In late August 2008, GW was one of 40 universities nationwide to be recognized by the Campus Ecology program of the National Wildlife Federation for sustainability in higher education. The Campus Ecology program promotes climate leadership and sustainability among colleges and universities by providing resources and technical support, creating networking opportunities and organizing education events.
The Campus Ecology awards were based on a comprehensive study by the National Wildlife Federation and Princeton Survey Research Associates International, which reviewed trends and new developments in environmental performance and sustainability at 1,068 institutions. The program recognizes colleges and universities for exemplary performance in areas of environmental literacy, energy, water, transportation, landscaping, and waste reduction. The report analyzes collective trends in the areas of management, operations, and academics.
The U.S. higher learning sector consists of over 4,100 institutions. According to David W. Orr, author of Earth in Mind, Ecological Literacy, The Last Refuge, and Design on the Edge, "The NWF Report Card is the Gold Standard for charting the sustainability movement in higher education. Coverage of both operational and academic programs is particularly important. Strongly recommended reading for administrators, faculty and students."
GW has developed more than 100 sustainability related courses, a list of which may be seen at http://www.sustainability.gwu.edu/courses.html. GW’s main sustainability web site can be seen at http://www.sustainability.gwu.edu.
