October 2018: Campus Sustainability Month

Sustainability at Seattle University

  • SU Board voted (on 09/12/2018) to divest from Fossil FuelsSeattle University will become the first university in Washington state, and the first Jesuit school in the nation, to divest its endowment from fossil fuels over the next five years.
  • SU on The Princeton Review's Green Honor RollSeattle University is one of 26 colleges and universities out of 648 schools to be named to The Princeton Review's 2019 Green Honor Roll by receiving a score of 99 (the highest possible score).
  • SU in Top 10 nationally on Sierra Magazine's 2018 "Cool Schools" rankingSeattle University ranks #8 on Sierra's 2018 “Cool Schools” listing.
  • STARS GOLD Rating: SU obtained a GOLD rating for its sustainability practices by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS).
  • Climate Action Plan: As a signatory to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, Seattle University adopted a Climate Action Plan in 2009 stating the university's intentions to more comprehensively address climate change and advance sustainability.
  • Sustainability practices on campus: Learn how Seattle University aims at diverting 80% of its waste by 2020; incentivizes transit and biking to work; practices water conservation efforts; increases energy efficiency in buildings; utilizes organic methods in its landscaping; and much more. 
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions reduction: As of July 2017, SU’s greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 10 percent since 2009.
  • What You Can Do: Find out how you can get involved and check out these tips on how to Live Green.

October is Campus Sustainability Month: what is happening on campus?

  • Sustainability Literacy survey, October 2018: A sustainability literacy survey will be completed by the SU class of 2022.
  • Meet the Green Team at C-street, Welcome Week 2018, September 24-October 5 (12:00PM-1:00PM): The Green Team student club will greet you at C-street during Welcome Week and have some "trash talk." Where do cups, plates, utensils, and wrappers go? Ask the Green Team and get involved!
  • Meet CEJS at the Involvement Fair, October 2, 2018 (11:00AM-2:00PM, Quad): Are you interested in interning with CEJS, learning about sustainability at SU, or participating in environmental justice and sustainability events? Stop by at the CEJS booth at the Fall Involvement Fair.
  • Environmental Lunchtime Talks, October 2, 9, and 16 (12:30PM-1:20PM, ENGR 307): The Environmental Science program will be holding student-led brown-bag slideshows. Students and faculty will discuss summer experiences that relate to environmental issues or outdoor activities, providing ideas to help plan your own summer experiences and to discuss opportunities related to environmental science, including the new ENSC minor.
  • Sustainability Soccer Game, October 7, 2018 (6PM, Championship Field): Join the Green Team and be a peer educator and help people sort their trash by playing Trash Pong and the Wheel of Waste! We’ll meet at the soccer field shortly after 5pm. (Honestly it’s a fun way to watch a soccer game and chat while playing fun games!) Bring a warm coat! 
  • Food With Spirit Campus Tours, October 10-12, 2018 (Various Times, Peace Pole Gardens): If your first week of classes has left you with any energy/will power at all, we invite you to come check out the gardens that SU has to offer! Join Food With Spirit, SU's food justice and gardening club. Sign up for a time that works for you here
  • Winter Gardening Workshop, October 17, 2018 (4:00PM-5:00PM, Broadway Gardens): Come visit the edible garden for a workshop on how to put gardens to bed for winter and cover crop methods. Workshop will be led by Tilth educator Selena Ligrano. 
  • Fall Quarter Gathering of Environmental Justice and Sustainability Groups at SU, October 18, 2018 (12:30PM-1:00PM, Boeing Room LEML122): These informal quarterly gatherings are meant to be a space to: share what you/your group is planning for this quarter and year; share resources; discuss how we can collaborate and support each other’s initiatives; and learn what SeattleU students and departments are doing to improve SU’s sustainability efforts. We hope to see you all on Thursday, 10/18. Don’t hesitate to contact Yolanda Cieters at cietersy@seattleu.edu with any questions.

Check out our events page for more!

AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub

  • AASHE (the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) has created an online library of thousands of valuable resources enabling students, faculty, and staff to learn about all aspects of sustainability and providing inspiration on how to incorporate sustainability on campus. Users can find what they need through filter, sort and search functions and enhanced browsing. Resources are organized by sustainability topic (e.g., curriculum, public engagement, energy, investment) and content type (e.g., academic program, case study, conference presentation, photograph). Check it out!