Institutions Reach for the STARS

STARS is a voluntary, self-reporting framework for gauging relative progress toward sustainability for colleges and universities. It awards points for engaging in sustainability practices in three major categories: education and research; operations; and planning, and administration and engagement. STARS provides a standard, comprehensive way to compare the sustainability performance of higher education institutions, and to measure a single institution’s progress over time.

Institutions are now able to review the STARS 1.0 Early Release Technical Manual. This document outlines in detail the three STARS categories and the associated sub-categories. Credits under each sub-category are described in detail, including required documentation, examples, and calculations for determining points achieved. A key feature of STARS is that all indicators are transparent, so it is clear how an institution earns a rating. In addition, STARS encompasses the triple bottom line of sustainability including not only environmental indicators, but social and economic as well. In addition, a STARS rating is good for three years before it expires, which encourages institutions to pursue a path of continuous improvement toward sustainability.

Institutional Research (IR) will be an essential component of the STARS data collection process because of its role as custodian of, or clearinghouse for, much of the data required by STARS (some of which IR already reports to other external agencies such as IPEDS, US News, Petersons - and internally for management purposes). IR will be able to incorporate credible data in fact books and other reports on institutional performance in areas that are increasingly valued by stakeholders and society. STARS provides an opportunity not only to monitor and showcase institutional sustainability efforts, but also to foster rewarding collaborations between institutional researchers and other campus entities.

Beginning January 2010, all institutions that are registered for STARS will have the opportunity to submit their data using the online STARS Reporting Tool. Once data for each STARS credit are submitted, institutions will earn a STARS rating, and the data will be made publically available via the Web. This will allow for comparison of information across campuses and efficiently illustrate your institution’s sustainability performance to various stakeholders.

AASHE is excited to launch STARS to benefit the higher education community. We welcome feedback on the program or suggestions for improvement. STARS will be a system that evolves over time to continually raise the bar toward sustainability, and meet the needs of colleges and universities. We anticipate STARS yielding valuable information that can be used to establish benchmarks and best practices among institutions of higher education.

To learn more about STARS visit www.aashe.org/stars or email stars@aashe.org.