| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 82.81 |
| Liaison | Aaron Durnbaugh |
| Submission Date | April 12, 2023 |
Loyola University Chicago
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Aaron
Durnbaugh Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Student Environmental Alliance
The Student Environmental Alliance is a campus organization dedicated to protecting and sustaining our environment. They accomplish this purpose through education and action. The group strives to educate themselves and the Loyola community about the existing instability of our world. Through action, they take this new awareness and translate it into tangible actions to stop environmental destruction and create solutions for a better future. They are dedicated to working for intersectional justice and environmental sustainability. They educate, advocate, and act on environmental issues affecting our Loyola, Chicago, and global communities.
The Student Environmental Alliance has an active membership of 20-30 students, with an email and volunteer list of over 700 students.
Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Urban Agriculture is a popular program at Loyola with indoor and outdoor growing spaces as well a significant social enterprise aspect. The program includes a diverse team of student interns, program assistants and SES staff that are working to develop knowledge and skills of sustainable agriculture methods.
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
ChainLinks is one of four student-run enterprises at Loyola University. This particular business rents out brand new hybrid bicycles to students, faculty, and staff for the day, week, month, semester, or full year. The company employs undergraduate Loyola students, provides internship credit, and teaches students the necessary skills to run and manage a business that benefits students, faculty, staff, the surrounding community and the environment.
Chainlinks is also equipped with a full-service maintenance and repair center that is open to the public as well. The ultimate goal is to continue to promote bike advocacy around campus and an enjoyable riding experience for every customer. In order to achieve this mission, employees are available to answer all biking questions as well as provide suggested bike routes to those who may not be familiar with biking in the area.
Philanthropy is a priority to this company. After covering operational costs, a portion of the profits is available to the student body to host guest speakers on campus. The remaining profits go towards new business ventures, which will allow the program to expand.
Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
The Loyola Fund is a student-run investment program with some efforts towards ESR investing although this is not their only investment criteria.
Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
Loyola University Chicago and the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) are committed to the advancing an appreciation of the environment and societal understanding of our role as care-takers. In the urban setting of the Chicago metropolitan area there are many opportunities to get involved in initiatives and projects that have a real impact. https://www.luc.edu/sustainability/initiatives/climatechangeconference/2022/
Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
Events across the year include EnergyWeek, WasteWeek, Sustainable FoodWeek, and WaterWeek. The choral arts and dance programs have both conducted sustainability-related programs in the past. Visual arts has hosted guest artists as well as student-led displays on environmental and social-justice topics.
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The School of Environmental Sustainability serves as a model for sustainability initiatives on campus. It is also home to San Francisco Hall and the Greenhouse Learning Community. Each of these are available demonstrations of sustainable living.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Multiple student worker positions at Loyola Limited companies and with the Office of Sustainability and School of Environmental Sustainability. https://www.luc.edu/sustainability/about/internshipsandjobs/
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
“I pledge to reflect deeply and critically upon the social and environmental impacts of all my endeavors. I will aspire to create a just, humane, and sustainable world for all people through my work, my community, and my actions.”
All gowns used during the Commencement ceremony are from the Jostens Elements collection, which are created from biodegradable fabric and 100 percent recycled PET zippers. Gowns can be donated on campus after the ceremony to be reused in Jostens Gowns for Good program.
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
Yes. There are co-curricular opportunities to engage around sustainability through Student Development, Campus Ministries, Alternative Break Immersions and other outlets.
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.