IU Kokomo recognized for supporting faculty environmental research

By Anne-Marie Damler

The NWF’s Campus Ecology program was established in 1989 to promote ecological stewardship among college communities.

“State of the Campus Environment: A National Report Card on Environmental Performance and Sustainability in Higher Education” reveals that many schools are making the grade by embracing sound environmental practices, but at the same time others are due for environmental remediation. The survey, conducted in partnership with Princeton Survey Research Associates (PSRA), recognized IU Kokomo as one of the top 21 schools in the nation in supporting faculty environmental research. With the dedication of a new science building in September, IU Kokomo’s faculty has access to a facility with state-of-the-art technology to aid in their classroom instruction and further facilitate their research. (See photos of the building at this HP archival site.)

http://www.indiana.edu/~ocmhp/101201/text/IUK_science.html

The depth of information provided in the survey highlights where colleges are leading the way and where they are lagging behind. Lander Medlin, executive vice president of the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, one of the survey’s co-sponsors, believes the report represents a landmark study. “For the first time, we can see broad trends that will help us set priorities and establish benchmarks for improving environmental performance and better educating students because the two go hand in hand.”

The findings are based on responses from 891 institutions of higher education in the U.S., including responses from presidents, academic provosts, and chiefs of administration and operations. Questions covered a broad spectrum including issues of management, curriculum and operations. Responses came from schools that are excelling in their environmental performance as well as those campuses where much more work needs to be done. NWF and PSRA believe the response rates are truly representative of college environmental practices across the nation.

“These results give a good cross-sectional snapshot of environmental performance on campuses throughout the country,” said Mary McIntosh, survey leader and vice president of PSRA. “This data should inspire further discussion about the importance of sustainability and how best to achieve it.”

The NWF’s Campus Ecology program was established in 1989 to work with college campus communities to promote ecological stewardship on campuses and in their surrounding communities.

http://www.nwf.org/campusecology/stateofthecampusenvironment.cfm