Green College Spotlight: St. Lawrence University

St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York has joined the growing number of colleges and universities across the world that have begun working sustainability into all aspects of campus life.  St. Lawrence is a leading liberal arts college that has been voted among the best colleges in the nation and is in the midst of an educational renaissance with ambitious academic initiatives and many green upgrades to buildings on campus.

Long dedicated to a cross-cultural academic experience, St. Lawrence has recently begun attracting attention for weaving sustainability into both their curriculum and everyday life on campus. The university earned a ‘B’ on their Green Report Card for 2009, the result of lots of hard work.

President Sullivan signed the Presidents Climate Commitment, promising to achieve carbon neutrality and integrate sustainability efforts. An Energy Star purchasing policy has been implemented, and the university has embarked upon an energy conservation campaign. St. Lawrence is planning a switch to renewable power generation and in the meantime, is purchasing renewable energy credits.

A ‘Green Bikes’ program provides students, faculty and staff with donated and used bikes that can be checked out through a borrowing system based in the campus library. The campus fleet includes five electric hybrids and two hybrid SUV’s used by the athletic department.

Students have started a ‘Reuse Initiative’ to reduce waste and recycling efforts are being ramped up. Sustainable food systems are also in place, with food purchased from local farms and herbs grown in a student-run garden. First-year students are given reusable beverage containers.

The Johnson Hall of Science is LEED gold and features water-smart landscaping, maximized daylight use, passive/active solar design, sustainable materials and a design that aims for ‘sustainable transition’ so the university can incorporate 100% renewable energy in the future. All future buildings at St. Lawrence will aim for LEED certification.

One of the most interesting aspects of St. Lawrence’s focus on protecting and preserving the natural world is their “Adirondack Semester” program, in which a small group of students lives in the wilderness and takes classes in nature writing, local ecology, woodworking and environmental philosophy. Baylor Johnson, the program’s director, touted the experience as a chance to get away from rampant consumerism and consider the fate of the natural world.  The students live in yurts and prepare simple meals from a nearby farm throughout the 16-week semester, holding classes outdoors.

Such programs are a fantastic, hands-on way to engage college students in appreciation and stewardship of the environment. We offer a round of applause for such innovation and dedication at St. Lawrence University, and we’re looking forward to seeing them get that ‘A’ on the Green Report Card!

Link [St. Lawrence University] + [The New York Times]

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