Comprehensive Sustainability Report Ranks Dickinson First Among Baccalaureate Institutions for Third Straight Year
Director of Sustainability Learning Lindsey Lyons (center) performs a check of the college's beehive with students. Photo by Dan Loh.
Dickinson Adds to its Long List of Sustainability Accolades
by Craig Layne
For three years in a row, Dickinson has earned the top position among baccalaureate institutions in the prestigious Sustainable Campus Index, a publication of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This is the seventh consecutive year Dickinson has been recognized as a top performer.
“Working for a more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable world is part of the fabric of Dickinson,” said Neil Leary, associate provost and director of the Center for Sustainability Education. “With sustainability integrated across our curriculum and campus, we are proud of our achievements and honored by this recognition from AASHE.”
The Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Dickinson maintains a STARS Gold Rating. In addition to remaining in the top spot in the coveted Overall Top Performer category, Dickinson earned the No. 6 place in the curriculum category and tied for 9th in the water category.
“All of us at AASHE extend our warmest congratulations to Dickinson for their achievement,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “By fostering sustainable practices and initiatives, you set an inspiring example for your peers and future generations.”
Dickinson is frequently honored for its sustainability efforts. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently applauded the College Farm’s waste-to-energy biodigester project. The Princeton Review again placed Dickinson on its “Green Honor Roll” and ranked the college No. 5 in its list of “Top 50 Green Colleges,” and Newsweek named Dickinson one among “Seven of the Greenest College Campuses in the U.S.” Other sustainability achievements include being one of the first 10 colleges in the U.S. to reach carbon neutrality, being a certified Bee Campus and receiving a Bicycle Friendly University Gold designation from the League of American Bicyclists.
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Published September 6, 2024