University is Ranked in Top 20 in North America for Commitment to Sustainability
Image by Ed Brennen
09/28/2020
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-758-4664 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell is one the “coolest” schools in North America, according to Sierra magazine’s 14th annual ranking of eco-friendly colleges and universities.
UMass Lowell ranks No. 16 on the 2020 Cool Schools list of “green” institutions – cracking the top 20 for its highest placement ever. Last year, the university came in at No. 28, a jump from No. 165 in 2016.
The ranking assesses the performance of colleges and universities on everything from how they get their electricity to what they teach students in the classroom. More than 300 institutions participated in this year’s survey, a record number, according to the Sierra Club magazine, which compiles the annual ranking.
“UMass Lowell’s steadfast commitment to sustainability, reflected in both our Climate Action Plan and the university’s 2020 strategic plan, extends to our students, faculty, staff and beyond campus to our partnerships in the community. We are honored the Sierra Club has chosen to recognize our efforts as mindful stewards of our environment,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney.
The Sierra Club ranking reflects UMass Lowell’s comprehensive approach to sustainability.
“If you look at where we started a few short years ago, the jump has been remarkable,” said UMass Lowell Director of Sustainability Ruairi O’Mahony, who credited this year’s rise in the rankings to the university’s latest Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) report, which factors into the Sierra Club’s scoring system, according to the organization.
Last year, UMass Lowell became the highest-rated STARS campus in Massachusetts – and one of the top 10 in the country – with a STARS Gold score of 77.56. That helped give UMass Lowell a Cool Schools score of 80.04 from the Sierra Club this year.
Established in 2015, UMass Lowell’s Office of Sustainability serves as a focal point for the university’s commitment to the environment, providing resources and support for campus operations, education, research, student engagement and community partnerships.
From its Urban Agriculture program to recycling and waste diversion initiatives and grants that support green projects on campus, the office is central to UMass Lowell’s effort to become a leader in the field.
The university received high marks for curriculum and research in its latest STARS assessment, something O’Mahony says will get a further boost from UMass Lowell’s new Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy (RISE). Integrating the Office of Sustainability, the university’s Climate Change Initiative and renewable energy engineering programs, RISE promotes sustainability-related research by faculty and students.
The work does not stop there. To advance UMass Lowell’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the university recently received a $100,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to create a renewable energy master plan for the campus.
“UMass Lowell has a lot to model for schools everywhere. We at the Sierra Club have been continually impressed with this powerhouse research university’s commitment to teaching and embodying excellent environmental stewardship in all areas,” said Katie O’Reilly, Sierra’s adventure and lifestyle editor. “The River Hawks are truly standouts in this increasingly important space.”
UMass Lowell’s sustainability programs also extend beyond campus to engage the Greater Lowell community. Earlier this year, the university and the city of Lowell established a Green Community Partnership that will award grants for joint university-community projects that advance sustainability.
UMass Lowell is a national research university offering its more than 18,000 students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be leaders in their communities and around the globe. www.uml.edu