The Princeton Review has included seventeen United Methodist-related colleges in its recently released publication, The Princeton Reviews Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2013 Edition.
Known for its education services that help students choose and get into colleges, The Princeton Review has been collaborating with the Center for Green Schools since 2010 to recognize colleges that make strong commitments to sustainability. Colleges are chosen for their environmental friendliness, as well as their educational offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.
Robert Franek, Princeton Review Senior VP/Publisher noted that there is a rising interest among students in attending green colleges.
Among 9,955 college applicants who participated in our 2013 College Hopes and Worries Survey, 62 percent said having information about a schools commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply or attend the school, Franek said.
Sustainability is on the minds of college and university students, said Melanie Overton, Assistant General Secretary for Schools, Colleges and Universities at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Many view the preservation of a clean and healthy planet as one of the key issues facing their generation.
Two United Methodist colleges, American University and Green Mountain College, received the highest possible score (99) and were named to the 2013 "Green Rating Honor Roll."
American University believes the American Dream is Green. The school, located in Washington, D.C. composts everything from paper towels and pizza boxes to make nutrient-rich soil. Theyve added thermal energy panels to provide hot showers, set-up electric vehicle charging stations, and reward green-teaching professors for adding sustainability content into the curriculum.
Environmentally, we really want to do the right thing, said Chris OBrien, director of the universitys Office of Sustainability. We want the default to be the green choice, not the brown choice. We want to make it so you wont have an opportunity not to do it.
Students at Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vt. have been in the process of going green for the last 15 years. Theyve taken on the issue of sustainability in their curriculum, their operations and their facilities.
Many of the students work on the colleges farm, which provides food for the dining room. In addition, providing meaningful community service experiences are a top priority at Green Mountain. All students do final projects that focus on ecological/social problems and solutions.
Provost Bill Throop is a strong believer that sustainability education for the next generation can help prepare them for the environmental challenges ahead.
Virtually all of our 20 majors offer important links to caring for the earth and serving our local community, Throop said. We are delighted to have that work recognized by The Princeton Review.
Other United Methodist-related colleges recognized by The Princeton Review include: Albion College, Allegheny College, Boston University, Dickinson College, Drew University, Duke University, Emory University, High Point University, North Central College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Shenandoah University, Syracuse University, University of Denver, University of Mount Union, and University of Puget Sound.
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