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Sustainability at Dickinson College


Sustainability defines the campus through its integration in all facets of college life.  From facilities to classroom opportunities, sustainability is a way of life.
solar panels 

A sustainable society is characterized by meeting present needs for health, spiritual and material well-being, freedoms, justice, and peace without degrading the productive capacity or resilience of environmental, social, and economic systems that are required by future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainability Vision



Dickinson embraces the goals of accountability and sustainability as individuals and as an institution. Our approach to sustainability encompasses social, economic, and environmental systems, problems, and goals. Our working definition of sustainability is simple: the capacity to flourish from generation to generation. We are enhancing the college curriculum and co-curricular programs to support exploration of questions about the state of environmental, social, and economic systems, processes and underlying causes of changes in these systems, human and environmental consequences of the changes, and strategies to build resilience and sustain valued resources.

People are making the difference at Dickinson—students, faculty and staff—all focused on practicing sustainability and taking it into the community and around the world.  Just some of these initiatives include two offices for sustainability, college committees, and a dozen departments and programs. learn more 

Sustainability Initiatives

  • Research and Education
    Dickinson is committed to teaching its students about sustainability across the curriculum, providing hands-on learning experiences and empowering them with the knowledge and skills to effect meaningful change. Learn more 

  • Campus Operations
    As a college, Dickinson is committed to maintaining sustainable practices in all of its campus operations and has devoted unique resources toward that goal. From running equipment on biodiesel to incorporating wind and solar energy to constructing energy-efficient buildings, the campus operations department is making the college a greener place to live. Learn more 

  • Governance and Finance
    Senior officers of the college have supported the operational, academic, and philosophical advance of sustainability both programmatically and financially. Learn more 

  • Campus Culture
    Every member of the Dickinson community has embraced the college’s sustainability efforts, making it a defining characteristic of the Dickinson experience. Learn more