Take Action

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!

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

Interested in supporting sustainability through service? Consider one of the many volunteer opportunities below: 

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.

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. The Office of Sustainability has partnered with Loyola's Human Resources Department to offer a series of sustainability trainings for employees through EMERGE. Visit the EMERGE website to sign up for trainings on sustainable transportation and electric vehicles, options for clean energy at home, composting, and more. 

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 Loyola's vendors and Purchasing Department on sustainable purchasing options. 

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."

• Sustainable Lab Checklist
• Waste and Recycling Poster
• Shut the Sash Sign

Human Resources and Academic Affairs have programs that encourage healthy living and sustainable life/work arrangements.

• Pre-tax transit and car share benefits
• Wellness programs
• Loyola Secure Access (LSA)

Loyola has committed to supporting sustainability in teaching, research and learning and supports our students, staff, and faculty in integrating sustainability concepts into their work. In an ever more interconnected world, the intersectional approach that sustainability learning provides, creates opportunities to understand impact, and more importantly, develop and scale solutions.

Resources related to Loyola's academic approach to sustainability are available here.

Loyola's Faculty Center for Ignatian Pedagogy has support sustainability across the curriculum through the work of Faculty Scholars. Dr. Amy Wilkinson, FCIP's 2023-2024 Faculty Scholar for Sustainability and the Curriculum created resources for faculty to incorporate sustainability into teaching and learning. 

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.

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.

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.