National Rankings: Knox Strong on Sustainability

Knox College gets high marks for sustainability and environmental initiatives, according to recent national college rankings from The Princeton Review and Sierra Club.

Knox was selected for the 2016 - 2017 edition of The Princeton Review Guide to 361 Green Colleges. Knox was recognized for academic programs that focus on sustainability, campus initiatives that encourage the use of alternative transportation such as bicycling, and the purchase of local food and production of organic produce.

Knox also was selected for the Princeton Review's 2017 listing of Best Colleges in the Midwest, and for Princeton Review's 2017 national guidebook, Best 381 Colleges. This is the 25th consecutive year that Knox has been included in the Princeton Review's Best Colleges guidebook.

Knox also is ranked among national leaders among the Sierra Club's national listing in Sierra magazine of "Cool Schools." The ranking, which places Knox 138th among colleges and universities, focuses on environmental topics including academics, energy and water usage, food, purchasing, and transportation.

"Sustainability is one of Knox's core values, and there's evidence of our accomplishments in student and faculty initiatives across the board, from facilities to academics and extracurriculars," said Knox College President Teresa Amott.

Knox's recent $12.5 million Alumni Hall renovation achieved LEED Gold certification from United States Green Building Council, and the new $9 million Whitcomb Art Center is also expected to qualify for LEED certification.

"Every year, Knox's sustainability efforts are expanding. Last year, students donated over 7 tons of reusable items when they moved out of their residence halls. This year students have grown over 2,000 pounds of their own food on the Knox Farm. In addition last year over 60,000 pounds of organic waste were diverted from the landfill," said Deborah Steinberg, Knox Director of Sustainability Initiatives.

Knox is also highly ranked by US News & World Report's Best Colleges guidebook for outstanding teaching and ethnic and international diversity; by Forbes in its "Grateful Grads Index," for successful alumni who also support the college through donations; and in Washington Monthly's "service oriented" rankings that recognize a strong commitment to the public good, including extensive volunteer work by students in the community and service by alumni in the Peace Corps.

Photos below: students collect unneeded items from residence halls for recycling and reuse; grow their own food in an on-campus "high tunnel"; handle dining hall surplus for donation to local non-profit agencies.