Committing to care for the environment on our campus and beyond
As a Jesuit, Catholic, liberal arts university, 91°µÍø is committed to caring for our common home while remaining anchored in service to the local Baltimore community.
Environmental sustainability was determined as one of ³¢´Ç²â´Ç±ô²¹â€™s top priorities during a recent community-involved Mission Priority Examen and inspired by the vision set forth by Pope Francis in . In fall 2021, Loyola joined the first cohort of universities enrolled as a Laudato Si' University by committing to the pope’s 7-Year Journey Toward Integral Ecology, an action-oriented and holistic approach to addressing social challenges in the world.
Deepening our commitment to Ignatian formation and to the Universal Apostolic Preferences, we seek to become leaders in caring for our earth and walking with the excluded. In doing so, we will further develop our commitment to place-based justice and community engagement and better demonstrate a faith that does justice.
91°µÍø aspires to become a leader in integral ecology, prioritizing sustainable practices that create positive change for our campus, our city, and our planet. Loyola was recognized by the Princeton Review’s 2024 Guide to Green Schools, a new list that reviews and analyzes the focus on environmental responsibility and sustainability efforts of more than 650 colleges across the country.
Loyola offers the first BBA in Sustainability Management in the state of Maryland—and one of a few such programs in the country. This innovative
interdisciplinary major enhances students’ abilities to strengthen communities through
the creation and growth of sustainable and responsible businesses.
Additionally, Loyola offers an environmental studies minor, which includes a variety of disciplines, including biology, chemistry, communication,
economics, engineering, visual & performing arts, history, law and social responsibility, philosophy, theology, and writing.
A campus roadmap to carbon and energy reduction
³¢´Ç²â´Ç±ô²¹â€™s Climate Action Plan is the University’s roadmap to reduce its carbon footprint and act on climate change, both locally and globally. The Climate Action Plan is complemented by ³¢´Ç²â´Ç±ô²¹â€™s Energy Management Policy, which outlines campus-wide guidelines to reduce energy use. Sustainability initiatives include sustainable transportation options and electric fleet vehicles; local, seasonal food offerings, composting, and a Choose to Reuse reusable to-go container program through Dining Services; waste reduction and recycling; and others. Notably, the University recently signed a 25-year renewable energy agreement with Maryland-based Chaberton Energy Holdings to support clean energy development in the State of Maryland.
An award-winning accredited arboretum
³¢´Ç²â´Ç±ô²¹â€™s 80-acre Evergreen campus arboretum embraces biodiversity while inspiring
environmental stewardship. Encompassing more than 2,200 trees that represent at least
114 varieties, the University’s arboretum achieved level II accreditation in 2019 from for its expansion efforts and enhanced preservation.
Loyola was named a by the Arbor Day Foundation for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and
staff in the spirit of conservation. The arboretum also received , making this the fifth year the University has earned the highest level of Green.
³¢´Ç²â´Ç±ô²¹â€™s arboretum includes nine Champion Trees, which are among the largest of their species.
91°µÍø earned a STARS Bronze rating in spring 2024 in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association
for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. STARS, the Sustainability
Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in
all areas of higher education. With more than 1,200 participants in 52 countries,
AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly
reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability
performance. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: academics, engagement,
operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.
A building dedicated to innovation and sustainability
³¢´Ç²â´Ç±ô²¹â€™s new Miguel B. Fernandez Family Center for Innovation and Collaborative Learning is as dedicated to inspiring innovation as it is to serving as a new model for green buildings on campus. With state-of-the-art efficient lighting, air purification, stormwater management, and water conservation features in place, the Fernandez Center received LEED Gold Certification in Spring 2022, notably becoming the first LEED-certified building on campus.
A farmers’ market to address food insecurity and serve our local community
For more than a decade, Loyola has been a sponsor of the , which provides the University’s neighbors in the York Road corridor of Baltimore City with produce that is affordable, fresh, and local. The farmers’ market helps alleviate food insecurity and build community while promoting sustainability and supporting farm-to-table agricultural practices and the local food economy.
Opportunities to learn and do more
Everyone in the Loyola community can do their part to care for our common home. The University invites students and faculty, administrators, and staff to get involved in its many green opportunities, including joining a student group like the Environmental Action Club, committing their department or division to sustainability by earning a Green Office Program recognition, participating in community cleanup days, ecoservice, environmental education, and more.