SALEM, Ore. — Willamette University outscored more than 1,000 colleges and universities that participated in a survey sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation titled Campus Environment 2008: Report Card on High Education Sustainability.

The self-study, released in July, is the first of its kind and involved more than 1,000 campuses across the country. Campuses were ranked according to their response to 18 items that referenced the institution’s commitment to sustainability. The items solicited information on such things as environmental or sustainability goal-setting, interdisciplinary degrees, transportation programs, recycling, and green landscaping and grounds.

Willamette did better than all participating schools from Maine to California. With 18 check marks possible, Willamette claimed 11. Pacific University with six items checked was the closest Oregon competitor followed by the University of Oregon with four.

The Federation included Willamette in a list of 40 institutions nationally that it considers "exemplary schools for environmental or sustainability goal-setting." Willamette is the only Oregon institution among 13 nationally noted as "exemplary for supporting and evaluating faculty on environmental or sustainability studies" and the only Oregon university among 18 in the nation credited as an "exemplary school for energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy."

The survey shines a bright light on Willamette University and its president, M. Lee Pelton, is quick to give credit to Willamette students. "I am perhaps proudest that Willamette’s sustainability achievements were largely student-initiated," he said. "These are students whose passion, leadership and creativity transformed our campus culture. They inspire and motivate others on this campus and beyond."

"The NWF Report Card is the Gold Standard for charting the sustainability movement in higher education, said David Orr, author of Earth in Mind, Ecological Literacy, The Last Refuge, and Design on the Edge.

The survey was conducted January through May 2008 by Princeton Survey Research Associated International in consultation with the NWF.