COLLEGE STATION, April 21, 2010 – Texas A&M University is one of the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges, according to The Princeton Review, which included the institution in its new guide for prospective students.
Announcement of the new resource is timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday (April 22).
Developed by The Princeton Review in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the “Guide to 286 Green Colleges” is the first 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, note officials of the national education service.
The free guide, which is based on a survey of hundreds of colleges nationwide, profiles the nation’s most environmentally responsible campuses. From solar panel study rooms to the percentage of budget spent on local/organic food, “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges” provides an assessment of 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, along with other considerations.
“I am proud of our sustainability efforts to date,” said Texas A&M’s sustainability officer Kelly Wellman. “We have many green initiatives in place throughout the campus that demonstrate our commitment to the environment.
“It is exciting that our campus-wide green efforts are receiving national recognition and we look forward to building on our successes,” she added.
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 of 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 Texas A&M focus on environmental responsibility so that they can make informed decisions as they move through the college assessment and application process.”
“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 of 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 the summer of 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 is 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 “Green Rating” scores.
Contact: Lane Stephenson, News & Information Services, at (979) 845-4662
