The University of Central Florida was featured amongst other top universities in the 2016 edition of The Princeton Review Guide to 361 Green Colleges as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges. The Princeton Review chose the schools for this seventh annual edition of its “green guide” based on data from the company’s 2015-16 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning the schools’ commitments to the environment and sustainability.

The profiles in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 361 Green Colleges provide information about each school’s admission requirements, cost and financial aid, and student body stats. They also include “Green Facts” about the schools with details on the availability of transportation alternatives at the schools and the percentage of the school food budgets spent on local/organic food. Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s Senior VP-Publisher, noted the growing interest the company has seen among college-bound students in green colleges. “Among more than 10,000 teens and parents who participated in our 2016 College Hopes & Worries Survey, 61% told us that having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the college.”

Schools selected for this guide received Green Rating scores of 80 or higher in the Princeton Review Green Rating score tallies reported in August 2016. The University of Central Florida earned a green rating of 83 based on current sustainability practice. With our small urban setting and exponentially increasing enrollment numbers, how did we receive this rating? The breakdown is as follows:

• School Has Formal Sustainability Committee – Yes
• Sustainability-focused degree available – No
• School employs a sustainability officer – Yes
• Public GHG inventory plan – Yes
• % food budget spent on local/organic food – 30%

Available Transportation Alternatives

• Bike Share – Yes
• Car Sharing Program – Yes
• Carpool/Vanpool Matching Program – Yes
• Cash-Out Parking – No
• Condensed Work Week Option For Employees – No
• Free Or Reduced Price Transit Passes And/Or Free Campus Shuttle – Yes
• Incentives Or Programs To Encourage Employees To Live Close To Campus – Yes
• Indoor And Secure Bike Storage, Shower Facilities, And Lockers For Bicycle Commuters – Yes
• Reduced Parking Fees For Car And Van Poolers – No
• School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling – No
• School Developed Bicycle Plan – Yes
• School Offers A Telecommute Program For Employees – Yes

Published October 4, the free, 160-page guide can be downloaded here.