President Lauds Sustainability Progress in State of the University Address

University of Louisville President James Ramsey lauded the school's progress in social justice and sustainability during his twelfth annual State of the University address to a packed house in Comstock Hall on September 16, 2015.

Dr. Ramsey told the assembled body of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends that "our sustainability initiatives continue to be nationally recognized. Few, if any, have done more than the University of Louisville to not only reduce our carbon footprint, but to convert brownfield sites into beautiful, valuable campus facilities. We have again this year been recognized as a Sierra Club "Cool School" - the only school in Kentucky to make the list!"

President Ramsey also lauded our progress in areas of diversity, health, fiscal responsibility, and social justice, all of which are just as important to achieving sustainability as environmental performance. Highlights from the address include:

  • "Diversity, social justice, and respect for all individuals are core values at UofL - a theme of the 2020 Plan - something we are committed to daily and not just when it is politically correct."
  • "We began the payment of a living wage to our employees long before actions by our city or state."
  • "UofL has been recently chosen one of the Top 25 Healthiest Colleges in the U.S.!"
  • "The University of Louisville has been the leader in Kentucky and the South on LGBT issues by being the first public institution to offer health insurance for domestic partners and the first public university to create an LGBT center on campus. And just this past month we were selected to the Campus Pride's Top 25 LGBT-friendly list of colleges and universities - the top 25 in the country!"

Access the full text and video of the 2015 State of the University address here.