The free guide can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.
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.
“Being recognized in the group of the nation’s leading schools regarding sustainability continues to validate the progress Humboldt State University is making to formalize its commitment to sustainability,” says says Tallchief Comet, director of the HSU Office of Sustainability.
After the California State University Trustees passed a system-wide policy on sustainability in May of 2014, HSU is using elements of that policy to leverage support for initiatives in progress, such as formal Climate Action Planning, permanent water use reductions, and increasing waste-diversion rates. Students also drive progress in this area as evident from the recent decision by the University’s Advancement Foundation Board to go beyond the typical divestment of fossil fuel related investments to also include mutual funds of companies that support the related industry sectors. “This effort was spearheaded by a well organized and passionate group of students that made a compelling argument that the board and administration agreed with. With that kind of passion and involvement the future certainly looks brighter,” adds Comet.
“We strongly recommend Humboldt State University and the other fine colleges in this guide to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges,” said Princeton Review publisher Robert Franek.
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% told us that having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the college.” (A complete report on that survey is available online.)
The profiles in the guide provide information about each school’s admission requirements, cost and financial aid, and student body stats. They also include “Green Facts” about the schools with details on the availability of transportation alternatives at the schools and the percentage of the school food budgets spent on local/organic food.
In the “Green Facts” section on HSU, The Princeton Review cites Humboldt’s commitment to sourcing food from local producers, water and waste diversion rates, and the sustainability focused degrees HSU offers, including the Environment & Community graduate program and the Environmental Science and Management undergraduate degree.