The STARS framework is intended to engage and recognize the full spectrum of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada – from community colleges to research universities, and from institutions just starting their sustainability programs to long-time campus sustainability leaders. STARS encompasses long-term sustainability goals for already high-achieving institutions as well as entry points of recognition for institutions that are taking first steps toward sustainability.
STARS will help schools set and meet sustainability goals and will foster information sharing about practices and performance among the campus sustainability community. All schools that participate in STARS will receive positive recognition. Schools that register now will be recognized as STARS Participants. Being able to claim a STARS Rating can help an institution reap marketing and recruitment benefits of sustainability leadership.
In 2006 the Higher Education Associations' Sustainability Consortium (HEASC), an informal network of higher education associations with a commitment to sustainability, issued a call for a campus sustainability rating system (pdf). Since then, AASHE has worked collaboratively with other non-profits and higher education associations on the development of STARS. A Steering Committee, Strategic Advisory Committee, and a Technical Advisory Committee weighed in on the system and nearly 70 institutions participated in a year-long pilot program.
The most commonly used definition of sustainability–meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs–is from Our Common Future: The Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, commonly known as the Brundtland Commission report. The interconnectedness and interdependence of the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability are included throughout Our Common Future. The Brundtland Commission writes, “our inability to promote the common interest in sustainable development is often a product of the relative neglect of economic and social justice.” The report continues, “[a] world in which poverty and inequity are endemic will always be prone to ecological and other crises. Sustainable development requires meeting the basic needs of all and extending to all the opportunity to satisfy their aspirations for a better life.” And, "[e]ven the narrow notion of physical sustainability implies a concern for social equity between generations, a concern that must logically be extended to equity within each generation."
Many popular uses of and references to sustainability also emphasize the concept’s economic, environmental, and social dimensions. For example, businesses talk about the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profits (or, alternately, human capital, natural capital, and financial capital). Likewise, sustainability educators commonly refer to the Three Es of sustainability: economy, ecology, and equity. Similarly, popular representations of sustainability underscore the concept’s three dimensions. Sustainability experts often use a three-legged stool as a symbol for sustainability. The social, economic, and environmental components of sustainability each represent one of the stool’s legs. If one of the legs is missing, the stool cannot balance or function. Another common illustration of sustainability is a diagram depicting three overlapping circles, representing environmental needs, economic needs and social needs. The area where the circles overlap and all three needs are met is the area of sustainability.
STARS represents an attempt to translate this broad and inclusive view of sustainability to measurable objectives at the campus level. Thus, it includes credits related to an institution’s environmental, social, and economic performance.
AASHE will continue to work with STARS participants and the campus sustainability community to improve the system. Comments or feedback on STARS may be sent to the STARS staff at any time (stars@aashe.org). Before a new version (e.g., STARS 2.0) is released, AASHE will hold a public comment period to allow stakeholders an opportunity to comment on proposed changes.
Is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to gauge relative progress toward sustainability. STARS® was developed by AASHE with broad participation from the higher education community.
STARS is designed to: • Provide a framework for understanding sustainability in all sectors of higher education. • Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community. • Create incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability. • Facilitate information sharing about higher education sustainability practices and performance. • Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community.
Any college or university located in the U.S. or Canada may participate. STARS provides a framework for institutions taking first steps toward sustainability as well as established sustainability leaders. An institution is defined by having a separate and distinct administration (e.g. president or chancellor). For an institution which may be a part of a larger system, it must have an administration that is separate and distinct from others in the system of which it is a part. Who can participate in STARS?
Any college or university located in the U.S. or Canada may participate. STARS provides a framework for institutions taking first steps toward sustainability as well as established sustainability leaders. An institution is defined by having a separate and distinct administration (e.g. president or chancellor). For an institution which may be a part of a larger system, it must have an administration that is separate and distinct from others in the system of which it is a part.
If an institution or entity does not meet these requirements, but you believe that you have a compelling case for the participation of that institution or entity in STARS, please complete the Eligibility Inquiry Form. This information will be evaluated by the STARS staff, who will decide if the institution or entity is eligible to participate in STARS.
If an institution or entity does not meet these requirements, but you believe that you have a compelling case for the participation of that institution or entity in STARS, please complete the Eligibility Inquiry Form. This information will be evaluated by the STARS staff, who will decide if the institution or entity is eligible to participate in STARS.
Participant Institutions earn points in three main categories: Education & Research; Operations; and Planning, Administration & Engagement. Each of these categories includes subcategories such as Purchasing, Curriculum, Energy, and Human Resources. There is also an Innovation category to recognize pioneering practices that aren’t covered by other STARS credits.
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