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For the third year in a row, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ received a grade of A- on the College Sustainability Report Card, issued by the Sustainability Endowments Institute.

This is the only independent sustainability evaluation of campus operations and endowment investments.

“The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is committed to be all it can to minimize our impact on the environment,” said Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ President Mark Emmert. “This grade of A- reflects the work of countless people who have found innovative ways to make the University more sustainable. There is still a great deal more to do, and we continue to work hard at it every day.”

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ received a grade of A in six of the nine categories: administration, climate change and energy, food and recycling, green building, transportation and investment priorities. It received a B in the remaining categories: student involvement, endowment transparency and shareholder engagement. The report card identified the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ as one of 16 Overall College Sustainability Leaders among the 300 institutions surveyed.

The report card noted that the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is a signatory to the Presidents Climate Commitment and is in the process of developing a campus climate plan. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ’s electrical purchases for the Seattle campus are from 100 percent renewable sources and are carbon neutral. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ food services emphasize local organic and natural foods. All new state-funded buildings and major renovations must meet a LEED standard of at least Silver. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ offers many transportation options that discourage the use of single-occupancy vehicles. The university’s investment policies state that due consideration should be given to the degree of corporate responsibility exercised by those companies considered for investment.