COMMITMENT 101.

This spring, as students across the country receive their diplomas, many will also be pledging their commitment to environmental and social concerns in the workforce (see "Sustainability 101," November/December 1999). An increasing number of colleges and universities have made the Graduation Pledge part of their closing ceremonies. The official oath reads: "I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work."

Although the pledge began in 1987 at California's Humboldt State University, Manchester College in Indiana became headquarters to the newly formed Graduation Pledge Alliance in 1996. Neil Wollman, professor and director of the program, says that 50 to 60 percent of Manchester College graduates take the pledge. Nationally, 30 universities used the pledge in 1999, and that number may approach 70 this year.

At Manchester, the pledge is a formal part of the graduation ceremony, and participants wear a green ribbon. Other schools use the pledge on an informal basis. Wollman hopes that "the pledge will become institutionalized and incorporated into more and more graduation programs." CONTACT: Graduation Pledge Alliance, [phone], http://ares.manchester.edu/department/ peacestudies/gpa.html.