Utah State University Achieves Silver in Sustainability Assessment
Utah State University has received a silver rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. STARS is a voluntary rating system for institutions of higher education that measures sustainability in the areas of education and research, operations, and planning, administration and engagement. Of the more than 4,000 eligible institutions in the United States and Canada, 278 have submitted for a rating through STARS.
Compiling the data has been a collaborative process across campus over the past year says USU sustainability coordinator Alexi Lamm.
“People from Access and Diversity, the Central Energy Plant, Purchasing, Dining Services and other areas provided data for the report, so we have comprehensive and current snapshot of where USU is in sustainability,” said Lamm. “Students, faculty and staff are engaged, and we’re moving in the right direction.”
Although STARS now shares data with The Princeton Review and Sierra Club rating systems, USU’s STARS silver rating is not its first accomplishment in sustainability. President Cazier signed the Talloires Declaration in 1991, first committing the university to sustainability education and practices. In 2007, President Albrecht signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), committing the university to carbon neutrality by 2050. The Princeton Review's “Guide to 322 Green Colleges” has included USU since 2010, and Sierra Club named USU to its 2013 list of Cool Schools.
USU is one of four universities in Utah to submit for a STARS rating. Other submissions include University of Utah and Weber State University in the bronze category and Westminster College in the silver category. Data from all reporting universities is available on the STARS website.
About AASHE
AASHE is an association of colleges and universities working to create a sustainable future. To further its mission of empowering higher education to lead the sustainability transformation, AASHE provides resources, professional development and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model sustainability in all areas, from governance and operations to education and research.
AASHE defines sustainability in an inclusive way, encompassing human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods and a better world for all generations. AASHE is a member-driven, independent 501(c)(3).
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Contact: Alexi Lamm, sustainability coordinator, (435) 797-9299, alexi.lamm@usu.edu
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