Campus Sustainability Events
August 19 - 31, 2024
Welcome to Loyola! The Office of Sustainability is thrilled to partner with the Center for Student Engagement (CSE) to host events throughout Welcome Week focused on getting involved in sustainability on campus and the neighborhood.
Thursday, August 15, 2024 - EMERGE Training: Cool Ride - Sustainable Transportation Options for Loyola Employees
12:00pm - 1:00pm | Zoom
EMERGE is a series of training programs curated by the Human Resources department, provided to Loyola employees at no cost.
Loyola's campuses are well served by transit, bike routes, and other transportation alternatives. Join us to learn about existing resources, emerging opportunities and "green your ride" with the Office of Sustainability and Campus Transportation.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 - ResLife Reuse Market Day 1
3:00pm - 5:00pm | Regis MPR
Visit the ResLife Reuse Market to take home free gently used dorm room necessities collected during the Think Green & Give move out donation drive. This is a great wat to save money and go green furnishing your new space!
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 - ResLife Reuse Market Day 2
3:00pm - 5:00pm | Regis MPR
Visit the ResLife Reuse Market to take home free gently used dorm room necessities collected during the Think Green & Give move out donation drive. This is a great wat to save money and go green furnishing your new space!
Sunday, August 25, 2024 - Glenwood Sunday Farmers Market Walk & Tour
10:00am - 11:30am
Join us for a tour of the Glenwood Sunday Farmers Market. Meet by Winthrop Garden at the corner of W Loyola Ave and N Winthrop Ave, and then take a quick walk up to the market. RSVP Via LUCommunity
Monday, August 26, 2024 - Edgewater Farmers Market Walk & Tour
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Join us for a tour of the Edgewater Farmers Market. Meet on the St. Ignatius Community Plaza, and then take a quick walk over to the market. RSVP Via LUCommunity
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 - How to Live Green at Loyola
4:00pm - 5:00pm | Damen Den
Join the Office of Sustainability and student sustainability leaders in the Damen Den to learn how to get involved and live green at Loyola! RSVP Via LUCommunity
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 - LSC Compost Bucket Training
1:00pm - 2:00pm | Damen Den
Interested in composting? Join the Office of Sustainability for quick training to participate in LUC's free Compost Bucket Program. We hope to see you there!
Thursday, August 29, 2024 - WTC Compost Bucket Training
1:00pm - 2:00pm | Corboy 106
Interested in composting? Join the Office of Sustainability for quick training to participate in LUC's free Compost Bucket Program. We hope to see you there!
September 16 - 20, 2024
Loyola’s campuses offer so many options for sustainable transportation! From the CTA to rental bikes to walkable neighborhoods, celebrate and learn more about climate-friendly transit and how you can get involved during Transportation Week 2024.
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 - SES Seminar Series: Just, Equitable, and Circular Food Systems with Weslynne Ashton, PhD
3:30pm - 5:00pm | SES 124 (LSC)
Join the School of Environmental Sustainability for the first event in the SES Seminar Series! Weslynne Ashton is a professor of environmental management and sustainability at the Illinois Institute of Technology, with join appointments at the Stuart School of Business and the Institute of Design. Ashton is a sustainable systems scientist whose research, teaching, and practice focus on transitioning our socio-ecological systems toward sustainability and equity.
Thursday, September 12, 2024 - EMERGE Training: Introduction to Sustainability at Loyola
12:00pm - 1:00pm | Zoom
EMERGE is a series of training programs curated by the Human Resources department, provided to Loyola employees at no cost.
Always wanted to learn more about bringing Loyola's value of sustainability into your work? New to Loyola and interested in programs, projects, and initiatives you can get involved in? Join us on zoom for an intro to Loyola's commitment to sustainability and where you can get started.
September 13-15, 2024 - LEAF (Loyola Eco-Spirituality Adventure Fall) Retreat
Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC)
The Loyola Eco-spirituality Adventure Fall Retreat is a retreat for nature lovers, hikers, and anyone who loves encountering the Divine in the outdoors. In addition to talks from student leaders and small group reflections, retreatants will spend the weekend participating in various outdoor activities – including a 6+ mile hike along the Praire Trail in McHenry County, engage in reflection out in nature, and build community with other students. Learn more on the Campus Ministry Retreats website.
Monday, September 16, 2024 - Transportation Week Tabling
11:00am - 3:00pm | Damen Student Center (LSC)
Say hey to the Office of Sustainability table in Damen Student Center and write a postcard to the entities in charge of the new DuSable Lake Shore Drive redevelopment project with a chance to win prizes!
Monday, September 16, 2024 - Edgewater Farmers Market Walk & Tour
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Join us for a tour of the Edgewater Farmers Market. Meet on the St. Ignatius Community Plaza, and then take a quick walk over to the market. Rescheduled from WelcomeWeek heat cancellation.
Thursday, September 19, 2024 - Biodiesel Lab Tours
10:00am AND 12:00pm | Searle Biodiesel Lab (LSC)
Join the Biodiesel Lab Interns as they educate on the functions and importance of the Biodiesel Lab in the School of Environmental Sustainability.
Thursday, September 19, 2024 - SEA Meeting Collab
7:00pm | Location TBD
Join Student Environment Alliance (SEA) and Office of Sustainability Interns as we handwrite letters to the entities in charge of the new DuSable Lake Shore Drive redevelopment project to prioritize public transportation and sustainability.
October 14 - 18, 2024
Loyola has committed to addressing climate change through our campus--and reducing our energy use is a vital part of that commitment. Join us for Energy Week 2024 to learn more about lowering your energy footprint on campus and at home.
Monday, October 14, 2024 - Movie Night!
7:00pm - 9:00pm | Damen Cinema (LSC)
Join the Office of Sustainability as we host a screening of People of a Feather: Survival in the Canadian Arctic.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 - SES Seminar Series: The Energy Transition in Illinois
3:30pm - 5:00pm | SES 124 (LSC)
The School of Environmental Sustainability’s October seminar will examine the policies and processes behind the transition to renewable energy in Illinois. Anthony Star and Kelly Turner from the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) will shed light on how the state manages electricity procurement, and how Illinois is increasingly moving toward electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Refreshments in the SES atrium will be served at 3:30pm, the seminar will begin at 4:00pm in SES Room 124.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 - Climate Action Plan 2.0 Student Group Workshop
7:00pm - 8:30pm | Information Commons 4th Floor (LSC)
Join the Office of Sustainability for a round table discussion to engage sustainability students in the development of Loyola’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0. Meet us on the fourth floor of the IC for an informative & impactful event aimed at engaging student stakeholders on the future of climate action on Loyola’s campus! This event will allow you to foster connections with all sustainability RSOs & their members.
Stay tuned for more Energy Week events!
Other October Events
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - Student Environmental Alliance Event: I'm Voting for a Greener Future
7:00pm - 8:00pm | SES 122 (LSC)
Join Student Environmental Alliance's Local Policy and Action Campaign (SEA LPAC) in learning about voter advocacy with a representative from the Sierra Club. Tessine Murji will speak about the work that Sierra Club does in supporting representatives running for office that hold environmental values and hope to enact environmental policy, and how students could get involved as well. SEA will end with an activity where students can look into representatives who are running in their voting districts to better understand their stance on environmental issues. Learn more and RSVP on LUCommunity.
Monday, October 14, 2024 - Indigenous People's Day Event
4:00pm - 5:30pm | Sister Jean MPR
Loyola University Chicago will honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a panel discussion highlighting the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act. This law granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States. Expert panelists include Doug Crow Ghost, Michele Hakala-Beeksma, and John Low, members of the Lakota, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi Nations. They will discuss strengths and challenges in their communities and share their perspectives on Indigenous rights and environmental justice. After the panel discussion, Executive Chef Jessica Walks First of Ketapanen Kitchen will present an Indigenous food tasting. Learn more and RSVP.
November 11 - 15, 2024
Join us for Food Week 2024 to celebrate sustainable food systems and learn more about how sustainability connects with what’s on our plate. Choosing plant-based foods, eating local, and reducing food waste through composting, food rescue, and more are all ways to participate in Chicago’s sustainable food scene directly.
Monday, November 11, 2024 - Learn about Composting with FRN & Restoration Club
7:00pm - 9:00pm | SES 111 (LSC)
Learn about composting on campus and then practice composting after eating a delicious meal! Empanadas and elotes from Cafe Tola, including vegan and vegetarian options, will be available to attendees.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 - Sustainable Food Fair
11:00am - 2:00pm | Damen Student Center
The annual Sustainable Food Fair is hosted by Loyola Dining and the Office of Sustainability. Come learn more about environmental student organizations, Loyola's Urban Agriculture program, campus partners, and outside organizations related to sustainable food systems!
Tuesday, November 12 - Movie Night: Eating Our Way to Extinction
7:30pm - 9:30pm | Damen Cinema
Join the Office of Sustainability as we screen “Eating Our Way to Extinction” in the Damen Cinema. What is the true cost of food? Who pays the price? This documentary will change your perception of food and its connection to the future of our planet.
Friday, November 15, 2024 - EMERGE Training: Care for our Common Home, Living Laudato si'
12:00pm - 1:30pm | Zoom
EMERGE is a series of training programs curated by the Human Resources department, provided to Loyola employees at no cost.
Pope Francis calls on us all to "Care for our Common Home." Join Mission Integration and the Office of Sustainability to explore what that means for each of us and what resources are available to support us along the path. The workshop will last 60 minutes but there will be 30 minutes afterwards for individual discussion.
February 10 - 14, 2025
Loyola’s Lake Shore, Water Tower, and Health Sciences Campuses send nearly 1,400 tons of materials to landfills every year. That’s more than 12x the weight of The Bean in Millennium Park. Join us for Waste Week 2025 to reconsider the waste we generate and prevent valuable materials from going to landfills.
Thursday, February 6, 2025 - Student Environmental Alliance Junk Journaling
7:00pm - 8:00pm | SES 110 (LSC)
Join SEA to discuss and practice waste reduction through junk journals! Bring your personal junk journal or learn how to make one along with some other crafts. If you’re able to, please bring scissors, glue sticks, and any wrappers/other clean material that may have otherwise gone to waste.
Monday, February 10, 2025 - Restoration Club Valentine's Day Event
7:00pm - 8:00pm | SES 111 (LSC)
Bring your art supplies and join the Restoration Club to create Valentines’ Day Cards. Participants will be able to learn about the waste process on Loyola’s campus and how the university disposes of different types of waste.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - Waste Week Tabling at Arrupe College
12:30pm - 2:00pm | Maguire Hall Atrium (WTC)
Come by Arrupe College atrium to play a game of “Trashketball” to discover where your trash should properly go. Winners will have the chance to win an Office of Sustainability prize.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - Net Impact Circular Economy Crash Course
6:00pm - 8:00pm | Damen Den (LSC)
Join Net Impact for an engaging event to explore the fundamentals of the circular economy, a model focused on reducing the consumption of raw materials and maximizing resource efficiency. Dr. Sarah Ku will provide an overview of what a circular economy is and how it can be applied at the intersection of business and environmental fields. Dinner will be provided!
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - Waste Week Film Screening
7:30pm - 9:00pm | Damen Cinema (LSC)
Join the Office of Sustainability for a documentary about waste and the environment.
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - Waste Week Tabling at Damen Student Center
12:30pm - 3:30pm | Damen Student Center (LSC)
Couldn't make it to Arrupe? Come by the Damen atrium to play a game of “Trashketball” to discover where your trash should properly go. Winners will have the chance to win an Office of Sustainability prize.
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - SES Seminar: Queer Ecology in Practice
3:30pm - 5:00pm | SES 124 (LSC)
Join SES alum Dani Abboud of the Brushwood Center for a discussion on the topic of queer ecology as part of the School of Environmental Sustainability's monthly seminar series. Queer ecology examines how we understand the natural world beyond human binaries. Abboud's presentation investigates the connection between nature access and health equity as it relates to Queer and other marginalized communities and unpacks the history of how humans separated from nature.
Thursday, February 13, 2025 - EMERGE Training: Composting at Loyola and at Home
12:00pm - 1:30pm | Zoom
EMERGE is a series of training programs curated by the Human Resources department, provided to Loyola employees at no cost.
Interested in composting at work? Maybe also at home? Join us to learn more about Loyola's Zero Waste programs and tips that you can take home to reconsider your material impact. The workshop will last 60 minutes but there will be 30 minutes afterwards for individual discussion.
Thursday, February 13, 2025 - Food Recovery Network Fundraiser Event
6:30pm - 7:30pm | Simpson MPR (LSC)
Join the Food Recovery Network for their Waste Week fundraiser! The event is catered by Pasta Bowl, each plate costs $5, and all proceeds will be donated to A Just Harvest.
Thursday, February 13, 2025 - Student Environmental Alliance Clothes Mending Workshop
7:00pm - 8:00pm | SES 110 (LSC)
During the SEA general body meeting, join the Why Waste Campaign and Office of Sustainability to mend your old clothes and learn about fast fashion and sustainable alternatives. Bring ripped shirts or jeans, sewing kits and patches will be provided.
March 17 - 21, 2025
Water is one of the most important and unifying issues. From water scarcity to water-related disasters, we depend on water for our health and economy. Celebrate water and everything it provides during Water Week 2025.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 - Beach Clean Up - Tobey Prinz Beach Park
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Arrive 3:15 | SES Atrium
Enjoy the outdoors and clean Prinz Beach Park with the Office of Sustainability! Meet at the School of Environmental Sustainability main atrium Koi pond where we will be departing at 3:15 pm.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
EMERGE Training: Composting at Loyola and at Home
12:00pm - 1:30pm | Zoom
EMERGE is a series of training programs curated by the Human Resources department, provided to Loyola employees at no cost.
We are in the middle of a major energy transformation, but it can be really confusing! Join the Office of Sustainability to learn about rebates, tax credits, and other incentives to help you consider electric vehicles, energy efficiency, heat pumps, and solar energy. The workshop will last 45-60 minutes but there will be 30 minutes afterwards for individual discussion.
SEA Wall-E Screening
6:30pm - 9:30pm | SES 124
Take a break from the week and join Student Environmental Alliance at their screening of Wall-E!
GFIT WaterWeek
Throughout the week,Campus Recreation's Group Fitness classes will feature water in their daily workouts. For each of the events below, the first 10 participants will receive a free Water Week water bottle from the Office of Sustainability. Unless otherwise noted, all events take place in Halas Rec Center. To register or confirm available space visit: LUC.edu/campusrec/groupfitness
- Monday March 17, 7:00 am - GFIT Class - LUCycle "H2O Ride" with Natalie
- Tuesday March 18, 7:00 pm - Tonilates "Disney Under the Sea" with Jenn
- Wednesday March 19, 7:00 pm - LUCycle Arms & Intervals "Beach Day Spin" with Rachel
- Thursday March 20, 4:00 pm - Yoga "Ocean Flow" with Nora
- Friday March 21, 5:00 pm - Tonilates "Water Rap" with Katie
Other March Events
March 12 - 15 - Shifting Waters - Climate Change Conference - School of Environmental Sustainability
Registration closes March 10th
Loyola University Chicago's 2025 Climate Change Conference will explore strategies for developing just solutions to the emerging water crisis. www.LUC.edu/Climate
Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Leading for Good
9:00am - 4:00pm | Schreiber Center (WTC)
Join the Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility for Leading for Good, an annual convening that prepares leaders to accelerate social value creation and impact. The conference brings together established and emerging leaders who want to be inspired through innovative content, seek to engage and grow their networks, and leave with the tools needed to create a future of thriving communities, in an inclusive economy, on a healthy planet.
This year’s theme is Building Bridges - Pathways to Purpose.
Registration will open February 6, 2025.
April 21 - 25, 2025
Celebrate the week of Earth Day on April 22, 2025! Earth Week is an opportunity to reflect on sustainability achievements throughout the year and refresh our commitment to protecting the earth and its inhabitants.
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 - (b)Earth Day Party
4:00pm - 6:00pm | Damen Den
As part of our annual Celebration of Students, celebrate this year's sustainability accomplishments at Loyola's annual Earth Day Celebration! Free food, entertainment, and activities will be provided.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - EMERGE: End of Year Sustainability Gathering
4:00pm - 6:00pm | In person, location TBD
EMERGE is a series of training programs curated by the Human Resources department, provided to Loyola employees at no cost.
Everyone that participates in one of the Sustainability EMERGE sessions will be invited to this sustainability social gathering. We will be recognizing participants for their contributions and identifying sustainability leaders in our community. Join us for snacks and sustainable socializing.
April 29 - May 7, 2025 - Think Green & Give Donation Move-Out Program
Sign up to volunteer to sort donations from Loyola's move-out donation program! More information and volunteer sign up available soon.
Stay tuned for more Earth Week events!
There are so many opportunities to get involved at Loyola! Keep an eye out for great events from our partners throughout the year.
October: Indigenous Peoples' Day
February: Black History Month
March: Climate Change Conference
May-June: Bike Challenge