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Sustainability

A living, breathing classroom

Keep Eckerd green with our sustainability programs

Our campus teaches and inspires us every day. It’s only natural for us to nurture it through conservation efforts like:

Farm to table

In our cafeterias, seasonal ingredients come from our one-acre community farm as well as local, owner-operated farms and ranches. Meat and dairy from animals raised with artificial hormones or routine antibiotics are avoided.

Building green

Our Green College ranking also affects construction:

  • The Center for Visual Arts is oriented to minimize heat load created by intense sunlight.
  • We cool the James Center with wastewater rather than toxic coolants; it holds a coveted LEED Platinum certification.
  • The Environmental Science building is powered by a solar array.
  • Iota residence hall is LEED-certified.

#ecoeckerd

Yes, as long as Kat continues to award the engaged learning funds in that way. Kat carved out a pot of money specifically for transport because she repeatedly heard it was a challenge for students.

What you can do

Campus Groups

Fostering sustainable behavior at Eckerd College

Student with red hair squatting by row of plants

COMMUNITY FARM

Contributing to the well-being of students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding ecosystem.

Trees and chickee hut near Fox Pond

ECO-REPS

Working towards solving environmental problems on campus through the Office of Sustainability.

Yellow bike on Hough Quad

ECOS ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY COMMITTEE

Working on sustainability issues around campus.

Students sitting down to meal outside

GARDEN CLUB

Running an organic vegetable garden with environmental principles to connect us to our food.

Students snorkeling in the water near large rocks

MARINE LIFE ADVENTURE SOCIETY

Experiencing marine life environments and facilities with short adventure trips around Florida.

Eckerd birder looking through binoculars

ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

An Audubon Campus Chapter to introduce students to birding. Eckerd has the highest number of bird species recorded per acre of any college in the U.S.!

Student swinging while holding reusable beverage container

REDUCE SINGLE-USE PROJECT

Raising awareness, conducting science and taking action to reduce single-use plastic consumption on campus.

Eckerd student saving a brown pelican from entanglement

SAVE OUR SEABIRDS

Protecting and understanding our local seabirds and other wildlife through rescue and education.

Scubi doo dog with scuba gear on

SCUBI JEW: EC ENVIROMENTAL DIVERS

Educating students and actively doing our part to repair the damage done to our oceans, rivers and lakes, and the creatures that live in them.

Initiatives

Waste

Eckerd College promotes waste reduction with recycling and composting programs, water bottle filling stations, reusable Eco-Clamshells at the cafeteria, fishing line recycling containers and an annual Trash to Treasure project.

Fishing line collection receptacle on Eckerd College campus

Energy

In 2007, our president signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. In 2013, solar panels were installed as part of the 50 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array on top of our Environmental Studies building.

Solar panel array

Sustainability news at Eckerd

Climate Change Resiliency Plan

Green Campus

Our campus is home to over 1,200 trees, of which over 90% are native, providing countless benefits to campus residents—including humans, pets and wildlife! Many have tags which you can look up for identification in this map.

Green Campus

Our campus is home to over 1,200 trees, of which over 90% are native, providing countless benefits to campus residents—including humans, pets and wildlife! Many have tags which you can look up for identification in this map.

More Sustainability at Eckerd

Office of Sustainability Website
More than 650 trees planted on campus since 2001