Ramapo College says it is just as committed to environmentalism as it was when the college began a sustainability program over 40 years ago.

"At Ramapo College there are three levels at which we are persuing facility , sutainability management, every day operations, and education. We are currently working at all three levels to move Ramapo toward a greener future," says Ashwani Vasishth, Director of Master of Arts In Sustainability Studies, at Ramapo College.

Ramapo College began its commitment to sustainability in 1969. Although Ramapo has continued to grow both in size and student population, the college has not failed in honoring its sustainable promise as new eco-dorms now appear on campus.

In 2010, the college launched its Sustainable Living Facilities program, which aims to decrease energy use and allows students to engage in the college's sustainable mission.

However, the Sharp Sustainability Center, one of Ramapo's greenest accomplishments, was completed in 2009. According to the college website, the center makes use of natural daylight and uses recycled and environmentally friendly materials. The center also provides heating and cooling through a special, environmentally friendly, geothermal system."

"The Sharp Sustainability Center is a demonstration project which shows that buildings can be greener. We are using the lessons we have learned through this project to help create greener buildings on campus," Vasishth says.

Along with its many green policies, the college does not stop short at recycling.

Each classroom on campus is equipped with two containers. The first, a blue container, is meant for paper products.  All other trash is to be placed in another container which is usually gray, black, or brown.

However, the college is still working to make these guidelines effective.

"You have students throw the waste trash away in the wrong container, so we are working to make these guidelines more effective, particularly through education. Freshman orientation is one place where we can introduce incoming students to concepts such as recycling and sustainability," Vasishth adds. 

But not only has college administration and legislation tried to make Ramapo College more sustainable.

Student led organizations such as 1Step have often taken green matters into their own hands.

"In November of 2007, President Mercer signed the American Colleges and Universities Presidents' Climate Committment(ACUPCC). This is a commitment that over 600 other colleges and universities have signed on in order to go green," says 1Step president Noah Luogameno.

"With the signing, the president also created the Climate Committment Task Force, which has faculty and administrators  and students tasked with getting Ramapo to 'Carbon Neutrality.' Carbon Neutral means that the college will be offsetting more carbon dioxide than it produces through energy savings  and other green initiatives."

Once the Climate Commitment Task Force was initiated, soon came the creation of Ramapo's own 1Step organization.

"Along with the Climate Commitment Task Force, 1Step(Students Together for Environmental Progress) was created to act as the student working group of the sustainability initiative. 1Step has been leading the charge at Ramapo to raise awareness about environmental sustainability, as well as developing and implementing green projects, programs, and events."

Over the years the student-led-organization has implemented many green incentives.

In 2008, the organization sponsored monthly late night, dining. This action implemented the use of all biodegradable materials including utensils such as cups and plates in the campus dining hall.

More recently the club is taking new actions like composting and getting involved with local environmental organizations.

"We are incorporating composting on campus. We might be getting an industrial size com-poster called Rocket composter. We are also involved with MEVO(Mahwah Environmental Volunteer Organization), in which  we do clean ups and spread the word  about recycling," 1Step member Amanda Nesheiwat says.

"It is 1Step's vision to see Ramapo as the leader in sustainability education and practice among New Jersey higher education institutions. Ramapo is already ahead of the game with the first Sustainability Studies Masters Program in the state, and the Sharp Sustainability Education Center; a highly efficient and green structure used for teaching classes," Luogameno says.

Ramapo is always planning towards a more greener sustainable future.  Recent talks of the cool roof program might allow the installation of solar panel roofs on the campus's academic buildings.

"There have been talks of replacing roofs of the academic wings on campus (A-E) with solar panels. This would reduce dependence on energy and reduces heat load on buildings, which decreases the use of air-conditioning in the summer," Vasishth adds.

Ramapo College's upcoming Earth Week, promises lots of green activities.

"Earth week is coming up and there are tons of events going on to raise awareness of environmental issues as well as fund-raising for the club," Nesheiwat says. 

More information on Ramapo's green initiatives can be found here.