Published Oct. 16, the ranking can be accessed at princetonreview.com/green-guide.
The Princeton Review chose the schools for this ninth annual edition of its “green guide” based on data from the company’s 2017-18 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning the schools’ commitments to the environment and sustainability.
“We strongly recommend Western and the other fine colleges in this guide to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges,” said Princeton Review editor-in-chief Robert Franek.
Franek noted that college applicants and their parents are increasingly concerned about the environment and sustainability issues. Among nearly 11,000 teens and parents The Princeton Review surveyed earlier this year for its 2018 “College Hopes & Worries Survey,” 63 percent overall said having information about a college’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the school. The full survey report is at princetonreview.com/college-hopes-worries.
The profiles in “Guide to 399 Green Colleges” provide information about each school’s admission requirements, cost, financial aid and student body stats. They also include “Green Facts” about the schools with details on the availability of transportation alternatives at the schools and the percentage of the school food budgets spent on local/organic food.
The Princeton Review cites Western’s 83 (out of 99) Green Colleges rating as well as its Bronze AASHE STARS rating. The latter Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.
Students can choose to be a part of Western’s Zero Waste Commitment and Carbon Commitment, which are aimed at diverting waste from landfills and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
“It’s just two commitments we can all make as responsible citizens to keep America beautiful,” said Western director of sustainability Nathan King.
Also, students are encouraged to come to Western and leave their sustainable legacy on campus through its campus Sustainability Fund.
“Undergraduates have the unique opportunity to implement real sustainability projects on campus that they are passionate about by writing a proposal to the Sustainability Fund in order to receive money to make it happen!” King said.
Past projects have ranged from a new composter to LED lights in dorms to free campus bicycle rentals.
“We are incredibly excited that Western is receiving national recognition as being a leader in sustainability,” King said. “We truly have some of the greatest and most innovative minds in the field of environment and sustainability as well as a passionate student body that drives us towards being one of those top schools. If I’ve learned anything over the nine years I’ve been working at Western, it’s that our students, faculty and staff are not only adventurous, but they really do care about creating a better world.”
The Princeton Review first published “Guide to 399 Green Colleges” in 2010. It remains the only free, annually updated and downloadable guide to green colleges.
Western was also ranked highly for its sustainability efforts by the Sierra Club. In its “Cool Schools 2018 Full Ranking,” Western came in at No. 255 based in part on its Bronze AASHE STARS rating.
About The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is a leading test preparation, tutoring and college admission services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students achieve their education and career goals through online and in person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors and its more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House. The Princeton Review is headquartered in New York. The company is a subsidiary of ST Unitas, a global education technology company. The company is not affiliated with Princeton University. For more information, visit princetonreview.com or follow on Facebook and Twitter.
