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PTS Scores Well in National Sustainabilty Report.

A national report again lists the University of Arizona and PTS as among the nation's most environmentally aware operations.

The Sustainable Endowments Institute released its College Sustainability Report Card 2010 of colleges and universities on Wednesday. The new report card awarded the UA an 'A' rating in a number of important sustainability measures, along with an overall 'B' rating, citing a number of strengths across the University. The report card also rated PTS with an 'A' rating this past year for its sustainabilty efforts.

The institute evaluated environmental sustainability efforts at 332 schools in the U.S. and Canada. In all, four surveys collected this summer measured information about sustainability in campus operations, dining services, endowment investment practices and student activities. The report assessed 48 indicators, from green building initiatives and recycling programs to transportation initiatives.

In addition to scoring schools for their efforts, the report also provides access to this information as a way for schools to learn from each other's experiences. Schools were selected from the 2007 National Association of College and University Business Officers Endowment Study and from additional independent research on endowment size.

In all, the report generated 1,100 survey responses and more than 10,000 pages of data.

The report card noted the UA for its campus comprehensive plan, hiring residence life and campus sustainability coordinators, and the Campus Sustainability Committee that coordinates research, curriculum, operations, planning and building design across the University. The committee is comprised of UA faculty, staff, administrators and students, as well as community leaders.

An update of the 2003 campus plan is nearly complete and the Arizona Board of Regents is expected to review and approve it later this year. The new plan will highlight the University's accomplishments toward creating an increasingly sustainable campus in the planning, design and construction of new facilities. It also lists gains in the reuse and renewal of existing resources, alternative transportation, and in the operation and maintenance of the campus.

The UA received high marks for its transportation efforts, which include replacing older vehicles with flex-fuel ones, bus discounts, the CatTran shuttles and other programs, and for university investments in renewable energy funds.