Gustavus Adolphus College is one of the country’s most environmentally responsible colleges according to The Princeton Review. The nationally-known education services company selected Gustavus for inclusion in a unique resource it has created for college applicants called “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 to 286 Green Colleges” is the first, free comprehensive guidebook focused solely on institutions of higher education who have demonstrated an above average commitment to sustainability in terms of campus infrastructure, activities, and initiatives.
From solar panel study rooms to the percentage of budget spent on local and organic food, the guide 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 sources; recycling and conservation programs, and much more.
Several factors contributed to Gustavus’ inclusion in the publication including the existence of the Linnaeus Arboretum and the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation, the high percentage of food sold in the Marketplace that is either organic or locally grown, a strong recycling program, the recent purchase of two electric utility vehicles, the creation of the GustieWare program, and the College’s participation in the Campus Energy Wars and RecycleMania challenges.
“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.”
The “Guide to 286 Green Colleges” can be downloaded at princetonreview.com/greenguide.
Gustavus was one of seven colleges and universities in the state of Minnesota to be included in the guide. The other six schools were the College of St. Benedict/Saint John’s University, Macalester College, St. Olaf College, University of Minnesota, Duluth, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and Winona State University.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510