Loyola Marymount University's Sustainability Report Card

Loyola Marymount University has raised its grade to a B-minus on the College Sustainability Report Card, an independent index of higher education’s sustainability activities at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

The report by the Sustainability Endowments Institute lauded LMU for its “Climate Change & Energy” and “Investment Priorities” components. The report pointed out Loyola Marymount University’s “solar electric rooftop array that generates 868,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, providing 6 percent of the annual campus electrical needs.” It also noted that, the university “is currently invested in renewable energy funds.”

The institute calls this year’s report card its most comprehensive effort. “This marks the first time that the public has been given access to in-depth sustainability data provided by more than 300 colleges and universities across North America,” the report says. It graded the universities’ efforts in nine categories, including “Food & Recycling,” “Green Building,” and “Student Involvement.” Sustainability, in broad terms, is environmentally friendly measures higher education institutions adopt as their way of doing business.

LMU got high marks for using disposable plates and utensils that are biodegradable and made with post-consumer recycled content, for committing to high environmental standards for all new construction, and for student involvement, including jobs in the recycling program, student-led clubs and leadership of the student government.

By comparison, Pomona College was the only Southern California school to earn an A rating; UCLA received a B; Pepperdine University received a B-; USC received a C+. To read the whole report and supporting materials, click here. To view LMU’s page, click here.