Nishant --

You nailed it! Your institution has been selected for the 2014 edition of The Princeton Review’s Guide to 332 Green Colleges! The guide, published in partnership with the Center for Green Schools, profiles the institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. Your USGBC Students group will be called out with a special logo within your institution’s section! The guide will be officially released on April 17th, and your institution’s communications department will receive an official press release from The Princeton Review the day before – April 16th.  We’ve put together some tools below for your group to work “behind the scenes” now to line up promotional opportunities around campus. By acting on this opportunity now and after the launch date, your group and institution’s combined efforts can garner maximum excitement and exposure.  

Take these three actions to get the most out of this moment:

1. Now: Get Ready.
   • Reach out to the communications department at your school and prep them to celebrate the launch on April 17th through social media. Encourage them to place this medallion on their website so prospective students know sustainability is a priority.
   • Reach out to the school paper to find out how you can contribute a blog or article for your school newspaper –you can use these talking points and photo to help you submit to your school newspaper. This is a big deal, and we want your campus to know!
2. April 17th: Launch and Celebrate!
3. Facebook and tweet at your university using the hashtag #PRGreenGuide (Tweet at and follow us: @MyGreenSchools)
4. Write a letter (template here!) to the college president or board of trustees thanking them for their sustainability commitment and drawing attention to all that your school has accomplished. You can again use these talking points and pull from your school’s section, which you can access here as soon as it’s published.
5. This accomplishment should be a key talking point for campus tours so incoming students can recognize the sustainability initiatives and efforts on campus. Contact your admissions office and ask them to include  information specific to your institution. To do this, plug your school's information into this template.
6. Have an on campus activity planned for Earth Day or another time this semester? Make sure to display the guide or highlight the information included in your school’s section at events and activities fairs.
7. Then: Maintain the Momentum.

You’ll be hearing from me again when the guide is officially released on April 17th. Don’t forget to let me know what you’re doing on campus to promote your institution in The Princeton Review Guide and share any media placements in this brief survey  so we can help you celebrate nationally! For 62% of incoming students, sustainability on campus is a factor in their decision to attend a college. This could mean major growth for your USGBC Students group!  Questions? E-mail Hannah at hdebelius@usgbc.org. 

Congrats!

Hannah Debelius
Program Manager, USGBC Students