Morris Is One of Sierra Magazine’s Top 40 “Cool Schools”

Posted by Jenna Ray on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015

The University of Minnesota, Morris is one of Sierra magazine’s top 40 “Cool Schools” for 2015. This listing by the Sierra Club’s official publication ranks universities that lead sustainability initiatives and strive to protect and preserve the environment.

Morris was ranked 33rd of 153 institutions and was the most highly ranked school in the state. Other Minnesota colleges and universities listed include Macalester College (#37), Carleton College (#61), the University of Minnesota, Duluth (#73), and Saint John’s University (#146).

“It’s no surprise that Morris consistently has been included in Sierra’s rankings,” says Chancellor Jacqueline R. Johnson. “Our commitment to environmental sustainability is embedded in the philosophies and practice of what we do: our academics, our research, and the way we manage our facilities. This recognition affirms that commitment.”

The Sierra recognition is only the most recent of Morris’s sustainability accolades. This spring the campus was recognized for its environmental stewardship by the U.S. Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Princeton Review, Environmental Initiative, and more.

Based on a comprehensive questionnaire submitted by participating colleges, the “Cool Schools” index rates schools on their achievements and strategic approaches to sustainability. Once schools submitted their data, researchers scored responses and ranked the 153 participating institutions.

The “Cool Schools” survey was conducted by the Sierra Club, in collaboration with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, the Sustainable Endowments Institute, and the Princeton Review. More information on the survey and methodology is available at sierraclub.org.