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