Kelley School launches Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability

The Indiana University Kelley School of Business is establishing the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability, the school announced Monday. The institute is designed to “better support and broaden” research in environmental and social sustainability already being done at the school’s locations in Bloomington and Indianapolis.

The Kelley School said nearly 45 professors representing all of its departments are actively engaged in such research. Associate Dean for Research Rebecca Slotegraaf said the institute will delve into areas that many other business schools aren’t focusing on.

“We offer experience and expertise, and our students want to be even more engaged in this area. And our corporate partners and alumni are looking to us to provide leadership,” Slotegraaf said in written remarks. “This institute will help us build stronger momentum and have an innovative impact.”

IU said enrollment in an undergraduate course on sustainability law and police has tripled since 2017, while the school added new courses in climate law and policy, as well as business and poverty alleviation have been introduced in recent years.

The school said new courses and educational opportunities will be added with the new institute.

Additionally, the institute plans to grow the amount of live case study teaching with business partners and provide more opportunities for students to do micro-consulting and service learning, IU said.

Slotengraaf adds the institute aims to create a global presence and officials are already speaking with business schools with an emphasis on sustainability in Europe and Latin America.

The institute will be led by Clinical Professor of Business Law and Ethics Kelly Eskew and Associate professor of Operations and Decision Technologies Owen Wu.

Eskew said sustainability and climate change have become major issues for investors.

“You cannot do business in a global marketplace unless your company is paying attention to sustainable business management and to climate mitigation and adaptation efforts,” Eskew said. “Investors are insisting that companies pay attention to this. It makes companies more resilient when there are economic shocks; it helps to draw talent like our excellent Kelley students.”

You can learn more about the institute by clicking here.