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The Sustainability Office
Broadly defined, sustainability means meeting society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We are charting ahead, building coalitions, creating resources, and educating others to lead a better tomorrow.
We are the Sustainability Office!
Mission Statement
Broadly defined, sustainability means meeting society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. As a Catholic, Benedictine institutions, the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University accept that all creation is a gift from God; in exchange we are expected to care for creation and provide stewardship for the entire community of life on Earth. Our commitment to this stewardship, by definition, incorporates the principles of sustainability: our actions should be ecologically sound, socially just, and economically viable today and should continue to be so for future generations.
Because of our commitment to the Benedictine tradition and the principles of sustainability, we will work to emphasize and embed these concepts into our educational mission, the operation of the physical campus, and our outreach to communities beyond the college.
Student & Sustainability Initiatives
The Full Circle Greenhouse is a student-run, passive solar, deep winter greenhouse project committed to engaging CSB and SJU in the process of growing local food.
Community Kitchen is a student-run food recovery program with community partners across St. Cloud. Alongside our Culinary Team, nutritious meal are delivered weekly.
Working with the CSB and SJU Alum Offices, we steward the Career Closets on both campuses. Dedicated to thrifting gently-used professional attire, all students have access to this free resource.
Developing the future leaders, The Sustainability Office keeps experiential learning a core part of our ongoing mission. From conferences, student-led projects, and internship opportunities, we push students to examine issues sustainably.
Acknowledgement
Both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University occupy the original homelands of the Dakhóta and Anishinaabe peoples. We honor, respect, and acknowledge the Indigenous peoples forcibly removed from this territory, whose connection remains today. Saint Benedict’s Monastery and Saint John’s Abbey previously operated boarding schools for Native children. Now, students, faculty, and staff are working to repair relationships with our Native Nation neighbors.
Helpful Links
Outdoor University
Environmental Programming
Environmental Racism
Intersectionality and History
Environmental Studies
Major and Minor Information