Susquehanna University has earned a STARS Bronze 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.
“This process has showed us how broad the term ‘sustainability’ is and how nearly every department and office on campus can contribute in some way toward our sustainability efforts,” said Kathy Straub, professor and chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and director of the Center for Environmental Education and Research.
“Our rating and our ongoing sustainability efforts, from academics and research to operations and planning, indicate our campuswide dedication to environmental stewardship.”
With more than 800 participants in 30 countries, 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 five overall areas—academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.
The STARS rating system 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.
“We are very proud to have achieved a STARS Bronze rating for our sustainability accomplishments,” Straub said. “We look forward to watching our sustainability efforts grow and improve, and likewise, our STARS rating.”
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.
