OU Named a Top Green College by The Princeton Review
For the fourth consecutive year, the University of Oklahoma has been selected as a Top Green College by The Princeton Review for its commitment to the environment and sustainability.
The 2021 edition of The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges includes 416 colleges and universities among nearly 700 surveyed by the Review.
OU scored a 93 out of a possible 99 on The Princeton Review’s green rating scale. The rating takes 13 factors into account, including whether a college has a formal sustainability committee, offers sustainability-focused degrees, tracks greenhouse gas emissions and provides transportation alternatives.
The Princeton Review noted that a school’s environmental sustainability efforts play an increasingly large role in the college decision-making process. Among the 12,845 teenagers and parents who were surveyed by The Princeton Review, 66% said having information about a college’s commitment to environmental sustainability would influence their decision to apply to or attend that school.
OU is also included in other rankings by The Princeton Review, including Best Western Colleges, Best Value Colleges for 2020, and most recently, The Best 386 Colleges.
In recent years, OU has earned several other distinctions for environmental responsibility. OU currently ranks first in the Big 12 and 10th in the nation among higher education institutions in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership. Other acknowledgments include the Environmental Excellence Award from the Earth Month Network and designation as a Bicycle Friendly University.
Gallogly Hall recently earned OU its first LEED Gold certification, joining eight other university buildings that have received LEED recognition.
To learn more about OU’s sustainability efforts, visit ou.edu/sustainability.
By Mackenzie Scheer
Article Published: Wednesday, November 4, 2020