Illinois State Included in Guide to Green Colleges

Illinois State University has been included in The Princeton Review's Guide to 286 Green Colleges.  The publication, presented in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizes colleges and universities that have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to sustainability.

The Guide to 286 Green Colleges uses school data to take a quantitative and qualitative look at an institution's sustainability efforts and how they impact students.  Inclusion in the guide is based on whether students have a campus quality of life that is both healthy and sustainable, how well a school is preparing students for employment in the green economy, and how environmentally responsible a school's policies are.  The guide takes into account formal campus sustainability planning, alternative transportation options, waste diversion, energy usage, purchasing practices, grounds and facilities maintenance, green building practices and environmentally-focused academic programs.

Illinois State was recognized for its active Green Team sustainability committee, having a full-time sustainability coordinator, an extensive campus-wide recycling program, energy efficiency measures, and providing transportation alternatives such as campus shuttle buses and car and bike share programs.  Other areas cited in the guide were the University's Center for Renewable Energy, the interdisciplinary renewable energy major, and campus programming to promote sustainability and wellness.     

"Illinois State's inclusion in the Guide to 286 Green Colleges is exciting because it provides further public recognition of the University's commitment to sustainability and academic excellence," said Illinois State Sustainability Coordinator Enid Cardinal.  "Princeton Review evaluates all aspects of sustainability, from energy usage and purchasing practices to university policies and academic programs.  More and more students and parents are taking environmental and sustainability issues into consideration during the college application process."

The Guide to 286 Green Colleges is not a hierarchical ranking of colleges and universities.  It aims to highlight institutions that have a strong commitment to sustainability, something that is becoming increasingly important to students as they chose a college or university.  Other Illinois institutions highlighted in the guide include University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago, DePaul University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University of Chicago and Wheaton College.

For more information on The Princeton Review's Guide to 286 Green Colleges, visit www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.aspx