Sustainability

At SIU, we believe that the daily actions of every individual can drive a more sustainable community. The Sustainability Office catalyzes sustainable decision making on campus, with a goal of balancing environmental health, social equity, and economic prosperity.

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Last Updated: Aug 14, 2025, 12:24 PM

What is Sustainability?

Our Mission

The Sustainability Office at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is committed to empowering a culture of sustainability through collaborative campus-based solutions across academics, operations, research, and campus life.

Our Vision

We envision a community that embodies ethical and sustainable actions in everyday decision making. By inspiring innovative solutions and encouraging cross-functional collaboration, we strive to create a model campus environment that engages students and community members in sustainable lifestyles. We guide our campus members to be responsible citizens who positively impact a global community through local actions.

Our Focus Areas

Earth Day is Everyday 

Zero Waste

Food Security & Social Sustainability

Student Engagement in Sustainability

  • Sustainability Hub
  • RSOs – SENSE
  • Workshops – Beeswax wrap, Papermaking, Seed Bombs, Bottle cap recycling
  • Regular Events – Green Fund Grant, Sustainability Writing Awards
  • Student Internships

Our Values

As we strive to integrate sustainability into our culture, we are committed to the following values: Respect, Responsibility, Diversity, Collaboration, Lifelong Learning

IMAGINE 2030 Sustainability Pillars

To become known as a forward-thinking, environmentally responsible University that embraces sustainability, reduces its carbon footprint, pursues conscientious energy efficiencies, and creates new innovative practices to become a leader in sustainability within the state and higher education community at large.

Objectives: Defines What SIU Will Achieve

  • Objective 1: Embrace digital transformation investments and activities across campus
  • Objective 2: Pursue campus-wide energy efficiencies
  • Objective 3: Seek to achieve a renewed campus strategy on sustainability and reducing the campus’ environmental impact

Key Initiatives: How SIU Will Achieve Its Objectives

  1. Identify and implement an e-signature and workflow product and campus policy
  2. Reduce paper consumption across campus by creating business processes embracing paperless transactions
  3. Evaluate space utilization across campus and develop a plan to right-size the physical space of the university to reduce energy usage and eliminate costs
  4. Create a strategic plan to address the use of coal while pursuing alternative energy opportunities
  5. Support the work of the university task force on sustainability and establish a sustainability education program, including recycling
  6. Invest in the technology infrastructure across campus, from classrooms and research labs to offices and student housing
  7. Embrace office technology such as Voice over the Internet Protocol (VOIP) and robust cyber security tools to keep campus safe
  8. Replace antiquated software systems, from accounting services to grants management
  9. Pursue a farm produce lifecycle
  10. Use the campus’ focus on the environment and sustainability as a marketing niche to prospective students
  11. Partner with the City of Carbondale and other entities to pursue more green initiatives on and off campus
  12. Support the implementation of broadband access in the surrounding regions, especially in rural and underserved areas
  13. Pursue an opportunistic cloud-first philosophy to reduce footprint and power consumption

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