Bob CollinsThe “press release” folder in my INBOX reveals the “campus sustainability report card” today from the National Wildlife Federation.
This comprehensive study by National Wildlife Federation and Princeton Survey Research Associates International reviews trends and new developments in environmental performance and sustainability at 1,068 institutions. It recognizes colleges and universities for exemplary efforts and awards academic letter grades (A through D) for collective, national performance on environmental literacy, energy, water, transportation, landscaping, waste reduction and more. The report analyzes collective trends in the areas of management, operations, and academics.
But enough about them, what about us? We’re Minnesotans, afterall, and we love surveys that show our superiority.
University of Minnesota Morris
Augsburg
Bemidji State
Carleton
College of St. Benedict
Dakota County Technical
Gustavus Adolphus
Northland Community and Technical
St. Cloud State
St. Olaf
Winona State
.. were all listed in the “exemplary” category.
Individual states didn’t get rated but the Midwest got a “B” for setting goals (the Midwest was lowest rated), B- for staffing environmental programs (middle of the pack), C- in orienting students, C in integrating environmental topics into academics, B- in professional development (highest of all regions), A in water efficiency upgrades (everyone got an “A”), B+ in energy efficiency, D in use of solar, wind, and biomass, A in recycling, C in transportation management, and B in landscaping.
