Penn State Sustainability is highlighting the University's wide-ranging contributions to global sustainability through its SDG Progress page, a centralized resource that connects Penn State's research, teaching, operations and community engagement to the United Nations' global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Located within the "By the Numbers" section of the Penn State Sustainability website, the SDG Progress page allows visitors to explore how the University is advancing all 17 SDGs, from "No Poverty" and "Zero Hunger" to "Climate Action" and "Partnerships for the Goals." The page serves as a public-facing hub for sustainability-related data, examples and stories from across Penn State's campuses and global partnerships.
Developed by Penn State Sustainability with initial design support from the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research, the page originally was created in part to support reporting for Penn State's participation in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. More broadly, it reflects an ongoing effort to make the University's sustainability work more visible, accessible and connected.
"The SDG Progress page demonstrates the breadth and depth of work happening across the University," said Krista Bailey, assistant director of sustainability strategy and assessment for Penn State Sustainability. "It allows people to see how our research, teaching, and operations directly contribute to global goals, from 'Responsible Consumption' to 'Good Health and Well-Being'."
For Diana DeLeon, a fourth-year student studying civil engineering with a minor in engineering leadership development, helping to develop the SDG Progress page has also served as a valuable professional and academic experience.
"Seeing the impact that the University has on the future of sustainability has made me proud to be a Penn State student, and eager to find avenues on how to get more involved with the resources, research and opportunities that the University provides," DeLeon said. "Even if individuals aren't interested in sustainability work, I would encourage any student to visit the page since it details scholarship, mentoring, career, legal, and personal resources that the University provides free to students. Being aware of these resources can help any student maximize their time at Penn State."
Previously, Penn State publicly tracked progress on a limited number of SDGs. The expanded platform now provides access to information related to all 17 goals, enabling students, faculty, staff and external audiences to better understand the University's collective impact.
Each SDG icon on the page links to a dedicated subpage featuring examples of relevant research, courses, initiatives and publications. Users can also explore data visualizations, including trends in SDG-related scholarly output, helping illustrate how sustainability is embedded across disciplines and programs.
By organizing this work within an internationally recognized framework, the SDG Progress page also strengthens Penn State's visibility in national and global sustainability assessments.
"Providing this level of insight supports stronger performance in sustainability rankings," Bailey said. "But more importantly, it acknowledges and uplifts the incredible work being done across our campuses and with partners around the world."
The page highlights Penn State's strong performance in sustainability metrics, including its copyrighted Gold STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) rating through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and its continued presence in the THE Impact Rankings. These recognitions reflect the University's commitments in areas such as academics, engagement, operations, planning and research, DeLeon said.
"Recognizing sustainability work at Penn State is important because it demonstrates how Penn State is a leader in the future of sustainable development across higher education. This could inspire people directly or indirectly involved with the University to start thinking critically about how human activity impacts complex social/environmental systems and hopefully motivate future change," DeLeon said. "It is especially important for students to see since they could be the first to accelerate that process by getting involved in the research, outreach, and education that make up Penn State's sustainability work."
Bailey emphasized that the SDG Progress page is intended to be a living resource that evolves alongside the University's work.
"When people explore these pages, they often discover something new about Penn State's impact," Bailey said. "Framed within global goals, this work shows how we're advancing student success, strengthening our land-grant mission, and addressing complex social and environmental challenges."
Because of Penn State's size and reach, some projects and initiatives may not yet be represented on the site. Community members are encouraged to contribute information about relevant work to the Penn State Sustainability team.
"We invite students, faculty and staff to share sustainability-related projects that can be showcased," Bailey said. "Expanding this resource helps ensure that the full scope of our collective efforts is recognized and supports Penn State's role as a leader in sustainability."
