Loyola University Chicago

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

Loyola University of Chicago has signed the Illinois Sustainable University Compact, which pledges the university to accomplish ten out of twelve environmental goals by 2010. In January 2009, LUC appointed a part-time sustainability director.

The university has performed lighting and window retrofits across campus and has invested in energy-efficient equipment such as high-efficiency boilers and chillers. A solar electric pilot project has been installed on the roof of the Lake Shore Campus Library.

Dining services purchases seasonal produce, bread, and dairy from local sources. LUC purchases exclusively fair trade-certified coffee, uses disposable dishware made from biodegradable or recycled content materials, and has eliminated the use of trays in two dining halls to reduce waste. The university recycles traditional materials.

As part of the Illinois Sustainable University Compact, the university pledges that all new buildings will be LEED-certified. The Information Commons is LEED Silver-certified, and the campus features several green roofs.

There is a Student Environmental Alliance on campus, which hosted an environmentally friendly homecoming party in 2008 as well as a lightbulb exchange.

All students receive transit passes for use on Chicago Transportation Authority buses and trains, and a free shuttle bus runs throughout campus. The university has a bike check-out program and partners with a car-sharing service.

The university makes a list of all holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community and sends the information upon request. A list of votes cast on proxy resolutions on a company-specific level, including the number of shares, is accessible online.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is exploring, but not currently invested in, renewable energy funds as well as community development loan funds.

Proxies are voted by the university according to a set of Catholic proxy voting guidelines. An advisory committee with three students, three faculty members, three staff, and two administrators may make proxy voting recommendations to the board of trustees.