Sustainability at RWU
Healthy, happy people, thriving communities and economies, and resilient, supportive ecosystems are intertwined and depend on each other for their continued existence. This is the heart of Sustainability at Roger Williams University.
The University’s Sustainability Mission Statement
Roger Williams University recognizes that the current and future well-being of its campus and all its inhabitants depends on sustainable interactions between healthy environmental and social systems. As such, the University is committed to the goal of promoting sustainability as a core principle that guides our decisions and actions on campus and in the larger community. The University’s Sustainability Committees will guide the implementation of projects and policies that advance cultures of ecological, social, economic and technological sustainability across all aspects of the campus and beyond. Such work reflects the University’s mission to interact with society in mutually rewarding ways through pursuit of responsible use and management of environmental resources that helps ensure their long-term sustainability.
Sustainability Studies
Sustainability Studies at RWU is for any student interested in helping make the world a better place.
If you care about helping people, engaging in your community, and conserving biodiversity, then you already care about Sustainability Studies. Declaring a major, minor or core concentration in Sustainability Studies will deepen your understanding of complex socio-economic-environmental systems and help you develop the skills needed to help improve them.
Working toward sustainability requires expertise from people from all backgrounds. Learning more about issues of sustainability, and how to live a more sustainable life, will help all of us as individuals and citizens save resources and money while we improve our personal happiness and well-being.
Sustainability Studies Program Details
A Leader In Sustainability
Sustainable Futures is one of five strategic priorities in RWU's Strategic Action Plan.
"We strive to develop sustainable futures through the responsible stewardship of our people and resources, and in so doing, cultivate an enduring institution and sustainable legacy for Roger Williams University"
- Excellence By Design: Roger Williams University Strategic Action Plan, 2021
RWU received a STARS Bronze rating in recognition of our sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in 2023.
Advancing Sustainability Initiatives
Do you have an idea for how to make RWU more sustainable? Share your idea by submitting a brief preproposal to sustainability@rwu.edu as a brief paragraph (up to 300 words) that describes 1) the general idea, 2) its relevance and expected impact for enhancing RWU’s sustainability, 3) a draft timeline for implementation, and 4) if already known, financial considerations such as estimated cost and funding sources.
Sustainability in the Curriculum
RWU offers a Sustainability Studies major. Additionally, students from all majors are invited to enroll in the SUST courses (101, 301, 401) and complete a core concentration and minor in Sustainability Studies.
