How Does Ball State Contribute to Sustainability?

Ball State University has a long history of internationally-recognized sustainability leadership. Our achievements include:

The formation of our Council on the Environment (COTE), the longest-standing environmental sustainability committee within the Indiana higher education community (2001)
President Jo Ann Gora joining 11 other university presidents to initiate the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment to become climate neutral (2006)
Becoming a charter member of the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) a reporting platform for colleges and universities (2011).
Implementing one of the largest geothermal district heating and cooling systems in the nation (Initiated in 2009 and final phase completed in 2015).

Ball State has many sustainability initiatives on and off campus that improve the health and well-being of the environment, protect and enhance it, and that foster economic growth and prosperity on campus and in the Muncie community. Find out more below about what the university is doing for sustainability on campus and in the community.

There are also actions you can take to help make Ball State a more sustainable campus.

On Campus
Community

On Campus

Allègre Restaurant

The Allègre Restaurant is an on-campus, student-run restaurant. Students prepare and cook meals for patrons, while using sustainable cooking methods, utilizing sustainable produce, and creating zero waste. Students also sometimes utilize food resources grown on campus.

Visit the Allègre website

Arboretum

Ball State’s campus has approximately 7,000 trees with over 600 different varieties of trees on its campus and is accredited as a Level 2 Arboretum by Arbnet. Five tree trails—Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, and Orange Trails—are available for students, faculty, staff, and the general public to enjoy.

Visit the Arboretum Website

Basic Needs Hub

The Basic Needs Hub is a virtual center for resources available to students experiencing basic needs insecurity. Students can find support and assistance with food, housing, financial emergencies, and health and wellness. Faculty can find a suggested Basic Needs Syllabus Statement and get educated on resources available for students.

Visit the Basic Needs Hub Website

Cardinal Kitchen (Food Pantry)

Cardinal Kitchen serves as Ball State’s on-campus food pantry for students in need. It has non-perishable foods, personal hygiene and toiletry items, and limited amounts of bread, fresh fruits, and vegetables. It is available to both graduate and undergraduate students. Please check with Cardinal Kitchen for its operating hours. For those who cannot align with opening hours, contact the Office of Student Life for further assistance or to pick up grab-and-go bags.

Visit the Cardinal Kitchen Website

Climate Action Plan

As a founding member of American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2006, Ball State compiled a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory in 2008 and then created a Climate Action Plan in 2010 that outlined strategies that Ball State University would implement to achieve climate neutrality, which is a zero net-carbon-dioxide-equivalent of emissions into the atmosphere. It updated the Climate Action Plan in 2013. In 2024-2025, Ball State updated that to an Environmental Stewardship Plan. The planning process included student, faculty, and staff focus groups, surveys, and stakeholder interviews that re-affirmed our focus areas to achieve our stated goals. We are focused on building, renovating, and operating high-performing, efficient, and accessible buildings; optimizing for an efficient, multi-modal campus transportation system and fleet; reducing campus waste; and fostering a knowledgeable, values-aligned, and thriving campus culture.

Learn More About the BSU Climate Action Plan

Geothermal System

Ball State has one of the largest geothermal energy systems in the nation. This ground-source, closed loop, district-scale system provides heating and cooling for close to 50 buildings on campus and provides Ball State with numerous environmental, health, and financial benefits. It reduced the university’s carbon emissions to half of what it used to be, eliminated four coal-fired boilers, and continues to save the university money because it is a highly efficient system that helps us manage rising energy costs.

Learn More About Ball State's Geothermal System

LEED Certified Buildings

All new buildings and building renovations on the Ball State campus aim to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification at minimum. This requires strategic design-for-sustainability in site selection, energy, water, and materials use, as well as healthy indoor environmental quality. In addition, Ball State students enrolled in LEED Lab courses have the opportunity to work in collaboration with faculty to help certify new campus buildings as well as recertify previously certified LEED buildings.

Find Out More about Ball State's LEED Certified Buildings

STARS

Ball State was a charter member of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), a transparent framework for colleges and universities to measure and self-report their sustainability performance. STARS was developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) with broad participation from the higher education community. There are 5 recognition levels—Reporter, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Ball State is currently Gold rated.

Find Out More About Ball State's Stars RAting

Community

8twelve Coalition

The 8Twelve Coalition is an organization of dedicated members of the Muncie Community with the goal of community revitalization. Through their efforts, they work on community-based projects and fundraising to improve the quality of life for Muncie Residents. The 8twelve Coalition also frequently partners with Ball State University faculty, typically in the Communications and Public Relations fields. Faculty are able to implement hands on, high-impact projects into their courses.

This partnership not only gives PR students a chance to get interactive, hands-on experience in their desired field, but also gives the 8twelve Coalition additional help in promoting events and telling the important stories of members of the community.

Learn More

Food Hub Partnership

The Muncie Food Hub Partnership’s (MFHP) goal is to provide fresh and affordable food for the Muncie Community, especially products produced locally. Through business development, education, and engagement with the community, the MFHP hopes to increase access to food overall. By tackling the issue of food insecurity, the Muncie community can in turn lead happier and healthier lifestyles.

Learn More

Muncie Schools Partnership

Under Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns, the university established a partnership with Muncie Community Schools (MCS), making BSU the first university in the United States to oversee a public school district. With the partnership, the main goal is to help address various problems faced by MCS, including declining enrollment and financial hardship.

Learn More

Ball State Sustainability