Colgate University - Campus

Campus

Colgate University is located in the rural village of Hamilton, New York. The campus itself is situated on 515 acres (2.08 km2) of land. The university owns an additional 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of undeveloped forested lands.

Colgate's first building, West Hall, was built by students and faculty from stones from Colgate's own rock quarry. Nearly all the buildings on campus are built of stone, and newer buildings are built with materials that fit the style. Probably the most distinctive building on campus is the Chapel (Colgate Memorial Chapel), which was built in 1918 and is used for lectures, performances, concerts, and religious services. Old Biology Hall was built in 1884 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

The university's campus was ranked as the most beautiful by The Princeton Review in their 2010 edition. In July 2008, Colgate was named fifth on Forbes' list of Top Colleges for Getting Rich, the only non-Ivy League college in the top 5. Colgate is listed as one of America's 25 "new Ivies" by Newsweek magazine. It is also on the list of "100 best campuses for LGBT students." In October 2006, Colgate was ranked as the second most fit college in America by Men's Fitness. Colgate has been ranked third by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education for its success in integrating African-American students.

Most of the campus's heat is generated from a wood boiler which burns wood chips, a renewable resource. Since the heating facility is fueled by biomass, it produces zero net carbon emissions. Almost all of Colgate's electricity comes from a hydroelectric dam at Niagara Falls; the rest comes from nuclear sources. The campus also has a Green Bikes program with over two dozen bikes that are loaned out in an effort to encourage students to rely less on cars. Colgate Dining Services currently provides organic rice, beans, and other dry foods, and is working to offer more local foods options. Dining Services take-out containers are also made from natural materials, and are compostable. On the 2009 College Sustainability Report Card, Colgate earned a C, which was a great improvement from the previous year, when the school earned a D+. In 2010 Colgate improved to a B, and the administration continues to promote sustainability.