Each year, AASHE (The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) releases a Sustainable Campus Index recognizing the top-performing colleges and universities overall by institution type and in 17 sustainability impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The Index also highlights innovative and high-impact initiatives from institutions that submitted STARS reports in the 12 months prior to July 1, 2017.
STARS participants submit data to earn a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum rating, or recognition as a STARS Reporter. The credits included in STARS span the breadth of higher education sustainability and are organized into four categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations and Planning & Administration. As of July 1, 2017, 768 STARS reports were submitted by 445 institutions in 10 countries, and there were 858 STARS Participants in 34 countries (AASHE).
Oregon State University received a Gold STARS award in this year’s index, as well as being highlighted in Waste and Wellbeing & Work sections for our outstanding waste programs and community. Specifically, AASHE highlighted our Eco2Go containers for replacing disposable to-go containers in dining halls. From fall 2015 to 2016, over 400,000 single use disposable containers were avoided, and 60 fewer tons of trash were hauled from OSU dining areas.
Read more about this Index, and other highlighted universities here.
CATEGORIES: Assessment Campus Sustainability