UNF Doesn’t Earn the Grade

The National Wildlife Federation released the results from its campus report card survey Aug. 21, grading colleges and universities across the nation on their environmental sustainability efforts.

More than 1,068 campuses, including UNF, responded to the survey, and although schools weren’t individually ranked, the report card identified campuses with exemplary programs in specific areas ranging from operations to academic focus on environmental issues.

UNF wasn’t one of the eight Florida schools that earned exemplary status, and Florida didn’t make the NWF’s list of the top 15 green states, said Julian Keniry, senior director of campus and community leadership for the NWF.

“Just because UNF didn’t earn exemplary status doesn’t mean they’re not making progress,” Keniry said. “We looked at a lot of criteria, and it was really tough, especially for smaller schools, to earn that status. UNF fully participated in the survey, and they have some good programs to build upon.”

The survey is the second analysis of the how green America’s campuses are. The first was conducted in 2001.

The online survey, which was conducted between both two-year colleges and four-year universities, interviewed college presidents, chancellors, provosts, administrative vice presidents and deans and focused on the categories

of waste, energy, grounds and transportation, said Mary McIntosh, president of Princeton Research Survey Associates International.

The report card-based survey graded schools on leadership, operations and academic programming with regards to sustainability.

Willamette University in Salem, Ore. was rated highest as engaged in the most environmental sustainability activities, according to the report.

“The report had three main points of focus, and two of those had tremendous progress,” said Kevin Coyle, vice president of education and training for the NWF.

Nationwide, schools improved on both leadership and operations since 2001, receiving an overall B in leadership and C in operations.

But academic programming fell from a C-plus in 2001 to a C, according to the survey results.

“It’s basically a situation where campuses are failing to preach what they practice,” Coyle said. “We don’t feel that academic programming at universities is keeping up with the increased national and international focus on sustainability.”

The survey also released some practical applications for campuses wishing to improve including becoming a green employer – buying locally to reduce carbon emissions,

green construction – making all new buildings green, green transportation – replacing gas powered work vehicles with electric and offering free campus shuttle services, and green power – using more solar and alternative power sources. UNF already practices some of these applications.

But many campuses will need more funding and policies for framework before they can make any these applications a reality, Coyle said. As a result, $50 million in grants will be made available for campus sustainability, but that money can only go so far and won’t largely impact the big picture, Coyle said.

“The choices we make now will affect the lives of present and future generations,” said Lee Pelton, president of Willamette University.

E-mail Josh Salman at managing@unfspinnaker.com.