USU Receives STARS Silver Rating for Sustainability Achievements
Logan, UT– Utah State University has earned a STARS Silver Rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
Utah State University completed the process for the second time, receiving credit for new programs, such as energy efficient buildings, campus composting, and the Community Bridge Initiative.
“Evaluating our sustainability progress gives us a chance to look at successes, like the student-led USU Farmers Market, and make plans for the future. The process involved people across campus—HR to Access & Diversity—we can all be proud of USU’s attention to current and future Aggies,” said Alexi Lamm, USU sustainability coordinator.
With more than 650 participants on six continents, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in four overall areas: 1) operations 2) academics, 3) engagement and 4) planning, administration.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Utah State University has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
Unlike other rating or ranking systems, this program is open to all institutions of higher education, and the criteria that determine a STARS Rating are transparent and accessible to anyone. Because STARS is a program based on credits earned, it allows for both internal comparisons as well as comparisons with similar institutions.
USU’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website:https://stars.aashe.org/institutions/utah-state-university-ut/report
About the USU Sustainability
The Utah State University Sustainability Council formed in 2007 after the university became a signatory to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The Council works with the Student Sustainability Office and other organizations to reduce carbon emissions, conserve resources, and enhance quality of life by promoting sustainability in USU’s academic and service missions.
About AASHE
AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future. AASHE’s mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. It provides resources, professional development and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research. For more information about AASHE, visit www.aashe.org.