KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 29, 2020

KSU recognized for commitment to healthy, sustainable learning environment

Kennesaw State University has received the 2020 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) award for its commitment to a healthy, safe, and sustainable learning environment.

Announced each spring, the ED-GRS program recognizes institutions that demonstrate initiatives to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education. Kennesaw State is one of just five postsecondary institutions in the country to receive the honor in 2020.

“We are pleased by this recognition from the U.S. Department of Education for our ongoing efforts in improving the sustainability and overall health and wellness of our campus and our faculty, staff and students,” said KSU President Pamela Whitten. “This recognition is a testament to the effectiveness of KSU’s support of sustainable practices and it is a reminder of what an outstanding job our faculty and staff are doing to improve our environmental impact.”

The third-largest university in Georgia, KSU has been consistently ranked among The Princeton Review’s annual Guide to Green Colleges, appearing in the publication’s most recent list in October 2019. Notable highlights from the University’s selection application are:

• The University developed various green initiatives on its two campuses to decrease its environmental impact and costs, including increased recycling on campuses, alternative forms of transportation and motion detectors for lighting in classrooms and meeting places.
• KSU has been recognized as a leader in health and wellness with two walkable campuses with access to an extensive countywide trail network, a bike-share program and on-campus amenities such as the award-winning Dr. Betty L. Siegel Student Recreation and Activities Center and nationally ranked dining services. The University has been designated a “Bicycle Friendly University” by the League of American Bicyclists and became the first university to win the Innovator of the Year award from the National Restaurant Association in 2013, besting Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and the U.S. Air Force.
• Through the University created the Presidential Commission on Sustainability, which serves to promote and support collaborative efforts of faculty, staff and students toward sustainable development across colleges, departments and external partners. One effort stemming from the commission is KSU’s Annual EQUINOX Week, dedicated to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Founded in 2017, the event seeks to catalyze and advance pathways of multidisciplinary scholarship and partnership among institutions of higher education, policymakers and community members.

A celebration featuring representatives from each of the honored schools is scheduled for the week of August 3 in Washington, D.C.

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.