Sustainability at Knox College

We at Knox College recognize that our actions influence the environments of our local and global communities. In order to explore, understand, and build relationships with these communities, we must strive to become more sustainable. Being sustainable requires us to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future humans and other species to meet their own needs. By fostering a culture of sustainability, we at Knox accept our responsibility to configure our educational programs, institutional and social structures, and economic actions to preserve the ecosystems of the Earth.

President Roger Taylor has appointed a Sustainability Task Force to facilitate the Strategic Plan for Knox College (PDF) approved by the Knox College Board of Trustees. The Task Force is charged with reviewing previous initiatives, recommending new initiatives, and encouraging a campus-wide culture of awareness and understanding about the impact our individual and collective actions have on the larger world.

In recent years, Knox College has made a serious effort to complete projects in a more environmentally sustainable way. And, in cooperation with students, faculty and staff, the College has focused on energy efficiency and recycling.

Current Initiatives:

• Integrating ecological sustainability into the academic and co-curricular education that students at Knox receive. The President will sponsor a faculty development workshop that will help professors at Knox learn how to teach about sustainability, and to teach more sustainably.
• New classes are being added to the Knox curriculum in the area of Environmental Science.
• By signing the Illinois Sustainable University Compact, President Taylor pledges the College to earth-friendly planning and practices over the next two years.
• Making reclaimed bicycles available to students.
• Student self-imposed "Green Fee" will direct funding toward student sponsored sustainability projects.

Students can direct questions, comments, and suggestions about campus sustainability to the Student Senate Sustainability Committee at sen-sustainability@knox.edu.

Faculty, Staff, and Alumni can direct questions, comments, and suggestions about campus sustainability to the Sustainability Task Force at sustainability@knox.edu.