Becky Brackin
Radford University
RADFORD – For the 13th year in a row, Radford University has earned recognition from The Princeton Review for its dedication to establishing and maintaining an environmentally friendly campus.
Known for its college ratings and guidebooks, The Princeton Review last week released its “Guide to Green Colleges 2023.” It has compiled those rankings annually since 2010, and Radford University has claimed a spot on each of those years’ lists, including this most recent one.
The guide highlights schools that earn Green Rating scores of between 80 and 99, and this year Radford University received a score of 88, five points ahead of last year’s total.
Based on the review’s evaluation, Radford’s current score stems from numerous university initiatives, including its telecommuting program for employees, its indoor and secure bike storage options, its reduced parking fees for carpoolers, its free or reduced-price transit passes, and its inclusion of a sustainability committee and sustainability officer.
Radford University President Bret Danilowicz called sustainability “a way of life” on the campus.
“The beautiful natural environment that surrounds our university inspires us to celebrate and honor the place we call home,” Danilowicz said. “Thanks to our LEED-certified buildings and long-term commitment to sustainable everyday practices, Radford University is in an excellent position to be a leader among institutions in this critical area.”
Sustainability Manager Josh Nease said Radford’s ongoing rankings are a validation of more than a decade of work and forethought on the school’s behalf.
“Achieving this is not something that happens overnight, and earning The Princeton Review’s recognition for 13 consecutive years reflects our effort and commitment,” Nease said. “We are grateful for the recognition.”
According to its editor-in-chief Rob Franek, The Princeton Review frequently recommends Radford University to the growing number of students who care about the environment and want their “best fit” college to also, ideally, be a green one.
“Radford demonstrates an exemplary commitment to sustainability and to green practices, and it offers excellent academic programs,” Franek said.
The company’s editors use 25 survey data points to analyze 713 institutions across the United States, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, Morocco and Taiwan to arrive at their final list of 455 colleges and universities.
