Our Mission



"It is only by the adjustment to the processes of nature that man, like all other living creatures, can establish a friendly balance that will make life on this planet possible for generations not yet born."

- Fairfield Osborn, Our Plundered Planet (1948)


Sonoma State University is  reconstructing itself as a "green campus." Evidence of this commitment lies in the Strategic Plan, our green building programs and practices and the enthusiasm of our faculty and students surrounding sustainability issues, and the addition of a sixth strategic priority addressing sustainability to the University's mission statement.

What do we see as the elements of our sustainable campus? We believe that there are several foundation elements: economic justice, human rights, protection of biodiversity, democratic processes, equality, quality of life, respectful communication, and respect for the natural world.

The commitment to building of sustainable buildings is also a visible demonstration of a University's commitment to principles of a sustainable future and an investment in students who will be educated in these green settings.

What approach should we take beyond the physical plant?  As part of our curiculum, the faculty of SSU will engage in research, innovation, and service-learning activities which address these issues.

Our graduates will become our economic, social, community and scientific leaders; our environmentally literate graduates will contribute to sustainable businesses, communities as well as protecting our environment for future generations.

They will comprehend their role in an increasing interconnected world in which many environmental problems are global, as well as local, and require vision and solutions that can encompass the entire planet.