As climate change continues to impact the planet, colleges – and college students – are stepping up to make a difference, starting on campus. What does sustainability look like on campus and what role can you play?
1. School-Wide Strategy: Pursuing Carbon Neutrality
Carbon neutrality has become the gold-standard when it comes to sustainability goals on campus. Many colleges are making public goals with deadlines and college-wide plans to reach those goals, and they may include steps like implementing renewable energy resources on campus, or divesting from fossil fuels in the college endowment.
Case Study: Middlebury College is a leader in carbon neutrality. The college began reducing its carbon footprint in 2001 and achieved carbon neutrality in 2016 – well before most colleges had it on their radar!
How Students can Engage: It’s often through student activism and support that schools decide to pursue carbon neutrality goals. Students might write an opinion article in their school newspaper, or petition for specific goals, if their school does not yet have a commitment to carbon neutrality. For colleges that have already set the goal, students might get involved with a Sustainability Office to help put the goal within reach.
2. Living Sustainably: From Green Buildings to Student Habits
Colleges are constantly innovating when it comes to making daily living on campus more sustainable. At the largest scale, that might mean using environmentally sustainable building materials for new construction on campus. But it also includes students’ everyday habits: consuming less energy, sorting recyclables, minimizing dining hall food waste, and using public transit can all make a difference.
Case Study: Colby College requires that all new buildings are LEED silver or above certified, setting a standard of environmental sustainability for construction on campus.
How Students can Engage: Colleges often have many extracurricular activities and even academic opportunities centered around environmental sustainability. Students may help run a recycling drive through a college sustainability club, volunteer to lead hikes for urban high school students through an outdoor activities non-profit organization, or contribute to local water quality research through a Professor’s research lab.
3. Preparing Students to be Environmental Leaders
In addition to operational changes, colleges can have an impact on the environment by training the next generation of environmental leaders. That means sustainability courses, majors, and research on campus.
Case Study: Georgia Tech’s Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems hosts a broad array of research in sustainability including Professor Chen’s work leading innovations in electric car battery recycling technology.
How Students can Engage: Some students may be excited to dive into research that can make a difference for the environment, whether in biology, environmental science, or environmental engineering. But even for students who are not interested in a research position, there are ways to get involved: sustainability courses like “Environmental Law,” “Marketing Sustainability” or “History of Ecology in Brazil” are just a few of the types of courses that may be on offer to students interested in sustainability, and they can even help check off a general education or major requirement.
Environmental Sustainability is More Important to Students than Ever
Sustainability is one of many factors that may influence students as they build their college admissions shortlists and plan their applications – and for some students, related factors like access to nature, opportunities to engage in activism, and environmental research opportunities may especially be a priority.
As cities across the country and the world face increasing environmental risks, colleges are competing to lead when it comes to sustainability. Whether through ambitious carbon neutrality goals and progress, campus-wide initiatives to decrease waste and energy consumption, or through academic rigor in environmental topics, colleges are making a difference and creating a more sustainable world.
Is sustainability an important factor in your college decision-making? Why not schedule a consultation with one of our experts here at Hermiona to find which colleges are right for you?
Comments