The University of Colorado Boulder has been chosen to host and lead a new initiative called the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, which will recognize higher education institutions that are committed to sustainability.
CU Boulder applied through a competitive process to be the administrative and operational host for the new classification, and the university was selected by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, an organization chartered by an act of Congress in 1906 focused on creating change in education, and the American Council on Education, an advocacy group.
“We are grateful that Carnegie and ACE have entrusted CU Boulder with this critical leadership role, and we are excited to get to work with the initial cohort of colleges and universities participating in the pilot program,” CU Boulder Vice Chancellor for Sustainability Andrew Mayock said in a release. “This selection places CU Boulder at the center of a rigorous new framework for assessing and advancing sustainability efforts in curriculum, research, operations and community engagement.”
CU Boulder will lead the official classification review process, which is slated to launch in February. The effort will be managed through Mayock’s office, and CU Boulder will hire a director to lead the initiative. CU Boulder will be responsible for administering the application process and reviewing applicants.
The Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education created the classification as a way to respond to the need for colleges and universities to address climate change by embedding sustainability across all aspects of campus life, from student organizations to academic programs to infrastructure development. It aims to provide higher education with an independent way to assess and recognize institutions’ commitment to sustainability.
“We want to help every community enjoy access to clean air, fresh water, abundant food and a vibrant natural environment — the necessities for building a happy, healthy life,” CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz said in a release. “Our motivation in submitting this proposal is to partner with a broad array of educational institutions to center sustainability in our missions, closely engage the publics we serve, and support practical solutions for communities near and far to achieve environmental resilience and a sustainable future.”