What’s your GPA?

So what, you didn’t earn an “A” in Advanced Engineering and Physics of Neuroanatomy? You still have a chance to earn a high Green Point Average. It may not seem like your actions alone make a big impact, but collectively, sustainable lifestyle choices help reduce our total ecological footprint. As a resident at Westminster, you can make a powerful difference with your everyday choices. By calculating your GPA, you’re able to measure how “green” you are. GPA highlights your areas for improvement and areas where you excel. Those who minimize their environmental impact through many green living practices (and thus earn a high GPA) can gain a spot on the “Green’s List.”

How GPA Works: The program is organized into a Sustainability “Course” Catalog with 8 “courses” (short quizzes) that must be completed in order to earn a GPA. These courses are titled: Elementary Energy, Introduction to Water Conservation, Methods of Transportation, Macro Wastenomics, Foodology, Principles of Purchasing, Ethics of Engagement, and the Innovation Capstone. Each short quiz asks 3-10 questions about behaviors in that area. Please answer every question, choosing the answer that most accurately reflects your current habits.  After you complete all 8 quizzes, your GPA is calculated based on your responses. You will be advised a “Major” and “Minor” for the areas where you clearly excelled. You can also be put on “Environmental Probation” for classes in which you are practicing sub-par sustainable behaviors.

The EPA defines sustainability as such: Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.” That means that there are a lot of things that you can do to be more sustainable and we hope that GPA can be a tool to teach you some of those more sustainable choices.

How to Calculate your GPA: Visit the Sustainability Fellows in the Environmental Center or at Earth Day April 18th from 2-5pm. Online version will be available Fall 2013.