At Chesapeake College, sustainability is a core value. We are proud to be recognized as a leader in energy conservation, being the first community college to achieve U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative status. Our efforts have reduced energy use and inspired campuses nationwide. Our Sustainability Academic Group helps bring these achievements into the classroom, connecting sustainability with academics.

What We Do: Our Areas of Responsibility

  • Raise Awareness
    We promote campus sustainability among students, faculty, and staff through education and engagement.

  • Develop Courses
    SAG facilitates the creation of sustainability-designated courses to teach students about environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

  • Support Projects
    We guide students, faculty, and staff in developing sustainability-themed initiatives and projects.

  • Manage the Living Lab
    SAG oversees the campus Living Lab, where real-world sustainability practices are applied and studied.

  • Steward the Arboretum
    We care for the Chesapeake College Arboretum, ensuring its role as an educational resource and environmental asset.

Committee Membership: Faculty membership on the Sustainability Academic Group consists of at least three faculty representatives, with one representative from science, and will also include at least one representative from the Sustainability Operations Group.

Sustainability Scholars Program

Make a difference. The earth is counting on you.

The Sustainability Scholars Program—a competency-based, sustainability-studies initiative— recognizes students who go above and beyond in their commitment to sustainability. Open to all majors, even those undeclared, this program offers the chance to earn a green cord, a certificate, and recognition at Commencement.

Sustainability is the long term view
We emphasize four areas in our efforts to prepare and provide for continual and future needs:

  1. Sustainability of the natural/physical environment and resources
  2. Sustainability of economic and financial resources
  3. Sustainability of human effort through meeting human need
  4. Questioning and research concerning what physical/natural, economic, and human need and effort to sustain.

Sustainability addresses what we must do today to provide the necessary human, natural and financial resources for future generations.

How to Participate

Any combination of THREE of these opportunities, successfully completed, will result in special recognition of your achievements as a Sustainability Scholar.
Be part of the solution.

Special Class Project

Do you see an opportunity to steer a class project or Honor’s contract in the direction of sustainability? Once approved by your instructor as fulfilling their course requirements, we can create a Sustainability contract with you!

Enroll in a Course

Enroll in a course to fulfill the requirements for this distinction. When selecting classes, look for highlighted notes that state “Sustainability Related.”

Complete an Internship

Are you planning or are engaged in an internship that has some relation to sustainability? Let us know and once approved, this can be part of your Sustainability Scholar portfolio.