Georgia Southern University entered into a partnership Thursday with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as part of a continued effort to become one of the country’s more eco-friendly colleges.In a morning news conference at the university’s Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Building, Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel and EPA Region 4 Administrator Gwendolyn Keyes-Fleming signed a memorandum of understanding to promote research, teaching and outreach in environmental sciences, sustainability and engineering. The partnership, which marks the first time the two institutions have officially come together, will provide new opportunities for student training, faculty research support, and environmental and public health initiatives, according to university officials. “Georgia Southern University is all about environmental protection; we have been for quite some time,” said Keel, speaking to a crowd of university personnel and political leaders gathered for the conference.