Indiana University has a long history of considered stewardship of our campus environment. 

1883

• A 20-acre woodland parcel in Bloomington was purchased from Moses Fell Dunn as the site for the new Indiana University campus. This parcel formed the campus core and later become known as Dunn's Woods and the Old Crescent.

1923

• The Olmstead Brothers world-renowned landscape architecture firm provided a report to university administrators advising retention of Dunn's Woods as a park.

2007

• Faculty, staff, and students charged with the development of a Task Force on Campus Sustainability (IUB) by then-vice president Terry Clapacs and provost Michael McRobbie.

2008

• IU Task Force on Campus Sustainability completed comprehensive sustainability planning for the Bloomington campus.
• Office of Sustainability (IUB) officially created.
• First Director of Sustainability (IUB) hired.

2009

• Research & Teaching Preserve at IU Bloomington becomes IU's first LEED project, receiving Silver certification.

2010

• Indiana University Bloomington Campus Master Plan calls for the preservation and sustainable management of natural features; the restoration of riparian corridors on campus; the creation of new memorable spaces; improvements to campus edges and gateways; and the enhancement of the pedestrian realm. The plan also calls for doubling the percentage of campus tree cover to help reduce air pollution and stormwater runoff, and provide carbon storage and sequestration.

2013

• Glick Eye Institute at IUPUI becomes IU's first LEED Gold certified project.

2014

• Bicentennial Strategic Plan calls for implementation of plans to solidify IU's focus on efficient and environmentally conscious campus design and operation including certifying all major new buildings with the LEED Green Building Certification System and elevating the minimum certification level to Gold, and increasing energy and utility system efficiency while reducing demand and consumption.

2017

•  Announcement of second IU Grand Challenge initiative: Prepared for Environmental Change. This initiative created the Environmental Resilience Institute.

2022

• President Pamela Whitten establishes Climate Action Planning Committee