Intersectional at its core, there are many ways to get involved in environmental sustainability. We've listed a few ways to engage with environmental stewardship, and the Office of Sustainability always welcomes ideas and collaboration.
Join a Group
Combine skills and resources to make a larger impact. Plus, meet some inspiring and kindhearted people along the way.
Eco-Action
As Holy Cross’ main student environmental concerns organization, they grow campus consciousness of our relationship to the environment by organizing education, service, and action opportunities in our community. In doing so, they build relationships with departments and student groups across campus, Worcester organizations, and political campaigns for environmental and social justice.
Email Eco-Action | Follow Eco-Action on Instagram
Garden and Beekeeping SPUD Site
As a Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD) site, these students manage the Roots of Justice Campus Garden located behind O'Neil Hall as well as the beehives located behind the athletic fields, explore topics relating to agriculture as well as food production, and support food justice efforts within the Worcester community.
Follow the garden and beekeeping site on Instagram
Immersion Programs
Offered by the Office of the College Chaplains, the Spring Break Immersion Program offers Holy Cross students the opportunity to build relationships across economic, regional, and cultural differences with people throughout the U.S.
Learn more about Immersion Programs
Outdoors Club
This student organization facilitates outdoor activities for students and plans off-campus outings for members of the Holy Cross Community.
Quercus: HC's Employee Environmental Alliance
Quercus, Latin for oak, unites environmental allies from across campus to form a supportive community around environmental action. Open to all Holy Cross faculty and staff, our mission is to: 1) Nurture an active network of faculty and staff environmental allies; 2) Communicate environmental messages more widely and encourage broader participation in campus environmental initiatives; 3) Support individual students and student groups interested in environmental topics (e.g. Eco-Action and the Holy Cross Green Fund).
Talk to Holy Cross Environmental Allies
Students across campus dedicate their time to environmental action specifically at Holy Cross. Make your voice heard by contacting these environmental allies.
- Britt Axelson '21, co-director of sustainability for the Student Government Association
- Lucia Ardizzone '23, HC natural area intern
- Maxwell Benford '21, marketing intern
- Elyse Cote '23, food innovation intern
- Hannah Delea '23, food innovation intern
- Kimberly Fetherston '22, Eco-Action co-chair
- Anne Kiernan '23, sustainability careers intern
- Renee Leblanc '21, Eco-Action co-chair
- Hannah Leggett '23, garden and beekeeping SPUD site leader
- Sophie Haywood '21, green living certification intern
- Raphaella Mascia '21, student manager for the Holy Cross Green Fund
- Connor McNerney '22, co-director of sustainability for the Student Government Association
- Monica Martinez '21, environmental policy intern
- Madeline Peplinski '22, HC natural area intern
- Will Sampson '24, environmental policy intern
- Lily Sneesby '21, marketing intern
- Jacob Wright '21, marketing intern
Breakfast in B.E.D
Environmental student leaders casually meet each week during the semester for big-hearted environmental discussions (B.E.D). All students are welcome and encouraged to attend. Review the schedule on MyHC.
Implement a Project or an Event
Holy Cross Green Fund
Established and funded by students, the Holy Cross Green Fund offers grant funding to students, faculty, and staff that implement campus sustainability projects that improve sustainability and support students.
Learn more about the Holy Cross Green Fund
Purple Goes Green Week
Each April, parties from across campus unite to offer a week's worth of programming that bring awareness to the environment. Add your event to the schedule by contacting the director of sustainability.
Increase Sustainability Literacy
Build foundational knowledge about environmental topics.
Environmental Studies
The Environmental Studies major, minor and individual courses explore contemporary and past environmental issues, including a hands-on examination of their causes, mechanisms and effects. The program investigates local, national and global issues through a multi-disciplinary study of culture, art, economics, history, biology, and the physical sciences.
Learn more about the Environmental Studies program
Geosciences
The Geosciences minor explores our Earth’s complex systems and the relationships between the solid earth, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere.
Learn more about the Geosciences program
Weiss Summer Research Program
The nine-week program enables students to dive deep into a problem of their own devising, or to work closely alongside a mentor on their own research.
Learn more about the Weiss Summer Research Program
The Natural World Cluster in Montserrat
First-year students explore humans' relationship with the natural world by linking seminar and co-curricular activities.
Learn more about the Natural World Cluster in Montserrat
Take Individual Action
Green Living Certification
The Green Living Certification, hosted by the Office of Sustainability, recognizes students for their positive environmental choices. Certification is simple. Complete at least one action item in each of the six categories on the MyHC checklist and submit the form. Certifications reset in August, so students must complete the form annually to maintain their status.
Review the Green Living Certification checklist
Low Carbon Choices
- Report leaky faucets, stuck windows, and flickering lights to Facilities at x2263 so Holy Cross can maximize efficiency.
- Share resources such as printers, vacuums, minifridges, etc. Sharing these resources will reduce manufacturing, shipping and disposal energy, and the usage of utilities.
- Keep exterior doors and windows closed unless it is a nice day out and close the window when you leave the space. This practice allows heating and cooling systems to remain highly efficient.
- Recycle right to reduce contamination: 1) Recycle all empty plastic bottles, cans, paper and cardboard. 2) Keep food and liquid out of the recycling. 3) No plastic bags.
- Select alternative forms of transportation (e.g., walking, biking, and telecommuting) to reduce emissions associated with travel.