GROWING GREEN
Green Pacific Adapts to a Sustainable Future
U
niversities are, by their nature, engines of innovation and progress, particularly in advancing environmental stewardship. As early as the 1970s, around the time the term “sustainability” entered the international lexicon, many universities were already incorporating sustainability principles into research, teaching and campus operations. Today, the call for sustainability in higher education has never been louder. A 2021 survey from The Princeton Review found that 75% of college applicants said a school’s environmental commitment would influence their decision to apply. The verdict is clear. Sustainability is no longer a peripheral virtue; it has become a defining
42
PACIFIC MAGA ZINE | 2025
measure of a university’s values and relevance. Pacific meets this challenge head-on with intention and urgency. Under President Christopher Callahan’s leadership, Pacific made sustainability a core institutional priority, aiming for a gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, known as STARS, by 2026. The goal signals a broader commitment to social responsibility and preparing students to lead in a rapidly changing world. In the last five years, Pacific has made significant progress toward that goal. As of October, 100% of the electricity used on all three campuses comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar, purchased from clean
energy providers. In addition, the Stockton Campus generates nearly one-third of its own electricity through 12,000 solar panels on site. “This milestone builds on years of progress and reinforces our dedication to creating a more resilient and responsible future for our students and communities. It also makes prudent financial sense, saving money that can be used to invest more in our students, faculty and learning environments,” the president said. Beyond utilities, Pacific’s commitments include the launch of an e-bike program, the installation of electric vehicle charging stations on all three campuses and the use of 100% non-potable water for irrigation.
But Pacific’s efforts extend far beyond infrastructure. Each year, Pacific students donate nearly 300,000 hours of community service, contributing to the social health and welfare of surrounding communities and supporting initiatives that promote public health, education and environmental justice. And just this fall, Pacific launched a new undergraduate major in sustainability to cultivate student leaders who will tackle the urgent and complex challenges that will shape our future. From bold infrastructure upgrades to a growing community of sustainability-minded students, faculty and alumni, Pacific is striving to become one of the best in the world at being the best for the world.