According to the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, the UI’s green grade dropped to a C from last year’s B-. The report was released Wednesday by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Grading was based on publicly available information as well as a 120-question survey of school officials. The survey covered nine categories from Green Building to Transportation to Food & Recycling.

The survey revealed that UI President Sally Mason has not yet signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, though the UI values “increased planning focus on sustainability” in its Master Plan.

Sarah Paykin, a communications fellow at the Sustainable Endowments Institute, considers signing the agreement a “huge step in committing to sustainability.”

“The Commitment holds schools accountable by setting benchmarks and provisions for achieving certain goals,” she said.

Iowa State University’s sustainability grade went up a level from a C to a B-.

— by Chris Curtland