CSU founded
Colorado Agricultural College (later renamed Colorado State University) established as a land grant institution by President Lincoln's Morrell Act.
First cultivation on CSU grounds
Twenty acres of the campus were planted with wheat and cottonwood cuttings planted along the north line of the grounds. This land produced a yield of 375 bushels.
First Farmer’s Institute
Farmer's Institute founded as a precursor to Cooperative Extension Service.
1st major tree planting at CSU
First major tree planting on campus occurs at Danforth Chapel; Black Walnut trees that were planted near the railroad tracks in 1874 were relocated to the Danforth Chapel area. The Black Walnut trees survived until 2015.
First trees planted on the Oval
First two rows of giant elm trees planted on what will later become the Oval. In addition, approximately 3000 trees were planted on the rest of campus.
The Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station established
The Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station is established. Although the experimental fields existed as early as 1877. An apple orchard was planted along College Ave., just south of where Old Main stood but was removed in the early 1920's.
Resolution for forest conservation
Board approves a resolution calling for forest conservation.
The School of Agriculture opened
Professor Charles Lory helped form this local industrial high school, which provided a practical three-year curriculum for 213 boys and girls in its first year. In 1911, the school added mechanic arts and a fourth year of study to the curriculum. In 1920, a special course for forest rangers was added.
Mountain Campus land given to Colorado Agricultural College
Congress provides 1,600 acres of land to establish the CSU Mountain Campus in Pingree Park.
Congress passed law creating the National Park Service and CSU becomes “The Ranger Factory”
Congress passes law creating the National Park Service and Colorado Agricultural College becomes "The Ranger Factory," producing more rangers than any other institution through the 1960's.
Read more about the creation of the National Park Service and CSU
Margaret Durward became first woman principal of the School of Agriculture
Margaret Durward becomes first woman principal of the School of Agriculture.
Colorado A&M joined a nation-wide “Peace Day”
Along with colleges and universities throughout the country, the College briefly suspended regular classroom activities so that students and faculty could participate in "Peace Day".
Read more about Coloardo A&M joining the nation-wide "Peace Day"
Students volunteer time to cultivate “war crops”
During WWII, students volunteer to cultivate "war crops" to help with farm labor shortages.
Colorado A&M becomes Colorado State University
Name change to Colorado State University and federal Soil Bank selects CSU for forest nursery facility.
A NSSL established at Fort Collins
US Department of Agriculture establishes a National Seed Storage Laboratory at CSU.
Peace Corps established
CSU faculty members Pauline Birky-Kreutzer and Maurice L. Albertson published a Congressional Feasibility Study that helped provide the groundwork for the Peace Corps to be established by President John F. Kennedy.
NREL established
George Van Dyne, a Colorado A&M Alumni, establishes the Natural Resource Ecology Lab.
Recycling Program Established
Recycling program officially established in Facilities Management.
Composting begins
Composting collection begins on campus with Hageman Earth Cycle.
Talloires Declaration
CSU commits to the 10-point action plan for colleges and universities committed to promoting education for sustainability and environmental literacy.
1st LEED Certification
Classrooms in Guggenheim Hall Achieved LEED for Commercial Interiors Silver. First classrooms on any university campus to achieve LEED CI certification.
Vice President for Energy & the Environment hired
First Vice President for Energy and Environment hired and the Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Advisory Committee formed in 2009.
Read more about the hiring of our first Vice President for Energy and Environment
Sustainable Futures founded
The School of Sustainable Futures is established.
ACUPCC
CSU signs the American College and University President's Climate Commitment.
Solar PV installs
First solar PV arrays installed on campus (Engineering Building, Academic Village, and Christman Field).
STARS Pilot
CSU participates as a STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) pilot institution.
Climate Action Plan
CSU adopts its first Climate Action Plan, committing CSU to climate neutrality by 2050.
STARS Gold Rating
CSU submits its first STARS report, earning a Gold rating.
On-site Composting Begins
In-vessel composter, OSCAR, arrives at the CSU Foothills Campus, establishing an on-site living compost lab.
Tree Campus USA
CSU becomes a certified Tree Campus USA through the Arbor Day Foundation.
STARS Gold Rating
CSU submits the highest score ever submitted to STARS, earning a second Gold rating.
Master of Greenhouse Gas Management and Accounting Launches
First institution to offer a Master of Greenhouse Gas Management and Accounting degree.
Read more about the Master of Greenhouse Gas Management and Accounting
President’s Sustainability Committee established
SEEAC becomes President's Sustainability Committee.
Read more about the founding of the President's Sustainability Committee
STARS Platinum
First institution in the world to earn a STARS Platinum rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
Read more about CSU being the first institution to earn STARS Platinum
Platinum Bicycle Friendly University
CSU receives a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University designation from League of American Bicyclists.
Read more CSU receiving a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University designation
First LEED Platinum Buildings at CSU
The Pavilion in Laurel Village and the Powerhouse at the Powerhouse Energy Campus become the first LEED Platinum certified buildings at CSU.
Sierra Cool Schools
CSU earns the #4 spot on Sierra Magazine Coolest Schools Rankings for 2015.
Solar PV installs
Solar PV arrays installed on Student Recreation Center, Parmelee and Edwards Halls, University Center of the Arts, and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Read more about the installation of Solar PVs on additional buildings
US Department of Education Green Ribbon School
One of nine in the US to receive an inaugural Post-Secondary Institutions Green Ribbon School Award from the US Department of Education.
Read more about CSU receiving an inaugural Post-Secondary Institutions Green Ribbon School Award
First Sustainability Strategic Plan Written
President's Sustainability Committee creates first Sustainability Strategic Plan to support university's Strategic Plan.
Read more about the First Sustainability Strategic Plan Written
Greenest College
Named greenest college in the country by bestcolleges.com.
President’s Sustainability Commission established
President Frank names the committee one of three Presidential Commissions on campus.
Read more about the establishment of the President's Sustainability Commission
Top Performer in 2017 Sustainable Campus Index
CSU listed #4 overall and #1 for public engagement and research (tie) in the AASHE 2017 Sustainable Campus Index.
Read more about CSU being listed #4 overall and #1 for public engagement and research
Climate Reality Pledge
First major institution to sign Climate Reality Pledge, committing CSU to 100% renewable electricity by 2030. Signed by CSU President Tony Frank.
Campus Composting Expanded with Windrows
Campus composting expansion with the addition of windrow composting on the Foothills Campus (funded by University Facility Fee Advisory Board in 2016).
STARS Platinum
CSU receives a Platinum rating in STARS for the second time from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
Read more about CSU receiving a Platinum rating for the second time
American Public Gardens Association
CSU became a member of the American Public Gardens Association in December.
Read more about CSU becoming a member of the American Public Gardens Association
#1 Greenest University
CSU ranked number 1 Greenest University on bestcolleges.com.
Read more about CSU being ranked number 1 Greenest University
#4 Top Performing Institution for Sustainability
CSU ranked number 4 on the Chronicle of Higher Education's ranking for top sustainability institutions in the US and Canada.
Read more about CSU ranking number 4 on the Chronicle of Higher Education's ranking
Bee Campus USA Certification
First university in the Rocky Mountain region to become certified as a Bee Campus USA.
Living Wage Initiative Implemented
Living Wage Initiative sets $30,000 baseline for salaried employees, increasing the base for 385 employees across campus.
Read more about the implementation of the Living Wage Initiative
Sierra Cool Schools
CSU earns the #4 spot on Sierra Magazine's Coolest Schools Ranking for 2018.
Read more about CSU earning the #4 spot on Sierra Cool Schools
SIERRA COOL SCHOOLS
CSU earns the #9 spot on Sierra Magazine’s Coolest Schools Ranking for 2019.
First Female University President
The first female president of CSU, Joyce McConnell, is inaugurated and prioritizes sustainability.
Read more about Joyce McConnell becoming the first female university president
Platinum Bicycle Friendly University
Platinum Bicycle Friendly University designation from League of American Bicyclists for the second time.
Read more about CSU being designated a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University for the second time
Level II ArbNet Accredited Arboretum
CSU became a level II ArbNet Accredited Arboretum
STARS Platinum
CSU submits the highest score ever submitted to STARS from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in the U.S. and is the only institution in the world to receive Platinum rating three times.
Read more about CSU becoming the first institute to receive Platinum three times
150 Trees Planted to Celebrate CSU’s Sesquicentennial
150 trees were planted on CSU's campus to celebrate the 150th birthday of CSU and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
State’s Largest Geothermal Project Completed
The largest ground-source heating and cooling system in Colorado, and one of the largest in the western United States (dubbed GeoX) has been completed on CSU's campus.
AASHE Sustainable Campus Index: #1 Top Performing Doctoral Institution
Colorado State University was featured in the AASHE Sustainable Campus Index as the #1 Top Performing Doctoral Institution and also achieved top 10 in 7 other categories.
Read more about CSU earning #1 Top Performing Doctoral Institution
Sierra Cool Schools
CSU earns the #7 spot on Sierra Magazine’s Coolest Schools List.
Princeton Review Green Honor Roll
CSU was recognized on the 2021 Princeton Review Green Honor Roll by receiving a score of 99 (the highest possible score).
Read more about CSU recognized on the Princeton Review Honor Roll
AASHE Sustainable Campus Index: #1 Top Performing Doctoral Institution
Colorado State University was featured in the AASHE 2021 Sustainable Campus Index as the #1 Top Performing Doctoral Institution and also achieved top 10 in 6 other categories.
Read more about the CSU ratings in the 2021 Sustainable Campus Index.
Princeton Review Green Honor Roll
CSU received a score of 99 (the highest possible score) in the Princeton Review Green Rating tallies in 2021 for the fifth consecutive year.
Sierra Cool Schools
CSU earns the #10 spot on Sierra Magazine Coolest Schools Rankings for 2021.
Read more about CSU's 2021 Sierra Cool Schools Ranking here.
Level III ArbNet Accredited Arboreta
CSU's campus Arboretum became a Level III ArbNet Accredited Arboretum.
AASHE Sustainable Campus Index: Top Performing Doctoral Institution
CSU ranked as a top performer in AASHE's 2022 Sustainable Campus Index with top scores in Research, Curriculum, Engagement, and Wellbeing & Work.
Read more about CSU's 2022 Sustainable Campus Index Rating here.
Princeton Review Green Honor Roll
CSU earned a perfect score in Princeton Review's 2022 Green Rating for the sixth consecutive year.
Great Value Colleges – Top Ranking in Bike Friendly Colleges
CSU ranked 1st place on Great Value Colleges Top 50 Bike Friendly Colleges and College Towns.
STARS Platinum
CSU submitted its' fourth consecutive Platinum rating to the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). CSU was the first institution in the world to earn four Platinum ratings.
Princeton Review Green Honor Roll
CSU earned a perfect score in Princeton Review's Green Rating for the seventh year in a row. CSU was also ranked #5 in the Top 50 Green Colleges.
20 New Solar Generation Sites Added
CSU completed a two year long effort to nearly double solar generation capacity on campus. Through a Purchase Power Agreement, CSU added 20 new solar rooftop and ground mount arrays, bringing campus to a total of 41 solar sites. The recent expansion includes arrays at ARDEC experimenting with agrivoltaics to reduce land use pressure of solar energy.
AASHE SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS INDEX: ANOTHER YEAR OF BEING A TOP PERFORMING DOCTORAL INSTITUTION
CSU achieved the fourth position among doctoral institutions with a score of 88.13, marking the ninth consecutive time it has been in the top 4 of the index.
Read more about CSU’s 2023 Sustainable Campus Index Rating here.
Princeton Review Green Honor Roll
CSU scored high on Princeton Review’s 2023 Green Rating for the eighth consecutive year.
AASHE SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS INDEX
CSU was recognized as a 2025 Top Performer - Doctoral Institution at #2 in the U.S. and #3 globally.
Colorado Green Business Network: Gold Certification
CSU earned Gold certification (the highest level) in the Colorado Green Business Network, becoming the first college or university to earn the designation and joining organizations like Denver Water and Eco-Products.