Sustainability at DePauw

Sustainability at DePauw

DePauw University is enthusiastically committed to sustainability and eager to invite students with a passion for issues such as climate change and environmental justice to engage their peers on these important issues. The following highlights demonstrate DePauw’s deep commitment as an institution to sustainability.

LOCAL FOOD, CAMPUS FARM What’s better than fresh, organic, local food served for dinner? At DePauw students are helping grow tomatoes, onions, corn, green beans and much more. Faculty and students team with food service employees to harvest food for the dining hall and donate 10 percent of the produce to a local food pantry. It’s a lot of fun, too. DePauw is proud to partner in its dining halls with Bon Appetit, an industry leader in sustainable food practices.

COMMUNITY BIKES Ride anywhere on carbon-free, calorie-burning transportation at no cost!

Twenty shiny yellow bikes are available for free checkout at The Inn at DePauw. Anyone can check out a bike and ride anywhere, including on People Pathways bike paths in Greencastle and to the Campus Farm.

CARBON-NEUTRALITY Care about climate change? We do, too. As a 2008 signatory to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, DePauw is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040. We are actively working to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and to be a leading example in sustainable living.

ENVIRONMENTAL FELLOWS Take your passion for the environment into the classroom. The Environmental Fellows Program is an integrative honors program for outstanding students who exhibit intellectual curiosity, high academic achievement and strong motivation to explore environmental issues from a range of disciplinary perspectives. Students can major in any existing department or program. Their expertise will be enhanced by environmentally focused courses across the natural sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities; experiential learning opportunities, such as scientific research, internships or off-campus study; and an interdisciplinary capstone experience in which students will integrate all aspects of their environmental education.

OFFICE FOR SUSTAINABILITY Have an idea? Want help implementing it? The Office for Sustainability staff and interns help institutionalize sustainable practices at DePauw, empower students to develop their passion for environmental issues, and celebrate the success through social media, newsletters and other online tools. Students can apply for exciting internship and Eco-Rep positions.

ENGAGED STUDENT BODY You’ll have no trouble connecting with fellow students who share your interests. Many DePauw students are actively engaged in co-curricular sustainability projects. From passing a resolution calling for more renewable energy at a DePauw Student Government meeting to planning Earth Week at a DePauw Environmental Club meeting, students are leading the sustainability efforts at DePauw.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS DePauw is home to the first two buildings in Indiana to receive the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building certifications. All future buildings and large-scale renovations will be certified at LEED Silver level or higher.

MOVE OUT Don’t throw that away! Each year DePauw partners with Putnam County Family Support Services to provide U-Hauls and donation boxes for unwanted items when students leave campus for the summer. The result?

More than 80 families in Greencastle receive refrigerators, vacuums, rugs, bedding, cleaning supplies and more through the program keeping these items out of landfills.

WASTE REDUCTION Is it recyclable? Yes! The University uses a single-stream recycling system that accepts glass, aluminum, plastics #1-7 and paper. DePauw Dining Services composts excess food, and Facilities Management recycles everything from carpet to CFL light bulbs.

CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE Faculty, staff and students give presentations annually to the Board of Trustees about sustainability initiatives at DePauw, ranging from renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives to water preservation and waste reduction.

DePauw University is a nationally recognized, leading liberal arts college in Greencastle, Ind., dedicated to educating 2,300 students from across the country and around the globe.

Connected to the liberal arts college is one of the nation’s first Schools of Music. For more than 175 years, DePauw has created an atmosphere of intellectual challenge and social engagement that prepares students for lifelong success.

Office for Sustainability 101 E. Seminary St. • P.O. Box 37 Greencastle, IN 46135-0037 sustainability@depauw.edu