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Princeton Review Ranks ESF No. 2 among Nation's 'Green Colleges'
College continues to be a leader among environmentally aware schools
11/7/2019
ESF is No. 2 among the nation's "green colleges," according to The Princeton Review.
The college received the designation when The Princeton Review published The Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges: 2019 Edition. This is the fourth year ESF has been ranked number 2 on the list.
The guide profiles 413 colleges the company chose out of nearly 700 schools it surveyed in 2018–19 with strong commitments to green practices and programs. Most of the schools that made the guide are in the United States, 16 are in Canada, one is in Egypt and one is in Greece. ESF is the only SUNY school in the Top 50.
The criteria for each broadly covered the schools' academic offerings and initiatives, campus policies and practices, and green-career preparation for students.
"These schools are standouts for their exemplary commitments to sustainability," said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's Editor-in-Chief. "With initiatives ranging from solar-powered residence halls and trayless dining halls to robust offerings in environmental studies, they are, each in their own ways, outstanding institutions for students seeking to study and live at a green college."
"Our commitment to being a leader in sustainability is a point of pride for the ESF community," said Dr. David Amberg, ESF interim president. "This ranking not only validates our efforts, but exhorts us to continue to pursue increased avenues for sustainability, carbon reduction, energy conservation, environmental and social justice, and waste reduction and recycling."
The College's deliberate efforts in the past year to conserve energy, address food security issues, and to reduce, recycle, and compost discarded materials are but a few examples of the initiatives recognized by Princeton Review.
"Our achievements in this arena are the result of countless hours by dedicated staff, faculty and students – past and present – who are committed to improving their world and leading by example," said Amberg. "Our students have high expectations that we practice what we preach by pursuing the highest standards of sustainability."
Said Mark Lichtenstein, chief of staff and chief sustainability officer, "This ranking is especially important as it doesn't only use our STARS report, which is our sustainability roadmap administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), but it includes survey information Princeton Review acquired directly from our students."
Earlier this year, ESF was ranked No. 2 on Sierra Magazine's "Cool Schools" list for 2019.