Student sustainability educator programs are peer-to-peer learning or training opportunities.

Co-curricular activities are an important part of University of Illinois students' development as outside activities that increase understanding of academic knowledge. As such, sustainability co-curricular activities are of increasing importance at the University. Identify existing and propose new co-curricular opportunities for sustainability education is an important part of the iCAP commitment to engage students, develop cross-campus partnerships, and inspire a wide range of exciting and crucial scholarship in environmental and sustainable projects.

One of the goals of the 2010 Illinois Climate Action Plan is to create a community of scholarship around the Plan. The iCAP suggests developing an interdisciplinary reasearch seminar for graduate students as one way in which this goal can be achieved. Those who take part in the seminar would be exposed to the plan as a whole and would contribute to its evolution and implementation through research.

The Office of Sustainability has been working to further Illinois’ research mission, particularly in sustainability research.  Recent work by partners in the Office of Corporate Relations includes an inventory of sustainability research conducted by faculty on the Urbana-Champaign campus. This inventory revealed more than 120 faculty conducting research in the arena of sustainability.  Eventually, this inventory will be posted online to enable both the public to identify experts and for faculty to locate partners on potential research projects.

Developing a definition of sustainability education for our campus is a key step that will allow us to identify existing opportunities that educate our future leaders.  In addition, it will provide insight for the creation of new opportunities.

Research is central to the sustainability of the University and the region. Already a world leader in sustainability and climate research, Illinois is developing opportunities for researchers from diverse disciplines to come together to explore new frontiers in discovering solutions to the challenges ahead.

Implement full-cost accounting and life-cycle analysis structures for major purchases and categories with a cost threshold to be determined

The 2015 iCAP, chapter 6, objective 1, is "By FY17, environmental standards will be applied to purchases of office paper, cleaning products, computers, other electronics, and freight/package delivery services. At least 50% of purchases in these categories will meet campus standards by FY20, and 75% by FY25."

In FY2011, cooling towers constituted 30 percent of the total water use on campus. Due to the large water use of these towers, a ‘True Cost of Water Study’ was performed on with goals of benchmarking water use in cooling towers and generating ideas for improving water use efficiency. The study was conducted by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in collaboration with Facilities and Services and was funded by the Student Sustainability Committee.

The 2015 iCAP, chapter 5, objective 1, is "Obtain and publicize more granular water use data by FY16, including water quantity and quality data where available." The campus should obtain and publicize the usage, costs, and quality of water for campus.