Hanley Sustainability Institute
Passion and Purpose
STARS GOLD
UD ranks in the top 3 percent of all AASHE STARS-rated schools; first in Ohio and second among all U.S. Catholic colleges and universities
A 'SIERRA' COOL SCHOOL
UD again named the only Midwestern educational institution in the top 20 of Sierra Club's Cool Schools for sustainability and third among all U.S. Catholic colleges and universities
Climate Commitment
In 2019, University of Dayton President Eric Spina updated the University's sustainability goals to include taking meaningful action through our planning processes to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and to collaborate with other Miami Valley organizations in planning for climate resilience. The 15-member UD Climate, Action, Resilience, and Environmental Sustainability (CARES) Council will meet periodically.
Our role is not just to help implement projects. I like to think of us as providing strategic leadership in how sustainability can be approached on campus.
Student Involvement
Sustainability Club
The student-driven club is not part of the Hanley Sustainability Institute, but there is crossover among HSI leaders and representatives.
Sust. Club Instagram
Rivers Institute
The Rivers Institute's goal is to work alongside the Greater Dayton community to promote, preserve and protect our watershed.
Rivers Institute website
MEEC
The Marianist Environmental Education Center slogan is Restoring Communities of Land and People and hopes people live in communion with the land.
MEEC websiteSTUDENT INVOLVEMENT
ETHOS
The ETHOS Center provides service-learning experiences through technical immersions, student activities, research and hands-on projects.
ETHOS website
Human Rights Center
The HRC recognizes the link between a sustainable climate and human rights. The two centers work together in many ways.
HRC website
Campus Projects
Student-involved initiatives include the solar prairie at Curran Place, the green roof at Kennedy Union plus the Lincoln Hill and River Campus gardens.
Sust. Reps/LeadersGrowing Together in Sustainability
Along with campus partners, many any off-campus groups have and are working with the University of Dayton to achieve sustainability-related initiatives. Our thanks go to organizations which have been instrumental in the Solar Prairie, the Kennedy Union green roof, both the Lincoln Hill and River Campus gardens and other projects.
Community Partners
Growing Together in Sustainability
Along with campus partners, many any off-campus groups have and are working with the University of Dayton to achieve sustainability-related initiatives. Our thanks go to organizations which have been instrumental in the Solar Prairie, the Kennedy Union green roof, both the Lincoln Hill and River Campus gardens and other projects.
University of Dayton junior Claire Sullivan was awarded a Newman Civic Fellowship in recognition of her leadership and involvement in the Dayton community.
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When I opened my first electric and gas bills, I was alarmed to see how much my roommates and I pay for utilities. Had we really used that much energy? What is the difference between the delivery total and the supply total? What is a kilowatt-hour?
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Marigrace Moses’ interest in science, education and the environment started early and was sparked by her mother. “My mom and I did our first science fair when I was 5 years old,” Moses said. “We made a tri-fold and used all the plastic animals I played with to demonstrate different food chains.”
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On the same evening the University of Dayton men’s basketball team clinched the outright Atlantic 10 regular season title with a win over Davidson, UD president Eric Spina raised the Dayton Power and Light Savings Champion trophy. The trophy, and a giant check presented at an event earlier Feb. 28, were in recognition of the university’s $1.2 million in energy rebates this past decade.
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Starting at a young age, Hanley Sustainability Institute graduate assistant Chris Baldasare took apart mechanical pencils, Lego sets, and later old computers and electronics. He also learned about nature while becoming an Eagle Scout. “As a kid I would find myself breaking things apart, just to put them back together. I had a passion for building and hands-on work,” he said. “The scouts have a saying which is ‘leave no trace’ meaning that when you are camping to leave the area as you found it. Being in scouts growing up definitely also played a role in my interest in sustainability.”
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Sustainability Events Calendar
Join our project teams, campus partners, invited speakers and more for engaging events that inform and inspire.
Upcoming sustainability events
UD Achieves STARS Gold
The University of Dayton earned its first gold rating for its sustainability achievements in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS).
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