George Mason University earns Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability

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George Mason University has earned the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, becoming one of the first 14 institutions to receive the new classification for integrating sustainability across the curriculum, research, operations, career preparation, and community engagement.

George Mason is the only institution in Virginia and the only public R1 university on the East Coast to earn the classification. George Mason is also one of three Carnegie Opportunity Colleges in the inaugural group of 10 public and 4 four private universities, which represent 10 states and one U.S. territory.

"This certification is an acknowledgement of George Mason's leadership and thoughtful integration of sustainability across our academic, research, and operational enterprises," said Julie Zobel, senior vice president and chief operating officer. "Our holistic approach supports the scholarship, research, and career pathways that prepare our students to tackle the global challenges that will shape tomorrow."

George Mason participated in the 2025 pilot program, which brought together diverse higher education institutions in a national community of practice to test and shape the classification framework, application, and review criteria. Tom Wood, associate professor of integrative and interdisciplinary studies, led a small team of staff from University Sustainability in completing a rigorous self-study process. The team also helped Carnegie develop critical assessment tools and served as team leaders in the review of other pilot institutions' applications.

Students and alumni collect on-the-water samples from Gunston Cove for the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability is now hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder, working alongside the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. The George Mason team continues to offer support to both entities in an advisory capacity and by reviewing new applications.

"Sustainability has long been an important interdisciplinary endeavor at George Mason," said Janette Muir, vice provost for academic affairs. "This recognition acknowledges the deep commitment of faculty and staff across the university as they contribute their expertise and diverse perspectives, creating opportunities for students to explore complex challenges and develop solutions. That breadth of engagement is one of the significant ways George Mason stands out as an institution."

Presidents Park Greenhouse on the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The university hosts standout programs and research centers like the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC), Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE), Virginia Climate Center, Center for Climate Change Communication, and the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center, among others.

"These centers and institutes drive research related to solving the grand challenge of creating a sustainable future, serving communities locally, nationally, and worldwide," said Wood, who serves on the National Advisory Committee for the Carnegie Foundation Sustainability Classification.

George Mason continues to improve operational performance through built environment exemplars like Fuse at Mason Square, the university's first LEED Platinum-certified building. The university also sees its campuses as Living Labs, encouraging students to test sustainability solutions directly on site.

Student research projects have resulted in key sustainable campus improvements including solar installations, enhancements to the Greenhouse and Gardens, green roofs, stormwater restoration projects, and native plant forests and pollinator habitats. Many of these improvements were made possible by grant programs like the Patriot Green Fund and ISE's Living Labs grants.

The Patriot Packout's free store redistributes items that might otherwise end up in a landfill after students move out from their residence halls. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

George Mason prepares its students to apply sustainable concepts through 17 sustainability-related degree programs, as well as more than 100 sustainability-focused or sustainability-inclusive courses, known as Green Leaf courses within the Mason Core curriculum. More academic opportunities are available through sustainability-focused study abroad programs, Residential Learning Communities, and semester-away courses at SMSC.

"Students who want to learn more about sustainability and pursue careers in related fields have many options and pathways to do so at George Mason, including at Mason Korea," said Muir.

With support from campus stakeholders, student engagement drives the creation and continuation of sustainability initiatives on campus. Student volunteers support University Sustainability's Greenhouse and Gardens and Patriot Packout programs and further influence sustainability on campus through capstone projects, internships, and fellowships.

Sustainability-focused student organizations like George Mason's chapter of the Food Recovery Network collaborate with Mason Dining staff to sort, package, and deliver food to local community and campus partners like the Patriot Pantry.

"One of the most inspiring aspects of sustainability at George Mason is our campus community's willingness to work collaboratively to improve outcomes," said Amber Saxton, sustainability program manager in University Sustainability. "Partnerships and working groups like the one we formed to achieve this classification continue to be the key to developing campus-wide systems to address critical needs, institutionalizing change, funding innovative projects, and making sustainability an essential part of campus life."

Solar panels at the campus greenhouse. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

This year, one such collaborative working group applied for and received a grant of more than $1 million from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to support improved food waste prevention, food rescue, and composting programs on campus.

Through such efforts, George Mason has earned four consecutive Gold ratings in the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) Assessment. STARS is a self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their comprehensive sustainability performance and is offered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

As a pilot institution for the Carnegie Classification for Sustainability, George Mason University is once again leading the way.

"The first group of inaugural institutions help bring this new classification to life," said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. "We're proud to recognize their leadership and the many ways they are advancing sustainability across their campuses and communities."

George Mason will retain the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability for six years, through 2033.

Sustainability at George Mason

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