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College Sustainability Report Card gives UVic a B+
 The University of Victoria has tied for the second-highest Canadian ranking in a US report that grades North American universities and colleges on their sustainability activities.
UVic received an overall mark of B+, and the designation of Campus Sustainability Leader, in the College Sustainability Report Card, issued last month by the Massachusetts-based Sustainable Endowments Institute, a non-profit organization funded by the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. The institute surveyed 300 schools with endowment funds of at least US $150 million. That included 17 schools across Canada.
UVic received an A for its green administration, food and recycling, and endowment transparency; a B for its energy efficiency and conservation, green building, and student involvement; and a C for its investment priorities and shareholder engagement. The full report is available at www.greenreportcard.org.
“UVic should be applauded for its performance,” says Mark Orlowski, executive director of the Sustainable Endowments Institute. “Out of 300 schools across North America, only 15 received higher overall marks than UVic. Yale received a B+ too but it also got an F in some categories when UVic’s lowest mark was a C.”
Orlowski says his group was particularly impressed by UVic’s holistic approach to sustainability; its recycling program that has a 56-per-cent diversion rate; the fact that UVic offers local, and organic, food at its restaurants; and that the university encourages the campus community to forgo automobiles in favour of walking, cycling and using public transit.
“UVic recognizes that it has a responsibility to conduct all of its activities—both in and out of the classroom—in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable manner,” says Neil Connelly, UVic’s director of campus planning and sustainability. “This type of international recognition only strengthens our commitment to continue along our path to sustainability.”
“UVic is currently undertaking a process to create a new campus sustainability policy and action plan—our aim is to build on our past successes and raise the bar for campuses across North America,” he adds.
UVic participated in the survey for the first time and tied with the University of Calgary for a B+. The average grade for the 300 schools surveyed came to C+.
This is the third year the institute has conducted the survey. “The 100 schools that participated in the 2007 and 2008 surveys improved their grades from a C to a C+ over the two years,” says Orlowski. “This year those schools further improved their grades to a B-. So we can see that the green report card provides a terrific educational opportunity as well as conversation fodder. I find that very exciting.”
For more information about sustainability at UVic visit http://web.uvic.ca/sustainability/.
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