Going to College and Going Green

On April 22, 2010, people worldwide will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day—often considered the birth of the modern environmental movement. On the first nationally recognized Earth Day in 1970, some 20 million Americans filled streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment.

National coordinator Denis Hayes and his youthful staff organized massive coast-to-coast rallies, and thousands of students celebrated the planet and spoke out against its deterioration.

Since then, environmental awareness has steadily grown, locally and globally. The movement is particularly eye-opening at colleges and universities where today’s students are committing to sustainable lifestyles on campus, and off. As concerns about global warming continue, more and more schools are getting serious about going green.

For example, Salisbury University President Janet Dudley-Eshbach placed sustainability at the forefront of the campus’ mission by signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2007, pledging to move SU toward climate neutrality. To date, some 655 institutions nationwide have made the same promise.

“Colleges and universities must lead efforts to reverse global warming for the health and well-being of current and future generations,” said Michael Crow, ACUPCC co-chair.

According to Newsweek, many institutions are seeing students pursue increasingly popular majors in environmental studies and are hoping others will learn from living on environmentally friendly campuses, learning in green buildings, eating sustainable foods and absorbing messages of conservation. Cornell University president David Skorton said that on his campus, “Sustainably is no longer an elective.”

Interested in studying the environment? The Chronicle of Higher Education recently cited sustainability among the top five emerging majors, due to student demand. In addition to improving campus grounds and facilities, colleges nationwide are also greening curriculum. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education has found some 70 institutions that already have sustainability-related academic programs.

According to Chancellor William “Brit” Kirwan, the University System of Maryland has “an obligation to use our educational and research capabilities to advance environmental understanding and action.”

At the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, students conduct cutting-edge research related to climate change, Chesapeake Bay restoration and smart growth. At SU, environmental issues students take courses taught by famed environmental writer Tom Horton, and study the environment abroad in Honduras and India. Such coursework can lead to careers as ecologists, wildlife managers, conservationists, energy auditors, lobbyists and environmental compliance officers.

Want to embrace sustainability outside the classroom? Consider living in a dorm. Not only are they a great opportunity for freshmen to meet new students, but also are typically more efficient and produce less waste per person than off-campus housing.
Want a campus with eco-friendly facilities? The U.S. Green Building Council estimates some 4,300 LEED-certified higher education projects will be underway or completed by the end of 2009.

Curious about other ways to live sustainably without breaking the bank? Think about transportation and its impact on environmental footprints. Walking, biking, running, skating and taking mass transit are all more earth conscious ways to get to class.

Also think about limiting processed foods. Despite convenience, the packaging, preservatives and transportation are costly and not eco-friendly. Grow fruits and vegetables at home or check out a local market. Start a wildlife or self-watering rain garden on campus, or create a student-run compost pile. Want to meet green-minded peers when you get to college? Seek out campus groups dedicated to environmental preservation. Serve on a campus sustainability committee or help start a new one.

The U.S. Green Building Council defines a green campus as “a higher education community that is improving energy efficiency, conserving resources and enhancing environmental quality by educating for sustainability and creating healthy living and learning environments.” Get involved. Make a difference.

Editorial and photos are provided by Salisbury University.