Among the stars: ESF, SU join a national program that monitors sustainability on college campuses
By Hope Morley
Posted: 2/13/08, 4:01 AM EST Section: News
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse University and 90 other universities across the country won't just be grading their students this year.
They'll be grading themselves.
These schools are beginning a pilot phase of a new campus sustainability program, which scores the schools on different aspects of academic and social performance.
"We are very serious about reducing our environmental impact," said Michael Kelleher, the director of renewable energy systems for ESF. "This program is a good way to measure our progress."
The self-assessment system, known as Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), is a way for college campuses to calculate where they stand in terms of sustainability and learn in what ways they can improve. The system gives the campus an overall score, which can be used to mark individual improvement from year to year or from one university campus to another.
"One of the main goals of this program is to provide a roadmap for advancing sustainability. It will enable meaningful comparisons and benchmark progress over time," said Judy Walton, acting executive director for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
AASHE's Web site describes sustainability as the combination of good human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods and a better world for future generations.
Walton explained that STARS is distinct because it is a rating system, not a ranking of top sustainable campuses. The system works on a point system broken into three major categories: curriculum, operations and administration. The campus rates itself with a comprehensive checklist and then adds all the points to receive a score, which will be valid for three years.
For example, one subcategory within STARS is new construction on campus. The university may earn one point for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, two points for LEED silver and so on.
They'll be grading themselves.
These schools are beginning a pilot phase of a new campus sustainability program, which scores the schools on different aspects of academic and social performance.
"We are very serious about reducing our environmental impact," said Michael Kelleher, the director of renewable energy systems for ESF. "This program is a good way to measure our progress."
The self-assessment system, known as Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), is a way for college campuses to calculate where they stand in terms of sustainability and learn in what ways they can improve. The system gives the campus an overall score, which can be used to mark individual improvement from year to year or from one university campus to another.
"One of the main goals of this program is to provide a roadmap for advancing sustainability. It will enable meaningful comparisons and benchmark progress over time," said Judy Walton, acting executive director for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
AASHE's Web site describes sustainability as the combination of good human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods and a better world for future generations.
Walton explained that STARS is distinct because it is a rating system, not a ranking of top sustainable campuses. The system works on a point system broken into three major categories: curriculum, operations and administration. The campus rates itself with a comprehensive checklist and then adds all the points to receive a score, which will be valid for three years.
For example, one subcategory within STARS is new construction on campus. The university may earn one point for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, two points for LEED silver and so on.
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