The Princeton Review recently rated the University of Memphis as one of the most environmentally conscious universities in the country.
Since 2007, the U of M has been making a concerted effort to improve its environmental impact. Initiatives like introducing electric vehicles for campus workers, collecting cooking oil for biodiesel production and the TIGUrS (Tigers Initiative for Gardens in Urban Settings) program have increased the environmental consciousness of the University.
With the University's recent budgetary woes, the tendency is to rate some campus-wide projects by how much money they save the University. But for U of M Sustainability Coordinator Amelia Mayahi, the benefits of the Tiger Blue Goes Green initiative transcend money.
"As any investment, to see an actual financial payback will still take time, but I am confident that we will see that in the near future with initiatives in recycling and energy savings," Mayahi said. "However, the payback in students gaining experience and opportunities has been the quickest return."
Mayahi believes that several of the environmental initiatives made possible by the Green Fee-a $10 fee added onto the tuition of every student every semester-have done more for University students than merely saving money.
One of the aspects of the Tiger Blue Goes Green initiative is to promote green jobs and get students into internships at environmentally conscious industries. Students taking part in these internships have been able to apply their knowledge of sustainable business practices in a multitude of industries.
The Tiger Bike Share Program gives students access to bicycles for $35 per semester. The TIGUrS garden provides both a place of recreation for students and a source of fresh vegetables.
And it's not going to stop there, according to Amelia Mayahi.
"I feel that Tiger Blue Goes Green has been working hard on proving its worth and being recognized by the campus and the surrounding community up until now," Mayahi said. "I believe that goal has now been achieved and the next step will be finding many of the green fee initiatives that have proved to be successful programs each year a permanent home within University. This is opening the Green Fee up to even more new ideas and initiatives that will bring our campus to new heights in sustainability."
The Princeton Review lists the University as one of 332 "green" colleges, based on a study of hundreds of four-year institutions and their commitment to environmental sustainability.
The report praises the University's efforts to become more environmentally aware, including a partnership with Apple to collect 155 tons of old electronics on Electronics Recycling Day, the Tiger Blue Goes Green festival ,which both highlights environmentally-sound technologies and practices in development at the University and helps students get jobs in green industries and the new dormitory under construction, which is one of the first public structures in Tennessee to achieve silver Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification from the US Green Building Council.
The Princeton Review is an educational service that helps college-bound high school students prepare for higher education by offering test preparation classes and manuals and ranking colleges. They're the organization behind Cracking the SAT, the only test prep manual to make the New York Times bestseller list and The Best 377 Colleges, which ranks colleges in 62 different categories (The University of Memphis isn't in it.)
Amelia Mayahi wasn't surprised that the University made it into The Princeton Review's list of green colleges.
"We have achieved so much and in so little time. Of course there is plenty of room for growth, but I definitely think that our hard work has paid off and we deserve this placement," Mayahi said.
