Eastern Kentucky University is one of only four schools in Kentucky, and 412 total, to be lauded for its commitment to sustainability by a leading academic consultancy group. The Princeton Review named EKU to its 2019 Guide to Green Colleges list.
"These schools are standouts for their exemplary commitments to sustainability," said Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief, Rob Franek, in a news release. "With initiatives ranging from solar-powered residence halls and tray-less dining halls to robust offerings in environmental studies, they are, each in their own ways, outstanding institutions for students seeking to study and live at a green college. We recommend these schools highly and we are especially pleased to salute them during National Campus Sustainability Month."
The criteria for being named a Green School include measurements on:
- Sustainability policies and practices on campus
- Opportunities for students to participate in and prepare for careers in a global green economy through their education and campus activities
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A healthy and sustainable campus quality of life
EKU is known for its natural beauty and has made a dedicated effort to become greener in recent years. Additionsinclude the construction of LEED-certified buildings, increased sustainability in dining and housing, and the development of a Climate Action and Resiliency Plan that sets a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2036.
EKU also participates in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) through the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), an organization dedicated to empowering universities to go green.
“Our accomplishment of a STARS bronze rating, our first rating ever from AASHE, also helps us effectively report EKU’s sustainability progress and recognition on the Green Colleges list,” said EKU Sustainability Manager, Debbie Namugayi. “Collectively, the increase of sustainability practices across different parts of campus adds to an impactful overall sustainability program and this kind of national recognition.”
For more information about sustainability at EKU, visit sustainability.eku.edu.