Sustainability Master Plan 2025

ENGAGEMENT

GOAL: Increase awareness of and engagement in sustainability programming throughout the Elon University community and enhance external communications of sustainability initiatives.

 

STRATEGIES

Progress updates for year 1 are below.

Actions for each strategy have been identified and will be prioritized on an annual basis by the implementation team.

S1 Community Service: Continue to expand community service participation such that 55% of students and 15% of faculty and staff engage in community service on an annual basis by 2035. (Note: All “community service” is connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.)

During the 2025-2026 academic year, 49.9% of all students participated in community service (based on student reporting to the Kernodle Center for Civic Life).

49.9%
55%

During the 2025 calendar year, 8.9% of all faculty and staff participated in community service (based on staff reporting of volunteer hours in Ontrack and faculty teaching Community Based Learning and Community Engaged courses).

8.9%
15%

S2 Activities: Determine the annual participation in sustainability activities for students, faculty and staff as well as a target increase by 2026, such that at least 40% of students and 15% of faculty and staff participate in sustainability activities by 2035.

During the 2025-2026 academic year, 22.2% of students participated in sustainability activities.

22.2%
40%

During this same time period, 8.2% of faculty and staff participated in sustainability activities.

8.2%
15%

Interim Targets: By 2030, at least 30% of students and 12% of faculty and staff should participate in sustainability activities.

S3 Internal Communications & Outreach: Determine the number of students, faculty and staff reached by sustainability communications and outreach on an annual basis and establish a target increase by 2026, such that at least 50% of students, faculty and staff are reached by 2035.

S4 External Communications: Increase awareness of sustainability initiatives among external stakeholders through monthly communications via a variety of methods (e.g., social media, Today at Elon, etc.).

Sustainability was tagged in 30 Today at Elon articles during the 2025-2026 academic year. Sustainability-related content was included in the Magazine of Elon, President’s Report and the Provost’s report. Highlights from these publications include: Rooted in Collaboration, The Impact of Green Energy Production on Healthiness Perceptions and Preferences, and A wellness script for the outdoors.