Universities and colleges have been slow to take climate-related action considering their unique dual roles of supporting climate change research and education of the generation who will be most confronted with managing this crisis. In addition to legacy programs which have focused on climate issues for decades, more recently there have been historic efforts to advance sustainability and climate initiatives. In this article, the authors shares the story of one university's commitment to accelerate its climate change agenda. They trace the origins of University of Southern California (USC)'s effort and its evolution from a handful of faculty meetings in a conference room to a university-wide effort that has impacted almost every aspect of campus life in just a few years.