$10M investment to invigorate sustainability education at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder
Left to right: Vice Chancellor for Sustainability Andrew Mayock, alumnus and donor Spike Buckley, and Chancellor Justin Schwartz at the signing ceremony.
A $10 million gift from a 麻豆免费版下载Boulder alumnus will transform the way sustainability is taught at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥攅mpowering students and faculty to create a more environmentally sustainable future in the face of a changing climate.
Through a venture-style investment designed for rapid impact, the gift from Spike Buckley will establish the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education. Buckley鈥檚 donation will provide $2 million annually for the next five years to implement a robust sustainability curriculum across campus, advance faculty impact and educate students for a more sustainable future.
鈥溌槎姑夥寻嫦略谺oulder is already a powerhouse in sustainability and climate research,鈥 said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. 鈥淪pike's remarkably generous gift will allow us to better support the growing number of students across disciplines who are seeking the knowledge, skills and experiences to lead and thrive in a rapidly changing world.鈥
Investing in a more sustainable future 听
Universities play a key role in helping students engage with the environmental challenges shaping our future. The new Buckley Center for Sustainability Education will guide this work at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, providing resources to students, faculty and staff to deepen their knowledge and strengthen their ability to integrate sustainability into the curriculum.
In this way, the center will help respond to the growing demand for sustainability education and support students in their pursuit of meaningful work. 听
Through course development, teaching collaborations, learning modules and tech tools, the center will create best practices and offer support for integrating sustainability concepts into courses across campus. The center will also support faculty in effectively teaching sustainability concepts鈥攆or example, through a fellowships program, curriculum ambassadors, professional development and recognition for outstanding sustainability educators.
鈥淭he Buckley Center will use a hub-and-spoke approach to accelerate this work, serving as the central coordinator for sustainability-related curricular efforts on campus,鈥 said Andrew Mayock, 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 vice chancellor for sustainability.听听
鈥淏y fostering a collaborative and dynamic environment for learning, research and real-world application, the center will not only prepare students to tackle environmental challenges but empower them to lead global solutions.鈥听
Lastly, all students on campus will have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning, civic engagement, career pathways and leadership development related to sustainability, including through a new, competitive Buckley Scholars Program for students committed to sustainability work.听
麻豆免费版下载Boulder is uniquely equipped to continue its leadership role in sustainability education. By combining its legacy of environmental leadership鈥攊ncluding its fifth STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education鈥攚ith world-renowned research institutes, academic programs and local partners, the university is an ideal hub for advancing innovative learning.听
鈥淭he impact of these efforts will resonate around the world, preparing graduates who are equipped to shape a sustainable future for all,鈥 Mayock said.听
A legacy of impact听
is a proud graduate of 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 economics program and a successful real estate redeveloper with four decades of experience across the U.S. and Canada. A longtime environmental philanthropist and advocate, Buckley founded the nonprofit Earth鈥檚 Call Fund in 2019 and in 2021 to help discover and fund climate solutions.听听
He has been recognized for his leadership in climate action, including with the Earth Legacy Leadership Award from the American Renewable Energy Day Summit in 2019. He has also served on the boards of several organizations focused on climate, public health and technology, and actively supports a wide range of environmental and conservation causes.听
Buckley's gift to establish the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education underscores his confidence and commitment to advancing education in areas critical to the planet鈥檚 future.听
鈥淭hanks to recent initiatives, events and awards, 麻豆免费版下载finds itself uniquely positioned to take a leadership role among universities in the drive toward a more sustainable world,鈥 said Buckley. 鈥淚t is my fervent hope that 麻豆免费版下载students, faculty and alumni will ultimately see the Center for Sustainability Education as their vehicle to make the world a better place for future generations.鈥听
This gift is part of 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 strategic vision and investments in a more sustainable future. For more information, visit colorado.edu/sustainability.听
Sustainability at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder听
听Recognition and rankings听
- First university to earn and maintain a STARS Gold rating for five consecutive cycles听
- Ranked 11th in the U.S. for sustainability by QS World University Rankings (2024)听
- Top five global rankings in earth and atmospheric sciences听
Pioneering achievements听
- First U.S. campus with a student-run Environmental Center (1970)听
- Launched the nation鈥檚 first campus recycling program (1976)听
- Among the first universities to commit to carbon neutrality (2007)听
- First major college football stadium with a zero-waste program听
- First university to sign the UN鈥檚 Sports for Climate Change Action Framework听听听
Academic and research leadership听
- Sustainability to be integrated across all colleges and schools through the Sustainable Futures Common Curriculum听
- Strong national and global research collaborations with federal labs, NGOs and industry partners听
- Established the campus-wide Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI) in 2024听
Climate action and innovation听
- Climate Action Plan targets 50% emissions reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050听
- Investments in solar, geothermal and electric fleet upgrades听
- Zero-waste and net-zero initiatives in athletics facilities听
- Eliminated single-use beverage plastics on campus (2025)听
National leadership and partnerships听
- Founding member of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3)听
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)听
- Co-hosted the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit with the UN (2022)听
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