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The Princeton Review chose the schools for the 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.
"We strongly recommend Purchase College and the other fine colleges in this guide to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges,” said Robert Franek, senior VP-publisher of The Princeton Review.
In the “Green Facts” section on Purchase College, The Princeton Review cites the school’s formal sustainability committee, transportation alternatives, access to locally sourced foods and sustainability-related classes. Of a possible 100 points, Purchase College received a green rating of 91.
“Environmental sustainability and conservation are priorities in all aspects of campus life,” said Thomas Schwarz, president of Purchase College, who was one of the original signers of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2007.
Among the many green/sustainability curriculum, programs and projects at Purchase College are an environmental studies B.A. program; “green" lecture series and presentations; a high-tech compost machine that is used to nurture the soil of the student-run garden; projects that focus on reducing waste in offices and in food services; and an award-winning vegan cafe, Terre Ve. New construction projects focus on indoor environmental quality that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design U.S. Green Building guidelines.
In March 2015, construction began on the new Center for Integrated Technology and Learning, which also will meet LEED guidelines for incorporating sustainability principles, including energy efficiency and environmentally conscious design. At the end of 2014, the college received a $765,000 grant from the Regional Economic Development Council for green infrastructure in recognition of Purchase’s leadership in sustainability.
The Princeton Review first published the guide in 2010 and it remains the only free, annually updated guide to green colleges. For more information on the guide and how the schools were chosen, please visit www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.
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