2008 Woodie Awards
U. gets high marks for sustainable work
Riley Blanton
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Campus News
Brown received a grade of A-minus and the title of Overall College Sustainability Leader on a report card released last week by the Sustainable Endowments Institute.
The grade was a marked improvement from last year's B and earned the University a spot among only 15 out of 300 schools reviewed to receive an A-minus, the highest mark awarded.
The SEI, based in Cambridge, Mass., reviewed the performance of American and Canadian universities with the largest endowments in nine categories. Brown was awarded a grade of A in food and recycling, green building, student involvement, transportation, investment priorities and shareholder engagement - a measure of how well the University advocates for sustainable policies in companies in which it invests.
The University received a grade of B in administration and climate change and energy, and a C in endowment transparency.
The report card, which may be viewed in full at greenreportcard.org, explained that the C for transparency was given because "information on endowment holdings is not made available" to the University community.
"It is one of the more difficult areas for schools to change," said Lisa Chase, a spokeswoman for SEI. "Most schools haven't had their endowment practices open to students and to the public historically."
Chase added that Brown had performed relatively well in that category despite the low grade, and that the University was "obviously taking steps" to improve transparency. She emphasized that positive change in endowment transparency was possible, despite apparent difficulties. The University of New Hampshire, which received a D last year, improved and earned an A this year, she said.
The report card's comments were otherwise complimentary of Brown, citing in particular the University's commitment of more than $20 million, "for energy efficiency upgrades to campus systems and facilities over the next several years." The report card also praised the Community Harvest program - which allows Brown Dinning Services to purchase food products from 20 local farms - use of hybrid, biodiesel and natural gas vehicles on campus and the number and influence of student groups aimed at improving the University's sustainability.
The grade was a marked improvement from last year's B and earned the University a spot among only 15 out of 300 schools reviewed to receive an A-minus, the highest mark awarded.
The SEI, based in Cambridge, Mass., reviewed the performance of American and Canadian universities with the largest endowments in nine categories. Brown was awarded a grade of A in food and recycling, green building, student involvement, transportation, investment priorities and shareholder engagement - a measure of how well the University advocates for sustainable policies in companies in which it invests.
The University received a grade of B in administration and climate change and energy, and a C in endowment transparency.
The report card, which may be viewed in full at greenreportcard.org, explained that the C for transparency was given because "information on endowment holdings is not made available" to the University community.
"It is one of the more difficult areas for schools to change," said Lisa Chase, a spokeswoman for SEI. "Most schools haven't had their endowment practices open to students and to the public historically."
Chase added that Brown had performed relatively well in that category despite the low grade, and that the University was "obviously taking steps" to improve transparency. She emphasized that positive change in endowment transparency was possible, despite apparent difficulties. The University of New Hampshire, which received a D last year, improved and earned an A this year, she said.
The report card's comments were otherwise complimentary of Brown, citing in particular the University's commitment of more than $20 million, "for energy efficiency upgrades to campus systems and facilities over the next several years." The report card also praised the Community Harvest program - which allows Brown Dinning Services to purchase food products from 20 local farms - use of hybrid, biodiesel and natural gas vehicles on campus and the number and influence of student groups aimed at improving the University's sustainability.