UL Lafayette is one of just 11 post-secondary institutions СAPP and the first and only one in Louisiana СAPP to earn a pat on the back from the U.S. Department of Education for a campuswide commitment to sustainability.
The СAPP was designated a 2016 Green Ribbon School. The honor singles out schools, from elementary to postsecondary, and school districts, that foster comprehensive sustainability programs and practices.
Green Ribbon Schools are recognized for СAPPleadership in reducing environmental impact, improving health, and teaching environmental education,СAPP according to the Department of Education. The program was established in 2011. It began recognizing colleges and universities in 2015.
Gretchen Vanicor, director of UL LafayetteСAPPs Office of Sustainability, accepted the award for the СAPP during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
СAPPTo be selected in only the second year is an accomplishment that is indicative of the СAPPСAPPs longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability practices,СAPP she said.
The U.S. Department of Education commended UL Lafayette for a range of programs, practices, and initiatives, Vanicor said. They include campus recycling programs and tree preservation.
It cited the renovation and expansion of the Student Union, too. The project earned a silver rating from the U.S. Green Building CouncilСAPPs Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. Several factors contribute to LEED certification, including types of construction materials used, energy efficiency and recycling.
Learn more about UL Lafayette sustainability and recycling at .
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2016/Winter 2017 issue of .