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History

Creighton University has long been committed to "cultivating a campus environment and educating our students to be stewards of Creation." Such a commitment is central to our mission as a Jesuit, Catholic university. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, asked that we seek magis, the greater. When it comes to sustainability, we strive toward magis by discerning better ways to care for the earth and our neighbors.

Thanks to past and present presidential leadership and the collective efforts by the members of the former Sustainability Council, the former Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACS), students, faculty, and staff across campus, Creighton University has integrated sustainability into the University's mission, classrooms, research, planning, and activities. With the establishment of the Office of Sustainability Programs, we will continue to accomplish more and to do better for our common home.

A brief timeline of sustainability at Creighton is below. Thanks to a working group, a more comprehensive timeline is also available.

  • 1991: Environmental Science Program founded
  • 2007: Schlegel Center for Service and Justice (SCSJ, formerly CCSJ) codified Sustainability as one of their 7 Service and Justice Trips Pillars. Since then, they have expanded the availability of sustainability service-learning experiences open to students each year. These experiences include urban agriculture, energy extraction, and organic farming among.
  • 2008: Sustainability Council formed
  • 2010: Fr. John Schlegel, SJ signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment
  • 2011: Energy Technology Program founded
  • 2012: Became the first Jesuit university to be designated a Fair Trade University
  • 2013: Fr. Timothy Lannon, SJ signed the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor
  • 2013: Partnered with Goodwill to divert over 60 tons of materials from the residence halls during move-out
  • 2015: Collaborative Ministry led a Laudato Si' discussion group
  • 2015: Sustainability Studies Program founded
  • 2016: Fr. Hendrickson, SJ convened the Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainability
  • 2017: Creighton University established the Office of Sustainability Programs and hired its first full-time sustainability coordinator

During the fall of 2016 through the spring of 2017, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACS), a committee comprised of 21 staff, faculty, and student members, met monthly to explore options and opportunities for advancing sustainability at Creighton University. The PACS Executive Summary is a report of the committee's recommendations for the University. The intent of the report was to serve as the foundation in both short and long-term planning for The Office of Sustainability Programs in the realization of the Creighton Presidential Sustainability Initiative.

Minutes are available for the following meetings:

2008200920102011
2012201320142015
20162017