Earth Month at Creighton University

For 55 years, the world has reserved the month of April to celebrate our planet and focus on ways we can come together to care for our common home.

As a Jesuit, Catholic university dedicated to the health and well-being of all God’s creation, Creighton is similarly committed to the meaningful and impactful ways in which we can make a difference. This means serving as an authentic source of hope for our students – past, present and future.

“Sustainability at Creighton isn’t just about being efficient or saving money; it’s about inspiring our students, faculty, staff, and alumni,” Andrew Baruth, PhD, director of sustainability and professor of physics, says. “Whether it’s a student realizing their compostable cup will break down into new soil or a staff member feeling supported when their course highlights how sustainability connects to their profession, every small moment reinforces the role we all have in shaping our shared future.”

Through the Office of Sustainability Programs and being guided by our Sustainable Creighton Initiative, Earth Month 2025 features many important stories of how our students, faculty, staff and alumni are building a healthier, more hopeful world for all.

Creighton Closet

Creighton Inter Residence Hall Government opened the new Creighton Closet on April 2. This space in the lower level of McGloin Hall allows faculty, staff and students to donate unwanted, gently used professional and winter clothes that can be picked up for use by Creighton students. More information is available on Instagram.

Geothermal Wells

When Creighton’s new sophomore residence hall opens in fall 2026 it will be partially heated and cooled through geothermal technology, which uses the ground beneath the Earth’s crust to distribute and absorb energy. On Thursday, April 10, the public is invited to attend a presentation by Conservation Nebraska and Morrissey Engineering on how this sustainable power source is being used in buildings across Nebraska and beyond. Register today.

Sustainable Course Search

Enrolled students can now search for sustainability-related courses in Creighton’s online course catalogue, the Nest. The Sustainable Creighton Initiative has set a goal of 90% of academic departments offering at least one course that leverages sustainability topics as a lens to understand concepts and practical applications across a variety of fields by 2028.

Sustaining Our Planet

Rooted in our Jesuit values and our care for all of God’s creation, sustainability on campus shows up in both big initiatives and small, everyday moments. Take time during Earth Month to read up on just some of the efforts—and impact—happening across campus.

Beyond Paper and Plastic

Proper waste disposal doesn’t end at recycling. Creighton has many ways to sustainably remove items ranging from glass to medical waste. These materials demand a systemic, lifecycle-based approach known as sustainable materials management. Learn more about waste disposal.

Did You Know?

• Creighton offers a Bachelor of Arts in sustainability? A sustainability degree from Creighton will prepare you to help make a more livable future in your community and around the world. The program launched in 1991 and also allows students to earn a concentration in sustainability studies across other programs.
• Creighton is just one of 130 Universities to hold a Silver recognition from the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education with a goal to earn a Gold designation in 2026.
• In addition to the use of geothermal wells in Creighton’s new sophomore residence hall, Creighton’s freshman dorm, Graves Hall, is the first North American facility to use VirtuHOT HD, a next-generation solar thermal collector from Naked Energy. The technology significantly saves on water heating costs and assists the University in achieving sustainability goals.
• The Creighton Student Sustainability Action Fund (CSSAF) provides financial support to student-driven sustainability initiatives looking to build a culture of care for our planet.

Learn more about Sustainable Creighton and the Sustainable Creighton Initiative on the Creighton University website.