AASHE Announces Top Performers in 2021 SCI
The 2021 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) 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). The report also includes innovative and high-impact institutional highlights. Top performers overall by institution type are Dawson College (Associate), Colby College (Baccalaureate), Thompson Rivers University (Master’s), and Colorado State University (Doctoral/research). Details about the 25 top-performing institutions can be found within the report.
National U Ireland Galway Achieves STARS Gold
(Ireland) The National University of Ireland, Galway is the second institution from Ireland to earn a STARS rating. Points of distinction in the university's sustainability journey include a green labs initiative, which seeks to certify all labs on campus by 2025; networking and collaborating with other sectors on energy efficiency and savings; and an award-winning environmental education program.
U New Hampshire Renews STARS Platinum
The university's STARS Platinum rating was first achieved in 2018 and renewed in mid-October 2021. Points of distinction include weaving sustainability across the university's strategic framework, peer-to-peer sustainability learning programs, and sustainable investing and governance.
Princeton Review Releases Guide to 2022 Green Colleges
The Princeton Review recently released its 12th annual Guide to Green Colleges, profiling 420 universities and colleges with a commitment to sustainability. Of the 420 schools selected for the guide, 391 are in the U.S., 26 in Canada, one in Ecuador, one in Egypt, and one in Greece. Twenty-seven of the 420 schools earned a green rating score of 99 (the highest possible score).
U California Irvine Renews STARS Platinum
The university's STARS Platinum rating was first achieved in 2018 and renewed in mid-October 2021. Points of distinction include a campus sustainability engagement strategy during the pandemic, sustainability content in over 48 percent of courses during the 2020-21 academic year, and 21 LEED Platinum and 11 LEED Gold certifications for new construction.
Rutgers U to Establish Office of Climate Action
Toward the end of September, the university's president announced a new Climate Action Plan and the formation of a new Office of Climate Action, which will lead the university's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. The office will be housed in the Office of University Strategy, and will work to achieve key milestones, including ensuring that Rutgers removes more greenhouse gases than it emits by its 275th anniversary in 2041.
Virginia Tech Launches Climate Action Living Laboratory
The new Climate Action Living Laboratory seeks to more deeply integrate the university's climate action commitment efforts into the university's educational mission and engage more students in hands-on learning opportunities around sustainability.
AASHE ED Appointed to Times Higher Ed Advisory Board
AASHE's executive director, Meghan Fay Zahniser, is now one of 10 Times Higher Education (THE) advisory board members who were selected to advise THE on how to improve THE's Impact Rankings. The rankings capture higher education institutions' impact on society based on delivery of the SDGs.
Georgetown U Hires Inaugural VP of Sustainability
Meghan Chapple, Georgetown’s first vice president of sustainability, will oversee Georgetown’s Office of Sustainability and lead the university’s strategic sustainability actions. Chapple most recently served as sustainability director and senior advisor on sustainability at The George Washington University.
Sierra Magazine Announces 2021 Cool Schools
Sierra's 15th annual Cool Schools ranking highlights 328 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada, and classifies the top 20 as the Coolest Schools. To assess colleges' environmental practices, the annual ranking uses data from AASHE STARS and an additional questionnaire about fossil fuel divestment.
Princeton Review Releases 2022 Green Honor Roll
The recently released the 2022 Green Honor Roll by The Princeton Review ranks 27 colleges and universities that received the highest possible Green Rating score (99), out of the 835 higher education institutions evaluated. The ranking takes into account metrics related to student campus quality of life, career preparation for employment in the clean energy economy, citizenship in a world defined by environmental concerns and opportunities, and the degree to which the institution's policies are environmentally responsible.
Ryerson U to Change Name
The university's board of governors recently accepted 22 recommendations, which include renaming the institution, sharing materials to recognize the legacy of Egerton Ryerson, and providing more opportunities to learn about Indigenous history and Indigenous and colonial relations. The recommendations come from a task force who conducted research into the university's namesake's life and legacy, and the role of commemoration in the community.
