CANTON – St. Lawrence University has joined the EcoLeague, a consortium of liberal arts institutions committed to ecologically focused education, research, and modeling sustainability in operations and facilities.

Coordinated by Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, the EcoLeague includes institutions across the U.S., such as Alaska Pacific University, College of the Atlantic, New College of Florida, and Northland College.

St. Lawrence offers a broad range of environmentally themed courses, outdoor leadership experiences, and hands-on learning focused on the North Country region of New York, including the Adirondacks and the St. Lawrence watershed, as well as East Africa (through the Kenya Semester Program and summer courses) and the neotropics.

The University recently inaugurated the Center for the Environment to empower future leaders through education, advocacy, and action, aligning with its strategic framework launched in 2024. All students must meet an environmental literacy requirement, supported by more than 70 courses across the curriculum. Many first-year offerings emphasize sustainability and environmental justice.

“I have long been a proponent of collaborations, and I’m delighted about St. Lawrence joining the EcoLeague,” says Diane Husic, Executive Director of the Center for the Environment. “This will provide exciting opportunities for students and faculty to forge new scholarly partnerships.”

St. Lawrence completed a detailed application process, including documentation of academic programs and sustainability efforts, along with conversations with EcoLeague leaders and members.

The University’s involvement enhances student and faculty experiences and adds to the consortium’s academic and research offerings. “St. Lawrence students seek off-campus learning, and the EcoLeague’s exchange component will give them new study options across diverse ecosystems,” says Husic. “We also look forward to hosting students from other institutions in the North Country.”

The 1,000-acre campus features the Living Lab property, Wachtmeister Field Station, and the Adirondack Semester—an immersive off-campus program where students live in a yurt village. The University also owns the Canaras Conference Center on Saranac Lake and a compound in Nairobi for use by EcoLeague students.

“St. Lawrence’s partnership brings unique assets as the EcoLeague begins its third decade of environmental education,” says Consortium Director Brady McCartney. “Our member colleges will benefit greatly from the addition of St. Lawrence’s students, faculty, and staff.”