As the highest ranked school in the Big Ten in the international Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS rankings, Penn State’s commitment to sustainability has a long and proud history. The University uses the integrated framework of the 2030 Global Sustainable Development Goals to advance the causes of people, planet, shared prosperity, peace, and partnerships for current and future generations. Collaboration across the entire Penn State community ensures the institutionalization of sustainability across our colleges, campuses, communities, and Pennsylvania.

Coordination of sustainability at Penn State has evolved to fit the changing needs of the university over time. Originally, a separate academic Center for Sustainability and an operational Campus Sustainability Office addressed the University’s needs. In 2013, the two units combined into the Sustainability Institute to allow for alignment of operational and educational efforts. The position of chief sustainability officer for the University was created in 2017.