by Kelly Wenner
In April 2011, The Princeton Review partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to publish the Princeton Review’s Guide to 311 Green Colleges. The Review evaluated colleges and universities on their environmentally-related policies, practices and academic offerings. The rating, on a scale of 60-99, demonstrates whether students have a healthy, sustainable campus life; how a school is preparing students for employment in a clean energy economy; and how environmentally responsible a school’s policies are. The Review asked 703 voluntary school participants to answer questions created in consultation with ecoAmerica, a non-profit consumer research group. Questions covered ranged from “What is the percentage of food expenditures that go toward local, organic or otherwise environmentally preferable food?†to “Does the school have an environmental literacy requirement?â€Â The 311 schools chosen for the book received scores of 80 or above in the assessment.Â
College applicants using the guide will find a wealth of information about each of the schools. In addition to the standard application, admission and financial aid information, each school profile contains “green highlights†and “green facts†detailing campus environmental and sustainability initiatives, as well as availability of environmental studies programs and green job career guidance. Also included are a glossary of 40+ “green†terms and acronyms and a listing of schools with “green†distinctions such as LEED-certified buildings.… Read the rest
