The University of South Florida is one of only 22 colleges to receive the highest score possible in The Princeton Review's "2014 Green Rating Honor Roll."
The Princeton Review, which is known primarily for its college prep programs and its ratings of colleges' educational performance, rated 832 schools based on data concerning their sustainability-related practices, policies and academic offerings.
Schools received scores between 60 and 99, with USF among 22 colleges getting that top mark and making the "Honor Roll."
Said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review Senior VP/Publisher, “The schools on our “Green Rating” Honor Roll demonstrated truly exceptional commitments to sustainability across key issues we looked at from course offerings and recycling programs to plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We salute their administrators, faculty, and students for their collective efforts to protect and preserve our environment.”
According to The Princeton Review, 62 percent of the almost 10,000 college applicants surveyed for its 2013 “College Hopes & Worries Survey” said having information about a college’s commitment to the environment would impact their decision to apply to or attend a school.
More information about the ratings can be found at www.princetonreview.com/green.
Criteria for The Princeton Review’s “Green Rating” The Princeton Review tallied its “Green Rating” scores based on data it obtained from the colleges in response to a 2012-13 institutional survey that asked: 1) The percentage of food expenditures that goes toward local, organic or otherwise environmentally preferable food. 2) Whether the school offers mass transit programs, bike sharing, facilities for bicyclists, bicycle and pedestrian plans, car sharing, carpool discount, carpool/vanpool matching, cash-out of parking, prohibiting idling, local housing, telecommuting, and condensed workweek. 3) Whether the school has a formal committee with participation from students that is devoted to advancing sustainability on campus. 4) Whether buildings that were constructed or underwent major renovations in the past three years are LEED certified. 5) The school’s overall waste diversion rate. 6) Whether the school has an environmental studies major, minor or concentration. 7) Whether the school’s students graduate from programs that include sustainability as a required learning outcome or include multiple sustainability learning outcomes. 8) Whether the school has a formal plan to mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions. 9) The percentage of the school’s energy consumption that is derived from renewable resources. 10) Whether the school employs a dedicated full-time (or full-time equivalent) sustainability officer.
