The University of Minnesota Morris has earned a STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in recognition of its sustainability achievements.
STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. This is the fifth time the campus has been recognized with a Gold Star rating.
UMN Morris sustainability director, Troy Goodnough stated, “UMN Morris is a sustainability leader in Minnesota and across the United States. This achievement is further evidence that sustainability efforts are being led across the campus by students, faculty, staff, and campus leadership. For more than two decades we have made progress on our sustainability aspirations.”
UMN Morris was a pilot participant in the STARS program in 2010 and achieved STARS Gold certification in 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2022. UMN Morris students received the AASHE Student Sustainability Leadership Award in 2013.
With more than 1,200 participants in 52 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.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “UMN Morris has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
About AASHE:
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.