Wesleyan Honored with Silver STARS Rating for Sustainability Assessment

For demonstrating sustainability commitments and sustainable leadership, Wesleyan received a silver rating by STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System), a program of The Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

Wesleyan received the honor on Oct. 14 after successfully completing the institution’s STARS Report, which includes all of the data submitted during the reporting process. See the full report online here.

In November 2012, Wesleyan became a member of AASHE to recognize the importance of sustainability and commitments set forth in the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. AASHE  is a national organization that enables higher education institutions to meet their sustainability goals by providing specialized resources, professional development, and a network of peer support.

Created by the higher education community, STARS is a comprehensive system that enables colleges and universities to gauge their progress toward sustainability. It integrates efforts across campus, ranging from curriculum and research to operations and administration. More than 250 institutions in Canada and the United States are now participating in this innovative program.

Since 2008, Wesleyan’s carbon emissions have dropped nearly 14 percent through the work of the Sustainability Advisory Group (SAGES) staff, faculty and students.

For more information on STARS, membership in AASHE or to get involved in sustainability projects, e-mail Jen Kleindienst at jkleindienst@wesleyan.edu or call 860-685-3242.

Read more about the STARS assessment in this past Wesleyan Connection article.