TU earns recognition for safety & sustainability

By Pam Gorsuch on December 2, 2016

Towson University is one of the safest and most environmentally responsible universities in America, according to recent recognition in College Choice and The Princeton Review. 

TU ranks 23^rd in College Choice’s first annual ranking of the 50 safest large colleges and universities in America. The ranking reflects the Towson University Police Department’s accreditation by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and efforts to collaborate with campus committees, administrators and emergency preparedness officials to create a safe learning environment. They also note TU’s low crime rates.

“We are only as safe as we are responsible,” said TU Police Chief Bernie Gerst. “I commend our students, faculty and staff for taking an active role in crime prevention by walking in groups and in well-lit areas, keeping doors and cars locked, and utilizing campus safety programs like SafeRide, personal property engraving and personal defense courses. These efforts, combined with the work of our dedicated police officers and Office of Public Safety employees, help to keep our campus safe.”

Colleges and universities were chosen for the ranking based on the crime rates of the campus, crime rates of the nearby area, and general safety, which includes anti-discrimination, women’s safety and fire safety. TU is the only USM institution included on the list.

Seventh consecutive year of sustainability recognition

The Princeton Review has included TU in its guide to green colleges for the seventh consecutive year, placing the university among the most environmentally responsible colleges in the nation.

The guide specifically highlights TU’s composting program, wherein composting is collected at all campus dining locations. Food scraps and nearly all packaging in campus dining halls—including forks, knives, napkins, and sandwich and salad containers—are compostable. In order to further promote food waste reduction, Towson takes part in the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge and maintains a FoodShare pantry that offers fruits, vegetables and canned goods to students and employees in need. 

“From solar panels to the new TU FoodShare, every year the campus community pushes us to make bigger and better strides toward sustainability,” said Campus Planning and Sustainability Manager Paddy Watson. “We encourage students to get involved in our Eco-Rep program to share ideas and help bring them to reality.” 

The guide emphasizes TU’s Eco-Rep program, which helps students act as change agents for campus sustainability. It notes that TU was the first university in Maryland to sign on to the Department of Energy’s Better Building Challenge to reduce energy by 20 percent from the year 2010 to 2020. Since signing the pledge, TU has reduced campus energy consumption by 17 percent.

Schools were selected for the guide based on data from the company's 2015-16 survey of 640 colleges and their commitments to the environment and sustainability. Based on the survey, schools were assigned green rating scores on a scale of 60 to 99. Schools with green rating scores of 80 or higher made it into the guide. TU’s green rating score is 90. The university has been included in the guide every year since its inception in 2010. 

See the Princeton Review’s full write-up on Towson University or get more information about campus sustainability.