After evaluating nine categories relating to green energy practices, the Sustainable Endowments Institute's Green 2011 Report Card gave the University an overall B grade, an improvement from last year's B-.
The report provides in-depth sustainability profiles and includes those institutions with the 300 largest endowments in the United States and Canada.
"The goal of the report card is to highlight schools that are excelling in promoting sustainability on campus in their operations and within their endowment opportunities," said Susan Paykin, director of communications for the Sustainable Endowments Institute.
The average grade given to the surveyed colleges was a B, with 56 percent of surveyed colleges receiving the mark.
The University received As in six of the nine grading components, doing well in administration, food & recycling, green building, student involvement, transportation and investment priorities. For failing to make its shareholder voting record public, the University received a failing grade in the area of endowment transparency. It also was among the 41 percent of reporting schools that received an F in shareholder management.
Sustainability groups on Grounds said the University's overall grade increase since last year reflects a greater awareness regarding environmental issues.
"I've noticed that there's been a convergence of sustainable thinking and sustainable practices at most sectors of University life," said Halley Epstein, co-chair of Student Council's Environmental Sustainability Committee. "We have found the administration more accepting than ever of projects that we want to push through. This is not only at the student level but also at the very high level of decision-making."
Leonard Sandridge, executive vice president and chief operating officer, addressed in an e-mail the University's failing grades in areas related to its endowment, which is managed by the University of Virginia Investment Management Company.
"It is not UVIMCO's policy to make public its voting or investment decisions," he said. "UVIMCO aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in funds that make renewable energy and clean technology investments." The University earned an A grade this year in its investment priorities after receiving a C in last year's report because of the greater emphasis it has placed on green technologies.
Sandridge added that with the appointment of UVIMCO's new chief executive officer, Lawrence Kochard, the group plans to review its policies related to transparency.
Other Virginia universities also achieved positive recognition. Virginia Tech received a B+ on the Green Report Card, and Virginia Commonwealth University, one of the overall leaders in college sustainability, scored an A-. Paykin reported that only 16 percent of universities received an A grade.
Paykin said she has noticed a dramatic improvement in sustainability efforts since the creation of the Green Report Card five years ago. Forty percent of universities reported having a sustainability committee in 2006, while this year, 95 percent have established similar bodies.
At the University, the President's Sustainability Committee, which advises senior officials on all matters related to sustainability, is comprised of "a lot of highly motivated and very capable folks who are pulling in the same direction," said Bill Keene, a member of the committee, who stressed the importance of "leading by example."
"We have to walk the walk and talk the talk," he said. "If we want to educate others about sustainable solutions, we have to be a sustainable institution"
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