Has anyone noticed the abundance of bike shops located within the Greater Washington area? I was once told that Washington DC is the bike capital of the world. While I wouldn’t exactly describe the source of this little known fact as reputable, I would consider this a bike-friendly area; and it is certainly more accommodating to riders than any other location I have frequented back in New Jersey, my mother country. As much as I like to believe the residents of DC are outdoor and fitness enthusiasts, I think that eco-awareness plays a fundamental role in the increased ridership.
The Greater Washington area is full of granola-eating and Birkenstock-wearing individuals; this campus is no exception. There is also a host of savvy young business professionals focused on sustainability. When passion and realism combine, they result in an educated population devoted to promoting sustainable living. If you have paid any bit of attention to your surroundings here at the University of Maryland, you probably noticed the overwhelming amount of student and University involvement committed to environmental issues. Take the time to thank these selfless people; unlike many of us, who chose to study business to make a load of cash, it is unlikely that these individuals will ever become millionaires. Their greatest concern is slowing the destruction of the planet.
While you may like to think that the University of Maryland is the MVP of the green team, it is time to take another look at its efforts. This past week, the Sustainable Endowments Institute released the College Sustainability Report Card, which examines the sustainability efforts of over 300 campuses and universities. According to the Institute, “The College Sustainability Report Card is the only independent evaluation of campus and endowment sustainability activities at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In contrast to the academic focus on sustainability in research and teaching, the Report Card examines colleges and universities, as institutions, through the lens of sustainability.” Even if you are not so environmentally-conscious, it is truly worth your time and effort to check out their website: http://www.greenreportcard.org/. There, you can compare the efforts of schools all across the country.
So you may wonder how the University of Maryland held up against the fierce competition? The University received an overall grade of B. Mediocre? Hardly. The highest grade awarded was an A-. Evaluated in categories such as Administration, Green Building, and Student Involvement, Maryland received A’s in all areas with the exception of an F in both Endowment Transparency and Shareholder Engagement. Without these two minor derailments, the University really is the green champion. “The University of Maryland Foundation makes only asset allocation available to the public on its website and provides additional information about endowment holdings and its shareholder voting record to individuals upon request,” says the Institute as justification for the F in the Endowment Transparency category. It is unfortunate that all the blood, sweat, and tears are somewhat overlooked for such an easily rectifiable issue.
Instead of bashing all the environmentalists for this minor fumble, use the business education for which you or your parents pay dearly and give them a little tutorial on the importance of Shareholder Engagement. This information will be certainly appreciated, and in the meantime, consider opening up your window and shutting off the air conditioning. It is October, after all.