Nothing gets a student's rear in gear faster than a failing grade on an important report card. And the colleges and universities that scored poorly on last year's College Sustainability Report Card are no different. Today, the Sustainable Endowments Institute released its 2008 edition, revealing that 68 percent of the schools surveyed improved their overall grade by taking action on sustainability measures.

The 2008 Report Card also shows that many schools are making aggressive carbon reduction commitments, increasing the use of local food, implementing green building policies, and looking to renewable energy funds for endowment investments.

The number of schools included in the report doubled this year and a new category was added as well. Transportation joins administration, climate/energy, food/recycling, green building, endowment transparency, investment priorities, and shareholder engagement as areas that were examined at each school.

Six schools are recognized in the report as overall College Sustainability Leaders (receiving an overall grade of A-minus): Carleton College, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Middlebury College, University of Vermont, and University of Washington.

As for the 194 schools that didn't quite make the grade, I advise you to get started on that homework already!