What does it mean to be sustainable?

Our campus is sustainable because it is environmentally healthy, economically sufficient and socially inclusive. Breaking up the word "sustainability" into these three parts (environmental, economic and social) helps us adequately define sustainability on our campus.

Earth Month 2022

  • April 6, Noon: PFAS Webinar

    PFAS Webinar

    April 6, Noon
    Virtual

    Learn more about PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals" (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances).

    Join the Webinar

  • April 13, Noon: Gardening and Planting Webinar & Pot a Plant Event

    Gardening and Planting Webinar & Pot a Plant Event

    April 13, Noon to 2 p.m.

    Virtual and In-person (A-1061)

    Our in-person and simultaneous webinar about planting and gardening will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Directly after in A-1061, we will host a "pot a plant" you can take home from 1 to 2 p.m.

    Join the Webinar

  • April 18, 11 a.m.: A Piece of JJC Terrariums

    A Piece of JJC Terrariums

    April 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    Meet outside the cafeteria on Main Campus

    Make terrariums out of materials found throughout the JJC natural areas and bring it home with you. 

     

  • April 19, Noon: Earth Day Sustainability Soiree

    Earth Day Sustainability Soiree

    April 19, Noon
    JJC Bridge, Main Campus

    Join us at the Bridge! Grab some food, a T-shirt, and enjoy the soiree! Videos will play through the day highlighting several different issues of the three pillars: Environment, Equity and Economy. There will also be an open mic to address these topics.

  • April 20, Noon: Advocate for Environmental Legislation

    Advocate for Environmental Legislation

    April 20, Noon
    A-1061 and Virtual

    We hope you'll attend our webinar to learn how you can advocate for environmental legislation and make a difference in our community. Speaker Ann Bakersville works for the Illinois Sierra Club as a conservation organizer. She has worked previously as a paraprofessional in the Plainfield School District and as a research assistant at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    Join Environmental Legislation Webinar

  • April 21, 2 p.m.: Fen Tour

    Fen Tour

    April 21, 2 p.m. 
    Meet outside of the cafeteria on Main Campus (by the patio)

    Join Professor Andy Neill in touring JJC's beautiful Fen.

     

  • April 27: Biomimicry Webinar (Virtual & In-Person)

    Biomimicry Webinar (Virtual & In-Person)

    April 27, Noon to 1 p.m.
    A-1061, Main Campus

    Trained as an architect, Amy Coffman Phillips seeks to build connections between people and nature through design. Biomimicry is the design and production of materials, structures and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes.

    Join Biomimicry Webinar

  • April 28, 6 p.m.: "Dark Waters" Film Screening

    "Dark Waters" Film Screening

    April 28, 6 p.m.
    Meet at the JJC Theatre 

    What is in your air and water? The JJC Sustainability Union is partnering with the Coalition for the Protection against PFAS (CPAP) to host a live movie presentation of "Dark Waters." Dark Waters is inspired by the true story of Robert Bilott and stars Mark Ruffalo as the attorney who took on the DuPont company in an environmental suit exposing a decades-long history of chemical pollution in drinking water.

  • April 29, 11 a.m.: Reconnect with Nature - Arbor Day Celebration

    Reconnect with Nature - Arbor Day Celebration

    April 29, 11 a.m.
    Meet at the Arboretum

    Those who show up at 11 a.m. will be treated to a snack. At 11:30, join us for an Arboretum tour, given by JJC's Superintendent of Roads and Grounds Michael Brouillard.

    A meditation segment led by JJC Natural Sciences Professor David Opon will take place after, from noon to 12:30 p.m.

    The event will end with a yoga session from Sage Bodyworks' Kelly Fowler from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

    Refreshments available from 1 to 2 p.m. 

     

  • Win Prizes All Month Long!

    Attend any Earth Month event and get an Earth Day T-shirt! Attend three events and get a metal water bottle. Every event you attend, you'll get a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of three solar-powered battery packs.

Environmental Sustainability at JJC

Environmental sustainability is about not depleting our vital natural resources faster than they are renewed to ensure that people and other species live well now and in the future. You can:

  • Get Priority Parking - Main Campus

    JJC offers priority parking spaces for hybrid and Low Emission Vehicles (LEV).

    View LEV designated parking areas on Main Campus

    Have a hybrid or low emissions vehicle and want to park in one of our spaces? 


    Have an electric car?
    Electric vehicle drivers can park and power up at the same time with JJC's ChargePoint Electric Car Charging Stations. The ChargePoint Electric Car Charging Stations are in East Lot 2.

    electric car charging station joliet junior college jjc

     

  • Solar Panels

    electric car charging station joliet junior college jjcSaving the college more than $1.6 million in electricity expenses over 25 years, JJC's solar array consists of 3,542 solar panels on Main Campus.

    Over the life of this system, it is estimated to produce 61,836,250 kWh of clean and reliable electricity. JJC is expected to offset its total energy consumption by 22.5 percent, making the campus one of the greenest in the state. 

    Other smaller groupings of solar panels, powering sections of lighting, can also be found across campus.  

    More about JJC's Solar Panels

  • Take a Class

    Learn in our environmentally friendly (LEED certified (PDF)) buildings or take a class online. Providing quality education while using the least amount of resources is one of our sustainable priorities.

    Learn more about our facilities and online class offerings.

    See a list of sustainability courses

  • Walk or Bike the Trails

    Explore the self-guided prairie and forest trails on Main Campus! The college has 2.75 miles of paved trail and two miles of unpaved nature trails. The paved trail is part of the Rock Run Trail. The Rock Run Trail connects to the 61-mile I&M Canal Trail.

    There are many landmarks along these trails, such as a limestone wall that was built by Confederate Civil War prisoners. Also, there are granite boulders brought down from the north by a glacier 12,000 years ago.

    View a map of our forest and prairie trails

  • Recycle

    JJC offers recycling for:

    • Paper
    • Bottles and bottle caps (only fall and spring semesters)
    • Cans
    • Tires and motor oil
    • Organic waste
    • Toners and ink cartridges
    • Pens and markers (only fall and spring semesters)
      • JJC recycles expired pens and markers to the company, Terracycle. Terracycle rewards its contributors using a point system that equals donations to three charitable organizations: Charity: Water, Carbon Fund, and Eco Schools USA. 

    Learn more by calling Facilities at extensions x2553 or x2332.

Economic Sustainability at JJC

Economic sustainability is about the economic climate evolving to meet the needs of the people by being efficient, responsible, and dependable for the long term. You can:

  • Save Money

    At JJC, you can complete your associate degree for approximately one third of the cost of two years at a public or private institution.

    View tuition rates

  • Apply for Scholarships

    JJC offers 100+ scholarships every semester and anyone can apply no matter your grades, age, status or financial need.

    Scholarships are awarded based on academic standing, leadership, specialized talents, ethnic origin, financial need, etc.

    Learn more about what scholarships JJC offers.

  • Job Opportunities

    Looking for a part time job as you work through school? JJC offers multiple job and internship opportunities on and off campus.

    Visit the Career Services page.

Social Sustainability at JJC

Social sustainability is about education, diversity, tolerance, inclusion, empathy, and equity achieved by a strong civil society and a developed sense of community. You can: