ÖØ¿ÚζSM

Become the Leader our Planet Needs

At ÖØ¿ÚζSM, we’re dedicated to preparing the next generation of leaders who are eager to build a more sustainable planet. Ready to change the world?

Prepare to tackle the great challenges of our time

Bringing together like-minded trailblazers who are willing to take on urgent environmental issues and make a difference is a top priority at ÖØ¿ÚζSM, starting in the classroom. Here, you’ll do more than learn—you’ll explore needed solutions for local and global action.

Group of Students

Discover what it takes

Developing real-world solutions, conducting hands-on research on the science of climate change, combating food insecurity and so much more. It’s all part of your coursework.

Put your passion into practice—right here on campus.

Get ready to grow your horizons

ÖØ¿ÚζSM students routinely take part in sustainable service trips, providing opportunities to build relationships and immerse themselves in a new culture, context and community.

Travel with purpose

Alternative break trips, like this one to West Virginia, combine service and sustainability.

Sustainability is more than an initiative here. It’s part of our heritage.

Caring for the earth’s resources is nothing new at ÖØ¿ÚζSM. It’s been an integral part of our mission since Day One. We prioritize active and alternative transportation, green spaces, waste diversion, environmentally friendly materials and so much more.

Riding to reduce carbon footprints

ÖØ¿ÚζSM’s bike-share program, BikeDU, is a free bike-sharing system for recreation and transportation around campus that gives students, staff and faculty a convenient alternative to fuel use.

Designing to (sustainably) dine

Dining at ÖØ¿ÚζSM prioritizes sustainable practices, including buying locally sourced food, implementing water- and energy-saving measures and composting and recycling.
Two people in greenhouse

Starting in our own backyard

Helping others understand that our planet means the world to us begins here. That’s why members of our community lead the way through engaging and educating on campus.

What drives our community? Helping our planet.

ÖØ¿ÚζSM students, faculty, staff and alumni work toward addressing our planet’s needs and building a more sustainable future each day. Here’s how.

Merging passion and purpose

ÖØ¿ÚζSM students created a social entrepreneurial initiative with the goal of using the income they made to provide resources for new sustainability projects.

Researching solutions

After the COVID-19 pandemic provided the greatest supply-chain disruption ever, three DU professors have dedicated their studies to mapping the road to more sustainable practices through several research paths.

Delivering the goods

ÖØ¿ÚζSM student Grace Lee started Epic Eats, a project aimed at feeding families in need. Since its inception, the program has helped hunger relief organizations feed hundreds of people.

Sustainable solutions start here

For us, sustainability means not only being good stewards of the natural resources available to us, but also ensuring our campus is contributing to our planet’s health. Our ongoing commitment to sustainability drives the efforts of our campus community.

Preserving water

Our rainwater collection system has helped ÖØ¿ÚζSM reduce the amount of potable water it purchases by more than 4 million gallons a year.

Lighting the way

100,000 therms are saved each year by our energy-efficient boilers and 148,000 watts are saved each year by our energy-efficient lighting installed on campus.

Locally sourced

Nearly 75 percent of the material used to construct Parmer Hall was purchased locally, reducing the amount of fuel needed in transportation.

Waste diverted

Approximately 75 percent of the construction waste generated during the building of Parmer Hall was diverted from landfills.

Nature’s best drainage

Permeable pavers and bioswale provide natural drainage on campus and reduce the water sent to the municipal storm sewer system by 3.6 million gallons per year.

Making a difference

Dinner composting in our main dining hall, with student help, diverted more than 2,000 pounds of food from the landfill during one semester.

Ready to answer the call? Let’s go.