According to the report, MSU moved from a C rating in the 2007 study to a B for 2008 and is one of 136 schools that improved their grade.

For Mark Orlowski, executive director of the Sustainable Endowments Institute, the number of improved schools is evidence that environmentally friendly polices are taking root at colleges and universities.

“It’s remarkable,” Orlowski said. “There’s been a groundswell of activity in sustainability at most schools.”

At MSU, that activity includes joining the Chicago Climate Exchange, a decision that Terry Link, director of the Office of Campus Sustainability, said was a major factor in MSU’s score.

That agreement, signed by MSU in 2006, has the university pledging a 6 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2010. Six other universities, including the University of Minnesota and the University of Iowa, have signed onto the agreement.

MSU’s score also improved because of research being conducted by faculty, staff and students on how to make campus more sustainable, Link said. For example, Link is examining how campus buildings can minimize electricity use.

MSU, however, didn’t receive praise for all of its policies.

MSU was among the 66 percent of universities receiving an F rating on shareholder engagement. The category examines how universities voice concern for their investments.

Two universities in the Big Ten – Wisconsin and Minnesota- received grades of B or above for shareholder engagement. The University of Minnesota, which received an A rating for its shareholder engagement policy, features a social concerns committee. Link said he was unaware of how MSU handles shareholder engagement, but in certain cases, it may allow groups to voice concern on investments.

Elsewhere, several other programs helped MSU’s score. MSU Bikes, a program that has leased more than 400 bikes to students, is one such program. The university also requires that all buildings be constructed according to standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council, which includes minimizing electricity and building with recycled materials.

Brandon Knight, founder of the Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition, said he was pleased that many universities are becoming environmentally friendly, but he wants to see universities embrace stronger policies.

“We would like to see a significant investment into renewable energy,” he said. “We want to see campuses take the lead on things like wind energy.”