Universities using sustainability as a bait

Since being sustainable is the new trend, universities are now competing to become the most sustainable possible in order to attract environmentally-conscious students. College reviews from magazines like Forbes or Sierra now include ratings of the campuses’ sustainability. But is it really something that can be rated? An article published by the New York Times says not. Sustainability on campus, like the LEED certification sought by architecture firms for their buildings, is something that can be achieved through various means and can be deceiving. Some universities can be deemed sustainable if they take only a few superficial measures. But a real impact can only be done by making structural changes and investing massively for the future. Prospective students should be careful when they read or hear about such claims made by schools.