The Student Sustainability Leadership Council is a student-led committee supported by the Hanley Sustainability Institute. It brings together representatives from a wide range of sustainability-related campus groups to collaborate and coordinate efforts.
The committee is run by the institute’s Student Directors of Campus Partnerships and Impact Reporting within the Sustainability Student Leaders Program.
The organizations currently represented in the Student Sustainability Leadership Council (SSLC) include the Hanley Sustainability Institute (HSI), Hanley Sustainability Fund, Student Government Association (SGA) Sustainability Committee, Flyer Enterprises, Sustainability Club and Outdoor Education.
The committee also welcomes partners and organizations that align with UD’s mission of environmental stewardship and community engagement. Together, these groups form a connected network working to embed sustainability throughout the university experience.
The committee has undergone several changes this semester to better respond to current campus needs and support the broader goals of SSLC.
Meetings are held twice a month for a shorter time to ensure communication happens early enough to support collaboration and avoid missed opportunities. During each meeting, each organization has a moment to update the council on prior or upcoming events, as well as any general work that aligns with SSLC’s mission. We also adapted our impact reporting process so each organization records important updates during meetings, rather than trying to gather all impact data at the end of the semester.
Tracking impact is a key part of how SSLC celebrates progress and finds growth opportunities. Each organization brings its own strengths to the table, and together their efforts demonstrate how student representatives can add up to meaningful results.
Here are exciting impacts from each organization:
- The Hanley Sustainability Fund manages a student-led investment portfolio that has grown by more than 20 percent this year while maintaining a stronger sustainability rating than national benchmarks. The fellows also hosted multiple guest speakers, helping connect financial literacy with environmental impact.
- The SGA Sustainability Committee has focused on improving campus waste management by distributing over 50 new recycling bins in student housing and preparing for its annual spring collection drive. Their work highlights the ongoing effort to make recycling more accessible across campus.
- Flyer Enterprises has continued integrating sustainability into its business model. Composting and recycling have expanded to several Flyer Enterprises dining locations, and more than 80 percent of student employees have received waste-management training. The “For Here” punch card system at Heritage Coffeehouse has also reduced the use of single-use cups, encouraging a shift toward reusable options.
- Sustainability Club has strengthened student engagement through creative, hands-on programming. Events like terrarium making, clothing swaps and themed movie nights have helped build community while promoting everyday sustainability habits.
- The Hanley Sustainability Institute has also contributed significantly to these efforts, as detailed in HSI’s Decade of Progress Impact Report.
SSLC is also introducing open “drop-in” hours, where any student can stop by with sustainability questions, event ideas or collaboration requests. The goal is to make the topic of sustainability approachable for everyone at UD, not just those already involved in a club or leadership role. These meetings take place bi-weekly at the Outdoor Engagement Center at 7:00-7:45 p.m. every Tuesday.
As SSLC continues to build bridges across campus, its focus remains on moving forward with shared systems of action. Whether you’re a club member, a faculty researcher or a student with an idea, you have a place in this network. Together, we’re building a stronger sustainability network, one connection at a time.