The University of Minnesota Morris has been ranked among the Top 10 performers in the recently released 2022 AASHE Sustainable Campus Index (SCI), a publication that recognizes top-performing colleges and universities in 17 sustainability impact areas and overall by institution type, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
UMN Morris was ranked No. 9 among Baccalaureate Institutions on the SCI.
The ranking is determined by analysis of data included in the application for the STARS Gold rating that UMN Morris received earlier this year. STARS is a voluntary, self-reporting framework helping colleges and universities track and measure their sustainability progress.
UMN Morris was a pilot participant in the STARS program in 2010 and achieved STARS Gold certification in 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2022.
Acting Chancellor Janet Schrunk Ericksen states, “Through the process of obtaining our STARS Gold rating, we have articulated the campus milestones that have been part of our effort to become a national leader in sustainability. In 2020, we were recognized for producing the most clean power per student among U.S. colleges. We also achieved carbon neutrality in electricity. During the past few years, we partnered with the private sector to improve carbon neutrality planning in Minnesota; we worked to build a shared water ethic in our region; we launched a new program focused on developing diverse sustainability leaders; we launched a new electric bike program; we launched a new composting program with the county; we added nearly 250kW of new solar PV; we began developing new energy storage projects — and we continue to make progress.”
The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS was developed by AASHE with broad participation from the higher education community. The credits included in STARS span the breadth of higher education sustainability and are organized into four categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations, and Planning & Administration. All reports are publicly accessible on the STARS website. For more information, visit stars.aashe.org.