University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Environmental Commitment

Humans have arrived at a critical historic juncture; we must alter our patterns of consumption in order to ensure the well-being of future generations. Accordingly, the University is working to be an international leader in environmental stewardship, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental education. To achieve this requires administrative determination, faculty and staff leadership, the commitment of students and alumni, and, a willingness to adapt in our pursuit of environmental excellence. 

Institutional Leadership

Environmental stewardship is demonstrated most visibly in our facilities and supporting infrastructure. As senior leaders, Deans, Directors, and Department Heads, we express our determination to proactively protect and enhance the campus physical environment. Through this commitment, we will demonstrate how to ensure quality institutional operations while meeting environmental stewardship and infrastructure sustainability goals.

We will assess the environmental impacts of our activities and services and be held accountable for meeting applicable performance measures. We will establish goals and make daily budgetary and operational decisions that improve the long-term quality and regenerative capacity of the environmental, social, and economic systems that support the University.

The University Community—Faculty, Students, Staff

As Faculty, we embrace the necessity to incorporate environmental stewardship principles into learning, discovery, and public engagement. We will disseminate research and policy information that improves the university’s ability to manage its environmental responsibilities. Where possible, we will use the campus as a living-learning laboratory to help students develop an understanding of the environment and encourage them to develop the skills and habits that support a life-long capacity to sustain human society as part of a global ecosystem. We will also assess the environmental impacts of our research activities and be held accountable for fulfilling applicable performance measures and compliance requirements.

As students, we embrace the principles of sustainability and will work to improve environmental stewardship while at the University. Specifically, we strive to increase campus environmental awareness by educating ourselves and our peers on the ways of sustainable living. We will assist the University in making the changes necessary to incorporate principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship into our coursework and degree programs. Equipped with this knowledge, we will begin our careers prepared to address the world’s most pressing demands.

As staff, we are committed to performing our responsibilities in a manner that assists the university in becoming a leader in environmental stewardship. We will collaborate with university administration when establishing environmental performance goals and do all within our abilities to create a sustainable university.