The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned the highest ranking in the state on the annual Sierra magazine list of America’s greenest universities.
UW Oshkosh came in at number 29. Within the state, Lawrence University came in at 52, UW-Stevens Point at 56 and UW-Green Bay at 96.
“Finishing first in the State of Wisconsin is no easy task with the caliber of some of the best schools in America, but through exceptional leadership, a skilled staff and an eager student body UWO has kept its eye on the ball even through difficult economic times,” said Brian Kermath, UW Oshkosh’s sustainability director.
Sierra has been giving universities this rank — as a Cool School — for the past seven years now based on the “greenness” of the institution. Sierra magazine’s Cool Schools ranking is open to all four-year undergraduate colleges and universities in the United States. This year, 162 four-year undergraduate schools were in the running. Each institution had to complete an extensive questionnaire about sustainability practices, which included topics such as energy supply, food, research, innovation, purchasing, transportation, waste management and water usage.
A perfect score for any institution on the list would have been 1,000. The University that took the top spot on the list earned 850.14 points. UW Oshkosh earned 678.59 points.
“UW Oshkosh strives to lead by example and once again has been recognized for its leadership by the Sierra Club as a ‘Cool School,'” said Kermath. “The future for this institution will shine greener and greener, and will stay forever ‘Cool.'”
This is the seventh consecutive year Sierra magazine is releasing its annual rank, which is a “salute to U.S. colleges that are helping solve climate problems and making significant efforts to operate sustainably.” Sierra is the official publication of the Sierra Club, America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 1.4 million members and supporters nationwide. View the complete list of schools named to the list.
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