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Clark in new Princeton Review ‘guide to 286 green colleges’

April 23, 2010
By ClarkNews

Clark is featured in the “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges,” a new, comprehensive guidebook that recognizes the impressive environmental and sustainability programs at universities and colleges across the country. The Princeton Review, in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), released the guide, which features the country’s most environmentally responsible colleges, on April 20.

Clark’s Climate Action Plan details strategies for the University to reduce its carbon footprint while strengthening many of its existing sustainability practices, and much more. The university’s campus sustainability initiatives can be found on Clark’s Sustainability pages.

Timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22), the free guide—based on a survey of hundreds of colleges nationwide—profiles the nation’s most environmentally-responsible campuses, and 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 resources; recycling and conservation programs.

The Princeton Review chose the 286 schools included in the guide based on the “Green Rating” scores the schools received in summer 2009. Of 697 schools that The Princeton Review gave “Green Ratings” to in 2009, the 286 schools in the new guide received scores in the 80th or higher percentile.  The Princeton Review does not rank the schools in this book hierarchically (1 to 286) or in any of its books based on their “Green Rating” scores.

The free guide can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/greenguide.

“Our research has shown that students and their parents are becoming more and more interested in learning about and attending universities and colleges that practice, teach and support environmental responsibility,” said Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher, The Princeton Review. “In fact, 64 percent of the nearly 12,000 college applicants and parents who participated in our recent College Hopes & Worries Survey said having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would impact their decision to apply to or attend it. We created this Guide to help them evaluate how institutions focus on environmental responsibility so they can make informed decisions as they move through the college assessment and application process.”

“Beyond the cost savings to an institution, even the simplest aspects of a green campus, such as increased use of natural light, have been found to improve student learning and quality of life,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Green facilities make colleges more attractive to students and can dramatically reduce energy costs. Higher education is a top priority market segment for USGBC because graduates of green colleges become incredible drivers of change when they call for similar surroundings in their jobs and communities.”

The Princeton Review noted that another unique aspect of the Guide is that it provides important information on schools that have dedicated environmental studies curriculums. “By many accounts, there are going to be a lot of job opportunities related to the environment and sustainability,” commented Franek. “For those who are interested in working in this growing sector, the Guide highlights the schools that are doing an especially good job in preparing and placing the next generation of green professionals.”

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