University of Richmond ranked as top-50 'Green College'

The Princeton Review recently named the University of Richmond as one of the top 50 schools in the nation for environmental stewardship, in its 2023 edition of the Guide to Green Colleges. Though UR has been included in the guide for more than a decade, this was its first appearance in the top 50, at No. 21.

“This is the first time the University cracked the Top 50, and it’s a testament to the sustainability efforts demonstrated in both academics and extra-curricular activities,” said UR Director of Sustainability Rob Andrejewski. “We’re honored to be recognized for our efforts, and we’re particularly proud of UR’s faculty, staff, and students who lead a multitude of efforts to improve the environmental well-being of our campus.”

Schools that make the top-50 list “share superb sustainability practices, a strong foundation in sustainability education, and a healthy quality of life for students on campus,” according to the Princeton Review. Colleges are selected based on a combination of school-reported data and student opinion. More than 700 schools were surveyed and 455 were chosen for the guide.

"We strongly recommend the University of Richmond to the increasing number of students who care about the environment and want their ‘best-fit’ college to also ideally be a green one," said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's Editor-in-Chief. “Richmond demonstrates an exemplary commitment to sustainability and to green practices — and it offers excellent academic programs.”

Beginning this academic year, the Department of Geography and the Environment became the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability. Sustainability also now is offered as a minor, allowing students to explore sustainability through the lens of acting for positive change.

“We have seen a surge of deep interest over the past few years with students interested in topics related to sustainability and the climate crisis,” said Todd Lookingbill, department chair. “Many of our students want to work toward improving conditions that foster the well-being of people and the environment, and this new minor will allow more of our students to explore this critical area.”

Additional campus sustainability projects include:

• a 120-acre solar facility, which adds 40,000 MWh of fossil-free energy to the electricity grid annually;

• electric vehicle charging stations located at a variety of locations on campus to help decarbonize transportation;

• the Eco-Corridor, which serves as an outdoor classroom and includes more than 30 raised beds in a community garden available to members of the campus community through a lottery system each year.