we are aware of global and local environmental issues, it is even more important that we take action. By acting locally, we can have a global impact.
As a university:
Loyola is committed to making our campus carbon neutral for directly controlled emissions by 2025. Learn more about Loyola’s Climate Action Plan.
As Students
Internships and Jobs
The School of Environmental Sustainability provides hands-on internship opportunities for students to get deeply involved in our environmental initiatives. Check back each semester to see what is available.
Read more about SES internships and job opportunities
Loyola's Career Services team provides support for student employment across the university and resources to prepare for your career journey as a Rambler alum!
Looking for resources on incorporating climate action in your future career? Check out Project Drawdown's Job Function Action Guides to learn more about becoming a sustainability champion in fields like engineering, finance, public policy, human resources, legal, marketing, sales, and more!
Student Organizations
Join students on campus to explore new experiences to make your time at Loyola all the more impactful. Meeting your peers and engaging others promotes change on campus, locally, and globally. Visit LUCommunity to learn more about several student groups at Loyola that have an environmental focus.
Download the Student Sustainability Guide for more information: Student Sustainability Resources 2023
Volunteer Opportunities
Interested in supporting sustainability through service? Consider one of the many volunteer opportunities below:
Community Service & Action
The Office of Community Service and Action connects students with opportunities to volunteer in the community. Learn more and get involved.
Think Green and Give
Think Green and Give is a charitable collection event in which gently used, clean clothing, household items, and nonperishable unopened food/toiletries are collected at the end of the academic year when students move out of the residence halls for the summer. Learn more about TG&G here.
Community Opportunities
Consider reaching out to local organizations around the Lake Shore, Water Tower, and Health Sciences campuses for volunteer opportunities. Opportunities can be found on Chicago Cares, Handshake, and local organization websites.
LUREC Work Days
Help restore the natural areas of Loyola's Retreat and Ecology Campus in McHenry County. Learn more and RSVP here.
Engaged Learning
Loyola's Engaged Learning requirement allows students to explore experiential learning, including Service-Learning. Learn more about available Service-Learning courses here.
Zero Waste Games
Help support Zero Waste Stations at LUC Gentile Arena Basketball and Volleyball games! Learn more and sign up here.
Study Sustainability
Learn more about opportunities to study sustainability in the School of Environmental Sustainability and across all of Loyola's schools, departments, and campuses by visiting Sustainability Across the Curriculum.
Green Living on Campus
Composting
In 2012, composting services were introduced to collect food scraps from preparation and plate-waste in Simpson Dining Hall. That year over 62 tons of food scraps were sent to a commercial compost facility. In 2013, the program expanded to De Nobili Dining Hall and Engrained Café in the School of Environmental Sustainability. Loyola continues to identify areas to expand the Campus Compost Initiative.
Energy Conservation
Take a look around your room or apartment. TV in stand-by mode? Other electronic equipment on but not being used? How about lights left on in rooms yet the room is empty? To reduce the energy load and save energy, plus save money, small changes can add up to a big difference.
Food and Dining
Students have created programs and shaped food policies at Loyola, based on their concerns regarding how conventional growing practices and eating behaviors impact society and contribute to environmental degradation. Learn more about sustainability in dining at Loyola with Aramark (Lake Shore and Water Tower Campuses) and HandCut Foods (Health Sciences Campus).
To ensure the Loyola food movement inspires and flourishes for a long-lasting impact, get your hands dirty or have your voice heard by collaborating with others. Learn more about our urban agriculture initiative to experience the local food movement on campus and help make change.
Green Events
Through our programs and education, Loyola is making great strides to conserve resources and reduce the university’s impact on the environment.
Use our event checklists for tips to "green" your small gathering on campus:
Green your Dorm Room
Learn more about how to "shrink your dorm print" and live sustainably on campus.
Transportation
Loyola University Chicago is an urban campus located in a densely populated area with heavy vehicle traffic. Consider this for a moment.
Mobility comes in many options. Check out the variety of ways to get around the neighborhood and the City of Chicago. We encourage you to get around by using other modes of transportation other than driving a car. We are a campus dedicated to safe, environmentally friendly, alternative modes of transport.
Read More about our transit options.
Water Conservation
Lake Michigan provides the City of Chicago with water for drinking, bathing, cooking, and more. It is one of the largest sources of freshwater in the world. Help take care of this treasure at the doorsteps of the Loyola lakeside campuses by using water wisely. Consider water conservation when showering, doing laundry, and brushing your teeth. Participate in our Water Bounty program to stop water leaks on campus and get a reward.
As Faculty and Staff
Greening Your Work
Resources are available to green your office, your commute, event or laboratory. Professional development that adds sustainability into your field of expertise is actively supported here at Loyola.
- Green Leader Trainings
- Professional Development Grants
With teaching and research, finding time to make your office space or departmental events more environmentally sustainable is possible. We have prepared some guides for you to use to increase conservation and efficiency.
Green Office: In addition to common-known ways to save energy, you can make your office or workspace more green by understanding Loyola's recycling program, composting program, and working with our ITS Green Team.
Green Events: These checklists provide guidance on how to green your events.
- Small Event Sustainability Checklist
- Large Event Sustainability Checklist
- Sample Food & Beverage Vendor Language to use
Green Labs: These posters and checklists can help make your laboratory "greener."
Health & Benefits Actions
Human Resources and Academic Affairs have programs that encourage healthy living and sustainable life/work arrangements.
Integrating Sustainability into your Teaching & Research
The Office of Sustainability supports faculty and student research efforts that address issues of sustainability where possible. One of our most important roles is to track and share information on the University’s sustainability performance and opportunities to reduce our environmental footprint. Click on our Metrics and Monitoring page for examples of data and analyses that we’ve conducted on campus. We are always seeking research partnerships to improve our management of the Universities’ infrastructure, operation, policies and practices. We have listed some specific needs that could be incorporated into faculty or student research projects. Please contact us for more details.
Lake Shore Campus Energy Use
Further research is needed related to:
- Energy use at the building level,
- Energy savings through behavior change and improved scheduling,
- Renewable energy production capacity (especially solar thermal and photovoltaics),
- Renewable power purchase agreements.
Lake Shore and Water Tower Water Use
- How to reduce water use in residence halls?
Alternative Transportation Options
Additional information is needed that:
- Encourages more students biking, car sharing and car pooling for all campuses, and shuttle options at the Health Sciences Campus.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Deeper analysis is needed in these areas:
- International Travel
- Commuting Choices
- Paper Procurement
- Carbon Offsets
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System submittals
Analysis is needed related to:
- Integrated Pest Management
- Sustainability in the Curriculum
- Indoor Air Quality
- Green Procurement Policies
- Waste Reduction
- Sustainable Investing
In your research, grants are available to support sustainability around campus. Consider using our campuses, our facilities, or partnering with the Centers of Excellence to advance sustainability in your work. Even if it may not be your core interest, your commitment to sustainability will be recognized and supported by the University.
Campus Green Teams
Many Departments and Schools at Loyola have organized green teams to support sustainability in their work and spaces. If you would like to schedule time with Office of Sustainability staff to discuss what your office or department can do to contribute to sustainability, please contact us at sustainability@luc.edu.
Serve on a Sustainability Committee
Faculty and staff can contribute to sustainability efforts at Loyola by getting involved in the following committees.
Sustainability Committee
The Sustainability Committee reviews and coordinates proposed projects and tracks progress toward the goals identified in Plan 2020 and the Climate Action Plan, helping to advance Loyola's sustainability culture and connect members of the university community to opportunities and visions for a sustainable future.
Visit the Sustainability Committee website for more detailed information, project applications, and history.
CampuScape Committee
Co-chairs: Brian Ohsowski, Aaron Durnbaugh
This committee meets monthly to discuss the management of landscape, trees, and wildlife on the lakeside campuses. We encourage students, staff members, or faculty members working on projects related to Loyola's outdoors to share their work with the committee. If you would like to present or attend a committee meeting, please contact Aaron Durnbaugh for more information.
Transportation Committee
Co-chairs: Gretchen Carey, Megan Conway
This committee meets monthly to discuss transportation, biking, public transit, parking, shuttles, and pedestrian issues. Members include representatives from the Office of Sustainability, Student Development, Facilities, Capital Development, Human Resources, and the United Student Government Association.
Please note: All committee meetings are open to attendance. All committees are voluntary and have limited authority but are opportunities to share ideas and concerns with the Loyola Administration. If you are interested in officially joining this committee, please email sustainability@luc.edu describing your interest, qualifications, and commitment to monthly participation.
Community Action
Whether you are an alumnus, neighbor, or a local community organization, plenty of opportunities await you to meet new collaborators, support student learning, and be part of programs where the results are tangible.
Visit the sustainability calendar or sign up for the e-newsletter to find out about activities taking place at Loyola.
As a university:
Loyola is committed to making our campus carbon neutral for directly controlled emissions by 2025. Learn more about Loyola’s Climate Action Plan.
Whether you are an alumnus, neighbor, or a local community organization, plenty of opportunities await you to meet new collaborators, support student learning, and be part of programs where the results are tangible.
Visit the sustainability calendar or sign up for the e-newsletter to find out about activities taking place at Loyola.