Current Programs

Current Programs

Chapman's Office of Sustainability is dedicated to promoting sustainable practices on campus and within our community. Learn about current programs they are running. 

Ecolympics 2024

Ecolympics is back for Fall 2024! This semester all of the on-campus residence halls will be competing to see who can reduce their electricity usage the most. Residents are tasked with unplugging electronics when not in use, shutting off lights, and reducing overall electricity consumption to help their residence hall get ahead! The competition will run in October and November and the winners will be announced in December. Each dorm’s energy use will be tracked in October and November, and the dorm that decreased their energy use the most when compared to their September (baseline) energy use will win. Leaderboard updates will be shared at the halfway mark in November and the winning dorm will be announced in December.The residents of the dorm that reduces the most energy consumption and wins the Ecolympics, will each be awarded $50 in Panther Bucks.

Download our Energy Conservation Tips Flyer! 

Weigh the Waste

Weigh the Waste was created as an educational program geared toward promoting post-consumer food waste reduction. During these events we collect uneaten food and drinks off students' plates during lunch before they leave the dining hall. After arranging the food onto trays, the Office of Sustainability calculates the weight of the discarded edible food waste. The trays are then put on display for the remainder of the day to spread awareness through a visual representation of the amount of food wasted in a single meal period.

We will be hosting the next Weigh the Waste events this semester in October and November! Follow and check back on our Instagram, @sustainchapman, for updates on when we'll be hosting our next Weigh the Waste event at Randall Dining Hall. We are always accepting volunteers and you can sign up using the link below!

Volunteer at Weigh the Waste 

Regalia Reuse

The Regalia Reuse program offers a more sustainable option for graduating students to celebrate this milestone. Donated caps, gowns, and other regalia gear donated from past Chapman graduates are recycled and available for current graduating seniors to use during their graduation ceremony. Reuse of these items helps to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by diverting them from landfills and cutting down on production of new regalia items. 

Are you a recent graduate looking to donate your regalia to our program? Please email sustainability@chapman.edu for details on how to donate. 

The reservation form for Spring 2024 graduates is now closed. The reservation form linked below is no longer active and will be opened again next Spring for 2025 graduates.

Reserve Regalia to Borrow 

Drought Tolerant Landscaping

Chapman has added several drought-tolerant landscapes throughout our campus, and we continue to identify areas where we can add landscapes that highlight California native plants and welcome pollinators.

Take the Water-Wise Landscape Tour