Colleges and universities face a wide range of environmental risk. In spite of this, with proper planning, they can avoid emergencies or surprises. Advanced planning, coupled with strategic, technical environmental and legal advice, enable higher-education institutions to keep their environmental budgets under control and predictable. This article offers suggestions on how colleges and universities may deal with lead-based paint, asbestos, mold, underground storage tanks, groundwater and soil contamination and other environmental issues and concerns.