University of Richmond Recognized Nationally as Top Performer in Sustainability, Diversity & Affordability

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has ranked the University of Richmond in the top 10 for diversity and affordability among higher education institutions.

This ranking comes from their 2023 Sustainable Campus Index, which recognizes top-performing colleges and universities in several sustainability categories.

“Evaluating sustainability requires going beyond the traditional topics of conservation and environmental stewardship. It is equally as important to evaluate the human side of sustainability to ensure that resources and conversations around these topics are accessible for all,” said Director of Sustainability Rob Andrejewski. “Through this ranking, AASHE has recognized the invaluable work that UR has done to elevate the importance of social sustainability and the overall health and wellness of our community on campus.”

As part of ongoing efforts to share sustainability practices with the wider Richmond community, earlier this year the University of Richmond’s Office for Sustainability hosted City of Richmond officials to tour the university’s Eco-Corridor, an 18-acre biodiverse green space that is open to the public. The tour showcased a half-mile-long multi-use trail as well as features such as a community garden, a restored stream and floodplain, and pollinator meadows.

This year, the University of Richmond was also recognized by AASHE as a Center for Sustainability Across the Curriculum. As part of this program, the Office for Sustainability will host a faculty development workshop in December that builds upon the success of their River City Project.

The UR Office for Sustainability leads year-round environmentally focused initiatives and opportunities for students and staff. In 2023, UR won first place in Virginia during the national “Campus Race to Zero Waste” competition, with more than 270 tons of organic waste diversion since November 2020, and 6,000 pounds of electronic waste collected in 2023 by the Rethink Waste program.

To learn more about sustainability at the University of Richmond, visit sustainability.richmond.edu.

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