Holy Cross Named to Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges of 2015

Just in time for Earth Day, the College of the Holy Cross was named one of the 353 Green Colleges according to The Princeton Review, being one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada in 2015. The schools chosen for inclusion in “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 353 Green Colleges: 2015 Edition” demonstrate “a strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation,” according to their website.

The Princeton Review chose the schools for this sixth annual edition of its "green guide" based on data from the company's 2014 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning the schools' commitments to the environment and sustainability.

Holy Cross received a “Green Rating” score of 92 out of 99. "Green Rating" scores (from 60 to 99) are tallied in summer 2014 for 861 colleges using data from its 2013-14 survey of school administrators.

"We strongly recommend College of the Holy Cross and the other fine colleges in this guide to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges," said The Princeton Review's Robert Franek, senior VP publisher.

Franek noted the growing interest the company has seen among college-bound students in green colleges. "Among nearly 10,000 teens who participated in our 2015 College Hopes & Worries Survey, 61 percent told us that having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the college."

The Princeton Review highlights Holy Cross because it is on the path to achieving its goal of being carbon neutral by the year 2040. With new construction following strict green building policies, both Figge Hall and the Integrated Science Complex have achieved LEED Gold certification, and the campus works to decrease its carbon footprint through projects like growing fruit and vegetables in community gardens or “slow food” dinners at Kimball.

Other highlight include: “Renewable energy initiatives on campus include a partnership with TransCanada, a renewable energy supplier [who] has reduced the school’s carbon foot-print 28 percent.”

The guide also mentions faculty, staff, and student’s green involvement through groups like Presidential Task Force on the Environment and “internships and projects working with environmental organizations and not-for profit groups throughout the Worcester area,” as well as student participation on campus “through Holy Cross’s environmental studies program, and student-run environmental groups like Eco-Action.”

The Princeton Review highlighted Holy Cross in a number of areas during the past year:

Princeton Review Ranks Holy Cross Among the Top ‘Colleges That Pay You Back’

‘Princeton Review Ranks Holy Cross Among Best Institutions for Undergraduate Education in the Country’

 

This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Jacqueline Smith ’15.