The 人妻少妇专区 has once again been recognized for its efforts in sustainability by being named a STARS Silver Institution by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
AASHE is an association of colleges and universities working to create a sustainable future and lead the sustainability transformation. AASHE provides resources, professional development opportunities, and a network of support to enable institutions to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research.
With more than 1,200 participants in 52 countries, AASHE鈥檚 program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university鈥檚 sustainability performance. Institutions worldwide use STARS to assess their sustainability performance across time and in comparison to peer institutions internationally. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: 1) academics, 2) engagement, 3) operations, 4) planning and administration, and 5) innovation and leadership.
is publicly available on the AASHE STARS website. This is the fourth consecutive Silver rating achieved by the University, following its reports submitted in 2016, 2019, and 2021.
STARS program expansion
This year鈥檚 submission marks the first time , has been used to rate the University. Implemented in 2024, this new version of STARS includes additional features such as:
- Redesigned credits and formulas that are easier to follow
- Simplified inventories for courses and research
- Streamlined credits based on performance
- Increased indicators for racial equity and social justice
STARS 3.0 expands the program鈥檚 scope to cover not only environmental topics, but also other topics relating to social and economic sustainability. The update to the STARS rating system ensures that institutions continue to strive to meet new goals and be recognized for their increased effort.
With the increasing requirements needed to reach Silver Institution status, maintaining the Silver rating is an accomplishment for the 人妻少妇专区. Some highlights of the University鈥檚 2025 report are outlined below:
Outreach campaigns
The University engages in a variety of outreach campaigns that were considered in the STARS assessment, including the:
- Annual 人妻少妇专区 Race to Zero Waste program promoting waste reduction and recycling across the campus body
- Reusable clamshell program that provides incoming students with reusable to-go food containers to reduce food waste from the dining halls
- Promotion of alternative transportation programs during employee orientation
- EcoReps student educator programs for first-year and upper-class students
Sustainability course offerings
Out of the University鈥檚 29 academic departments, 20 have offered a minimum of one sustainability course at least once in the past three years. To be considered a 鈥渟ustainability course,鈥� a course must contain sustainability-related content and be part of the official list for one of the Sustainability clusters, the Sustainability minor, or the Environmental Studies major. Confirming the identified sustainability course offerings would not have been possible without the help of Karen Berger, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences. A is publicly available for current and prospective students to view.
Social equity and student success
With a new emphasis on social equity in STARS 3.0, the University earned credit for its institutional climate and its student success. The overall degree completion rate for 人妻少妇专区 students is 0.85, with similar rates for students who are low-income, women, or of a marginalized gender identity. The University also offers programs for all students to help ensure completion, helping them meet the continuing goal of creating an inclusive institutional climate. Along with academic programs, the Office of Disability Resources and the Student Advisory Board to the Office of Engagement and Enrichment are in place to help students thrive academically and socially.
Reaching for the STARS
To accomplish university-wide improvements associated with STARS, a 鈥淩each for the STARS鈥� committee was created in May 2024. This committee, made up of subject area experts, was able to complete data collection for the 2025 STARS submission, as well as identify areas of improvement for longer-term goals that will be worked towards for the next one in 2028. The committee was able to achieve two additional goals after identifying areas of improvement, earning three points for Published Sustainability Listings and one bonus point for Greenhouse Gas Verification.
Committee membership includes:
Amy Kadrie (Sustainability Senior Manager) – Project Lead and STARS Liaison, Michael Whitmore (Executive Director, Energy Services and Sustainability), Karen Berger (Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences), Rachel Stuckey (Assistant Director, Commissioning), Tim Vann (Energy Engineer), Philip Piedmont (Waste Minimization Specialist), Yi-Li van den Berg (Supplier Diversity Director, Purchasing)
Further recognition for University sustainability efforts
Along with the STARS rating, the University was recognized in the Princeton Review List of Green Colleges, where the University received a green score of 86 out of 100. The Princeton Review annually releases its聽听诲耻谤颈苍驳听鈥攁n international celebration organized by AASHE. Green Colleges are chosen based on a combination of school-reported data and student opinion, with rankings released for the top 50 out of nearly 600 evaluated schools worldwide.
Continuing to build a sustainable 人妻少妇专区 community
As the University continues to progress on its sustainability-oriented goals and community building, students and faculty continue to participate in these initiatives. With over 100 undergraduate and graduate sustainability course offerings and student organizations centered on sustainability, the University fosters a strong sense of community in which sustainability is at the forefront. Student organizations such as EcoReps, UR Bee 人妻少妇专区, Grassroots, and Sustainability Through Engineering, as well as the employee organization Green Reps, allow for students and staff members of all backgrounds to connect through sustainability. With the continued effort of leaders, faculty, staff, and students, the University will continue to be ever better.
Written by Bridget Riley, 鈥�25
Note: This article was edited on June 2, 2025, to correct an identified error.
