Faithful Stewardship of God’s Creation

At Malone University, our commitment to sustainability is deeply rooted in our Christian faith. We believe that caring for God’s creation is not only an environmental responsibility but also an expression of our faith and mission. Through education, advocacy, and sustainable practices, we seek to embody faithful stewardship of the Earth, recognizing that creation reflects the gratuitousness of God’s love and the invitation to love just the same. 

Our Commitment to Sustainability

Malone University has a long history of environmental awareness, dating back to its participation in the first Earth Day in 1970. Over the years, the University has taken steps toward sustainability, such as:

• Energy Conservation – Installation of motion-sensor lighting, transition to LED lights, and HVAC improvements.
• Waste Reduction & Recycling – Water-bottle filling stations, composting efforts, and trayless dining to reduce food waste.
• Environmental Justice & Education – Sustainability-focused coursework, study abroad programs on environmental justice, and faculty integration of creation care into various disciplines.
• Campus Initiatives – A Goodwill Moveout initiative, tree-planting programs, and expanded recycling efforts.

Despite these efforts, survey results from faculty and staff indicate that many see room for improvement, including enhanced faculty development, increased recycling access, and making creation care a more central part of Malone’s mission. Malone’s Sustainability Committee is firmly committed to this cause.

Sustainability at Malone: What We’re Doing

1. Malone’s Sustainability Committee
   • Malone’s Sustainability Committee leads sustainability efforts on campus. This faculty-staff-student group works to implement change by advocating for institutional policies that reduce environmental impact, encourage research-based sustainability principles, and integrate environmental stewardship into Malone’s identity.
2. Sustainability Week & Annual Sustainability Fest
   • Each year, we dedicate a week to environmental awareness, culminating in Sustainability Fest, a campus-wide and community celebration of creation care.
3. Campus Sustainability Projects
   • Meatless Monday – Partnering with AVI, our food provider, to offer plant-based dining options.
   • Recycling Expansion – Addressing the issue of overflowing bins and improving accessibility for students.
   • Green Spaces & Conservation – Plans to revitalize underused areas for initiatives such as pollinator gardens, bee hives, and mow-free zones.
   • Sustainability Incentives – Exploring options such as discounts at the campus café for using reusable cups and containers.

Get Involved

Sustainability is a collective effort, and we invite students, faculty, staff, and community members to take action:

In the classroom – Faculty are encouraged to integrate sustainability into their courses. Faculty development workshops and interdisciplinary collaboration can provide resources to do so.

In campus life – Participate in Meatless Mondays, join the student sustainability group, and advocate for greener campus policies.

In the community – Partner with local churches and organizations to promote creation care beyond Malone’s campus.

For more information or to join our sustainability efforts, contact the co-directors of Malone’s Sustainability Committee.