CSU has garnered even more recognition for sustainability, earning a high slot in Sierra Magazine‘s “Coolest Schools” ranking of top green colleges in addition to being on The Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll for 2015.
CSU appears in the 11th position on the list of nearly 175 universities published by the Sierra Club. The Sierra ranking recognizes commitment to upholding high environmental standards.
The ranking comes on the heels of CSU’s being named to The Princeton Review 2015 Green Honor Roll. This elite list includes only 24 universities across the nation, all of which scored 99 out of 99 on an annual sustainability assessment.
“As home to some of the world’s most respected environmental scientists, scholars and programs, Colorado State has a longstanding commitment to sustainability education and sustainable operations,” said Colorado State President Tony Frank. “We are particularly grateful to the students, faculty and staff who, year after year, continue to come up with innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact, improve our responsible use of resources, and deepen our understanding of our planet and its environment. This ranking represents an extraordinary, communitywide commitment over a long period of time.”
Green Honor Roll recognizes broad range of efforts
The Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll tallied scores for 861 colleges. Reviewers looked at a broad range of sustainability factors including recycling and waste diversion programs, course offerings, food programs, alternative transportation programs, efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sustainability learning outcomes.
The Green Honor Roll is released as part of the Princeton Review’s guide for students who want to attend green colleges. It also includes Columbia University, Cornell, Stanford, Harvard and Lewis & Clark College. The only other Colorado university to make the list is the Colorado Springs campus of the University of Colorado.
The Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll is released in conjunction with the 2015 edition of “The 379 Best Colleges” in the nation, where CSU was listed among the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education today. Students surveyed by The Princeton Review say that CSU is a “hidden gem,” providing hands-on experience to prepare students for the real world in a place that offers a “wonderful education, friendly people and an awesome culture” along with “excellent” green efforts and a myriad of research opportunities. As part of the ranking, the university also was named a Best Western College.
CSU makes Sierra Magazine list
CSU’s inclusion on the Sierra ranking marks a first in the university’s history. Universities are recognized for research, innovative solutions to power campuses, and recycling, among other wide-ranging sustainability commitments, based on a survey of more than 150 universities across the nation. The current list is the magazine’s eight annual ranking. CSU was the only Colorado university in the top 25; University of Colorado-Boulder ranked 37th.
“Colorado State University is tremendously proud of its accomplishments in sustainability, and we continue to strive toward leading other universities in setting the bar for teaching and modeling sustainability,” said Amy Parsons, vice president for University Operations. “CSU provides a unique place for students and for employees to pursue their passion for sustainability and making a difference through education and innovation.”
Colorado State is the leading university in STARS, a national sustainability tracking and assessment rating system, considered the most comprehensive and well-respected college and university sustainability assessment system. CSU currently holds the highest score ever awarded.
In addition, Colorado State is home to 13 LEED Gold buildings, including two buildings currently pursuing LEED Platinum certification. CSU also founded the first on-campus emission control program in the United States, and was one of the first universities in the nation to offer green power to students who live on campus. Today the Fort Collins campus is powered in part by one of the largest solar arrays installed on any college campus.
