The University of Idaho has secured two distinct national honors for its environmental stewardship programs, including a perfect score in curriculum and an inaugural classification from the Carnegie Foundation.
Announced on September 23, the recognitions highlight the Moscow campus’s role in shaping how higher education institutions measure sustainability. The university helped develop the new Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability and is among only 14 colleges nationwide to receive the designation immediately upon its launch.
The classification, which U of I will hold through 2033, stems from a 2025 pilot program that included 20 participating institutions. Timothy F.C. Knowles noted that these inaugural schools are essential in defining the new standard.
“The first group of inaugural institutions help bring this new classification to life,” Knowles said.
In addition to the Carnegie designation, the university achieved a perfect 100 percent score in the curriculum category of the 2026 Sustainable Campus Index. Published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the index ranks institutions based on data submitted through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). U of I is already a Gold-rated institution under the STARS program.
The perfect curriculum score reflects the breadth of academic offerings available to students. The university provides a 12-credit sustainability certificate that is open to undergraduate and graduate students across all majors, allowing non-specialists to integrate environmental studies into their primary fields of study.
Beyond the classroom, student-led initiatives continue to drive campus improvements. The Student Sustainability Cooperative has allocated more than $160,000 toward student-proposed projects since its inception in 2007. These funds support practical applications of sustainability principles within the university community.
Madison Dougherty emphasized that these academic and operational efforts align with the state’s broader resource management priorities.
“In Idaho, sustainability shapes real decisions about land, water, energy and the communities that depend on them,” Dougherty said.
The dual recognition positions U of I as a leader in integrating environmental responsibility into both its educational framework and daily operations. The Carnegie classification will remain active for seven years, providing a long-term benchmark for the university’s continued progress in this sector.