Fresno State is one of the 332 most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company known for its test prep programs and college rankings, ratings and guidebooks profiled Fresno State in the fifth annual edition of its free downloadable book, “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 332 Green Colleges.”

This is the third consecutive year Fresno State has been included in the publication.

The Princeton Review chose the schools for this guide based on a survey it conducted in 2013 of administrators at hundreds of four-year colleges to measure the schools’ commitment to the environment and sustainability. The institutional survey included questions on the schools’ course offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.

This report comes one week after Fresno State’s announcement of a Water Conservation Plan aimed at reducing campus water usage by 20 percent — or 59.8 million gallons — in the next year. The university also announced last week that is will be installing on-campus electric vehicle charging stations, scheduled to open in September 2015.

The Princeton Review publishes its guide to green colleges April 17, a few days before the April 22 celebration of Earth Day. The 216-page guide is the only free comprehensive resource of its kind and was created in partnership with the Center for Green Schools (www.usgbc.org) at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The school profiles in the guide feature essential information for applicants — facts and stats on school demographics, admission and financial aid — plus write-ups on the schools’ sustainability initiatives. A “Green Facts” sidebar reports on a wide range of topics from the schools’ use of renewable energy sources, recycling and conservation programs to the availability of environmental studies and career guidance for green jobs.

“We are pleased to recommend Fresno State to the many students seeking colleges that practice and promote environmentally-responsible choices and practices,” said Rob Franek, senior vice president and publisher of The Princeton Review.”

Franek noted his company’s recent survey findings indicating significant interest among college applicants in attending “green” colleges. “Among 10,116 college applicants who participated in our 2014 ‘College Hopes & Worries Survey,’ 61 percent said having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the school.”

Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, said, “In collaborating with The Princeton Review on this annual guide, we have seen that sustainability on campuses continues to be an important deciding factor for today’s four-year college bound students. We are excited to once again provide prospective students and their parents with a resource to help them navigate this often daunting decision-making process.”

For more information, contact Jeanne Krier from The Princeton Review at 212.539.1350 or pressoffice@review.com.

 

Related links:

The Princeton Review

Guide to Green Colleges

Center for Green Schools