Our Commitment

Randolph Colleges strives to improve the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of all aspects of our operations. Our identified focus areas include:

Energy

  • 100% of the electricity we purchase is generated from renewable sources
  • We conduct energy audits of campus buildings to identify and eliminate inefficiencies
  • The Information Technology department (IT) virtualized 80% of the college’s servers, greatly reducing energy consumption
  • We install energy efficient lighting and occupancy sensors in all new construction, and replace obsolete bulbs with LEDs or CFLs
  • In 2018, the main Boiler Room was decommissioned and we transitioned to a decentralized heating system that is more efficient.
In 2018, the main Boiler Room was decommissioned and replaced with an efficient decentralized heating system.
The old Boiler Room has been replaced with a new energy efficient heat system.

Food

  • Dining Services purchases from local farmers, growers, and distributors whenever possible.
  • Cheatham Dining Hall has been trayless since 2009, reducing water and energy consumption and limiting food waste.
  • Cheatham offers reusable to-go containers.
  • All coffee purchased is Fair Trade certified.
  • All pre-consumer food waste from Cheatham Dining Hall is composted through Lynchburg Grows.
Hailey Nguyen green thread to go to-go boxes for the dining hall
Hailey Nguyen proposed a research project to improve sustainability in Dining Services. The project resulted in the campus adopting reusable to-go containers.

Water

  • We partnered with the City of Lynchburg on a storm water management program.
  • Our campus features multiple rain gardens and permeable parking spaces.
  • We install water-saving features in all new renovations.
  • Students conduct yearly water quality assessments of the Blackwater Creek.

Land

  • The College owns forested reserves in Campbell County, which serve as carbon sinks and living laboratories.
  • We maintain old growth forests and natural open spaces in the back 35 acres of main campus.
  • Buildings & Grounds replaces every fallen or removed tree on campus.
  • The Organic Garden is a National Wildlife Federation certified wildlife habitat, and features a food forest and apple orchard.
  • Randolph College was the first school in VA to become a Bee Campus USA and commit to supporting pollinators through more sustainable landscape practices.

Waste

  • IT installed quick-print stations around campus that hold printing until students swipe their ID, preventing paper and ink waste from forgotten print jobs.
  • Single stream recycling is campus-wide, with recycling bins provided in every dorm room.
  • The recycling center in Leggett accepts batteries, ink cartridges, CFLs, small electronics, and plastic bags.
  • The student-developed and run Rummage Room collects unwanted but good quality items during move-out and makes them available to students for free, limiting waste during move-out and unnecessary purchases throughout the year.
  • All landscape waste, including leaves and grass, is composted on site.
Quick-print stations around Randolph's campus hold printing until students swipe their ID, preventing paper and ink waste from forgotten print jobs.
Quick print station in the Student Center reduces waste by holding students’ print jobs in the queue until they swipe their PawPass.

Transportation

  • The Bike Share program leases bikes to students, faculty, and staff for free.
  • A free shuttle service transports students downtown and to shopping malls, theatres, and the Lynchburg Community Market.
  • Two GLTC bus lines connect the campus to the rest of the city.