For the 15th year in a row, George Mason University has made it onto the Princeton Review’s recently published Guides to Green Colleges list. This list highlights universities nationwide based on their sustainable programs, policies, and practices. Criteria for inclusion are based on many factors, but a university’s comprehensive reporting through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) STARS framework remains key to making the list. George Mason University, a member of AASHE, was the first university in Virginia to receive a Gold rating from AASHE STARS and since that achievement in 2014, Mason has achieved four consecutive Gold ratings.
For the recently published list, Princeton Review recognized Mason for having a dedicated University Sustainability office under Facilities and Campus Operations, and for the university’s support for alternative transportation programs like Commuter Choice, free Mason Shuttles, telecommuting, and programs associated with its Bike Friendly University Silver ranking. George Mason also received high marks for improvements in waste reduction and diversion rates since 2020. This includes doubling its composting tonnage from Dining partners to over 125 tons per year, reducing single-use plastics purchasing by 50%, adding glass recycling initiatives, and recycling/donating over 90% of its construction and demolition waste during that period.
Other points were received for constructing all buildings on George Mason’s campuses to LEED Silver or higher levels, including Fuse, a LEED Platinum building at Mason Square with state-of-the-art smart and green building technologies. Finally, George Mason received credit for not only having an environmental studies major and sustainability-focused coursework, but also sustainability learning outcomes – building a culture of sustainability by placing a high value on experiential learning at campus sustainability sites like the President’s Park Greenhouse, sustainability-aligned research in classrooms, labs, and George Mason Living Lab sites.