President
Awards and Rankings
May 22, 2015
University of Portland is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to The Princeton Review. The University was selected for inclusion in the sixth annual edition of The Princeton Review’s Guide to 347 Green Colleges: 2015 Edition.For the state of Oregon, UP was chosen along with Lewis & Clark College, Linfield College, Oregon State University, Portland Community College, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, University of Oregon, and Willamette University. The University has been recognized all six years The Princeton Review has conducted its Green Colleges rankings.
The Princeton Review’s guide profiles 341 schools in the U.S., five in Canada and one in Egypt that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation. It is the only free, comprehensive, annual guide to green colleges, and can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide and atwww.centerforgreenschools.org/greenguide .
University of Portland is one of the only schools in the country with a LEED Platinum certified building and was the first college in the West to ban the sale of disposable plastic water bottles, helping start a national trend. This ranking by The Princeton Review helps solidify the University as one of the outstanding universities and colleges nationwide that are leading the "green" movement through special programs and initiatives.
University of Portland and Sustainability
* On May 9, 2013, University of Portland co-sponsored two events with Maitripa College as part of the Environmental Summit, which featured three days of enlightening teachings and conversations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and distinguished leaders of the Pacific Northwest environmental, scientific, policy and faith communities. The Dalai Lama was joined in the University’s Chiles Center by religious leaders, including University of Portland president Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., in an interfaith dialog, “Spirituality and the Environment.” The Dalai Lama also offered a public address entitled “Universal Responsibility and the Inner Environment: the Nature of Mind.”
* University president Rev. E William Beauchamp, C.S.C., signed the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor on behalf of the University community. The St. Francis Pledge is a promise and a commitment by Catholic individuals, families, parishes, organizations and institutions to live their faith by protecting God’s Creation and advocating on behalf of people in poverty who face the harshest impacts of global climate change.
* Bauccio Commons, the student dining hall, was expanded and renovated in 2010 and is LEED Certified. Food waste has been reduced by approximately 70 percent, and a comprehensive composting plan has been instituted. Bon Appétit primarily uses locally-sourced products and has significantly reduced the amount of meat and cheese served, helping lower the University’s carbon footprint.
* In 2010, University of Portland became the first college or university on the West Coast to discontinue the sale of disposable plastic water bottles on campus.
* Bicycle usage at the University is at an all-time high among students and employees. Demand for bicycle parking has been so great that several new bike racks have been installed across campus. There are now at least 850 indoor and outdoor spaces on campus.
* The newly renovated and expanded Donald P. Shiley Hall was awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification – the highest possible rating – by the United States Green Building Council. The award secures Shiley Hall’s status as one of the most energy efficient and environmentally sustainable buildings in the world. As of June 2010, Shiley Hall was one of 15 buildings in Portland, one of 25 buildings on college campuses nationwide, and one of 313 buildings worldwide to earn LEED Platinum certification.
* Fields and Schoenfeldt Halls, new student dormitories dedicated in 2009, earned LEED Gold certification, making them the highest LEED certified dorms on campus.
* The on-campus organic Student-Led Unity Garden (SLUG) doubled in size to help provide food for local families in need.
* The University offers several courses of study for students interested in issues surrounding the environment and sustainability, including: a bachelor of science degree in environmental science; a bachelor of arts degree in environmental ethics & policy; a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing and sustainability; a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering with a concentration in environmental engineering; and a master of business administration degree with a concentration in sustainability.
* The City of Portland granted Shiley Hall a BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow) Award in the Green Building category, recognizing the University of Portland’s commitment to excellence in sustainable building practices.
* Use of the school’s MAX shuttle is at record levels, as is usage of the school’s Zipcars. The University’s monthly allotment of school-subsidized TriMet public transportation passes regularly sells out; dozens of campus community members take part in a carpooling program that provides financial incentives to those who rideshare; and since 2006 the University has offered a highly successful and innovative forgivable home grant program that provides funding assistance for employees who purchase homes in North Portland with the expectation that they use alternative transportation when commuting to campus.
* University of Portland hosted two highly successful conferences focused on sustainability: 2010’s “Confluences: Water & Justice,” and the 2011 “Food for Thought.” Both conferences brought together national and local leaders on the topics of water and food, and featured keynote addresses from top global experts – international water activist Maude Barlow and best-selling food author Michael Pollan.
How Schools Were Chosen for the Book
The Princeton Review chose the schools based on a survey the company conducted in 2014. The survey asked administrators at hundreds of colleges across the U.S. and Canada about their institution's sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. Using survey data that covered more than 25 fields, the Princeton Review tallied its "Green Ratings" (scores from 60 to 99) for 861 schools and reported them in the school profiles on the company's website and in its college guides in summer 2014. The 347 schools in this guide received scores of 83 or above in that assessment. (Note: The Princeton Review does not rank the schools 1 to 332, nor does it report their Green Rating scores in this book.) Information about the Company's Green Rating and its "Green Honor Roll" list of 22 schools that received the highest possible score, 99, is at www.princetonreview.com/green.aspx .
University of Portland
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