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Wesleyan named one of Nation’s Most Environmentally Responsible Colleges
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Wesleyan College is one of the country’s most environmentally responsible colleges according to The Princeton Review. The nationally known education services company selected Wesleyan for inclusion in a unique resource created for college applicants, The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges.
Developed by The Princeton Review in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the guide is the first free comprehensive guidebook focused solely on institutions of higher education that have demonstrated an above average commitment to sustainability in terms of campus infrastructure, activities, and initiatives. Wesleyan is one of only six Georgia-based colleges included in the inaugural publication. Others include Agnes Scott College, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, LaGrange College, and the University of Georgia.
Just in time for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day (April 22nd), the guide profiles the nation’s most environmentally responsible campuses. From solar panel study rooms to the percentage of budget spent on local and organic food, The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges looks at an institution’s commitment to building certification using USGBC’s LEED green building certification program, environmental literacy programs, formal sustainability committees, use of renewable energy resources, recycling and conservation programs, and other initiatives. The free Guide can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/greenguide and www.usgbc.org/campus.
“Students and their parents are becoming more and more interested in learning about and attending colleges and universities that practice, teach, and support environmental responsibility,” said Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher, The Princeton Review. “According to our recent College Hope & Worries Survey, 64 percent of college applicants and their parents said having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would impact their decision to apply to or attend it. We created this Guide to help them evaluate how institutions like Wesleyan College focus on environmental responsibility so that they can make informed decisions as they move through the college assessment and application process.”
Wesleyan joins the ranks of outstanding universities and colleges nationwide that are leading the “green” movement through their own special programs and initiatives. In 2007, Wesleyan College President Ruth Knox committed to reducing and eventually neutralizing all of the College’s global warming emissions, and accelerating the research and educational efforts to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. The pledge came with Knox’s signing of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), joining the leaders of 400 other institutions across the country.
After joining the ACUPCC, Wesleyan developed a comprehensive long-range Climate Action Plan (CAP) to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions on the campus and to ensure that the curriculum includes related educational and research efforts. Immediately, the College formed a Sustainability Committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students to work collaboratively toward developing the long-range CAP and initiating various short-term plans.
“Beyond the cost savings to an institution, even the simplest aspects of a green campus, such as increased use of natural light, have been found to improve student learning and quality of life,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Green facilities make colleges more attractive to students and can dramatically reduce energy costs. Higher education is a top priority market segment for USGBC because graduates of green colleges become incredible drivers of change when they call for similar surroundings in their jobs and communities.”
The Princeton Review noted that another unique aspect of the Guide is that it provides important information on schools that have dedicated environmental studies curriculums. “By many accounts, there are going to be a lot of job opportunities related to the environment and sustainability,” commented Franek. “For those who are interested in working in this growing sector, the Guide highlights the schools that are doing an especially good job in preparing and placing the next generation of green professionals.”
The Princeton Review chose the 286 schools included in the Guide based on the “Green Rating” scores the schools received in summer 2009 when The Princeton Review published Green Rating scores for 697 schools in its online college profiles and/or annual college guidebooks. The Princeton Review’s “Green Rating” is a numerical score from 60 – 99 that’s based on several data points. In 2008, The Princeton Review began collaborating with USGBC to help make the Green Rating survey questions as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. Of 697 schools that The Princeton Review gave “Green Ratings” to in 2009, the 286 schools in the Guide received scores in the 80th or higher percentile. The Princeton Review does not rank the schools in this book hierarchically (1 to 286) or in any of its books based on their “Green Rating” scores.
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