About

Mission

The University of Notre Dame strives to be a leader in sustainable operations, education and research, and a role model for responsible citizenship. Notre Dame recognizes its responsibility to conserve the natural environment while promoting long-term economic prosperity and dignity for every human person, and works to foster a focus on the connection between resource stewardship and the Common Good.

Strategy

For many years, the University has acted to inspire and encourage sustainability, both academically and operationally. Through the implementation of energy conservation measures across facilities, the design and construction of LEED-certified buildings, our active decarbonization commitment, and the establishment of Notre Dame Sustainability, the University has actively sought to advance sustainability through our operations. Through the commitment to the holistic development of students alongside the establishment of several academic and research centers, Notre Dame prepares future leaders and professionals with the skills needed to care for our common home. But we realize that to continue to be Catholic leaders, we can and must do more. Following the teachings of our Catholic tradition and mission and further inspired by the late Pope Francis, the Executive Vice President’s Comprehensive Sustainability Strategy Committee was convened to assess our current sustainability practices and promote the future protection of God’s creation at Notre Dame. Read more about our Sustainability Strategy here.

People

The Comprehensive Sustainability Strategy Standing Committee is composed of students, faculty, and staff. Over the years, they have guided Notre Dame's strategy via recommendations and goal development, enabling the University to widen and deepen sustainable practices across activities and functions.

The Notre Dame Sustainability Team partners across the institution to advance strategic sustainability initiatives. Originally referred to as the Office of Sustainability, the operational team was created in the fall of 2007 at the recommendation of a Sustainability Strategy Working Group.

With support from the Sustainability Strategy Standing Committee, we paused the regular convening of the Small Working Groups in order to move toward the next phase of an updated Strategy for the University. In order to maintain a connection with our valued Small Working Group membership, the Sustainability Collective was created. This Collective of all working group members together allows us to continue to collaborate while we pilot our strategic sustainability planning process.

Recognitions

The University of Notre Dame has been ranked 228th in the World for Sustainability Among Other Universities by QS. They evaluate over 1,000 universities' operational, classroom, and alumni impact alongside the impact of research being done across the UN's 17 sustainable development goals. Check out Notre Dame's QS Sustainability Report.

Notre Dame has also elected to self-report within the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), which is administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. This comprehensive reporting system is public and allows us to analyze the many areas of sustainability on campus, helping us to assess our current state, maintain accountability, and plan appropriately for the future.