Florida A&M has been selected for the second year in a row by The Princeton Review for its list of 322 top green campuses in the United States and Canada.
Florida State also made the list, but FAMU is the only historically black college and university to be selected.
Kishia Martin, 25, health administration student said she is “elated that FAMU is recognized for something positive” because of the negative feedback she hears from her peers and family members in Miami. Now she has something to brag about.
FAMU was selected because of its dedication to sustainable practices, which include installing more energy-efficient lightning in campus buildings, updating the campus utilities plant, increase engineering controls to enhance efficiency and participating in RecycleMania.
“The fact that we’ve made the ‘green college’ list two years in a row reflects the hard work and dedication of FAMU students,” said Ryan Mitchell, senior environmental specialist in the Department of Environmental Health and Safety. “Our job in the department is to help the students achieve their goals,” he added.
The Princeton Review is known for its education and test preparation services. They first created the “green schools” list in 2010 to work with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S Green Building Council.
There were 768 institutions that were looked at for selection, but only 322 schools received scores of 83 or higher.
“Out of so many schools we were at the top, that is impressive, something that we definitely have to put in the history books,” said Justin Johnson, a 20-year-old criminal justice student. “I never really took recycling serious on campus but now I see it means something.”
There were more than 72 percent of students who participated in campus elections votes in February. These votes were in favor of establishing a Student Green Energy Fund at FAMU.
The proposal was approved by the FAMU fee committee, the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors for this coming year; it will start in fall 2013 where students will contribute 50 cents per credit hour into the Student Green Energy Fund.
“Fifty cents per credit hour equals about six or seven dollars per semester – or about the cost of a burrito at Chipotle’s,” said Alicia Alexander, 21, biology major and president of the FAMU Green Coalition, which oversaw the campaign in support of the Student Green Energy Fund.
FAMU Green Coalition along with the Environmental Sciences Student Organization, Green For All, the 41stStudent Government Association, the City of Tallahassee and private partner Green Evolution, are sponsoring Green Week April 18-23 in honor of Earth Day.
For more information about Green Week go to www.GreenEvolutionTour.com.