U of C reaches for the STARS in sustainability
By Anna Nowaczyk
The University of Calgary has announced its participation in a new program to encourage sustainability in all aspects of higher education. The program, called the Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), is administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
To date, nearly 230 North American higher education institutions including more than ten Canadian institutions have registered as STARS Charter Participants. AASHE's STARS program is the only one of its kind that involves publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university's sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in three overall areas: 1) education and research; 2) operations; and 3) planning, administration and engagement. The program was developed by post secondary institutions in both Canada and the United States.
"The STARS program is unique in its comprehensive approach to measuring campus sustainability," says Joanne Perdue, U of C director of sustainability. "It aligns very well with the U of C's sustainability policy, which commits to leadership in advancing sustainability in teaching, research, service and campus operations."
Unlike other rating or ranking systems, this program is open to all institutions of higher education in Canada and the U.S., and the criteria that determine a STARS rating are transparent and accessible to anyone on the AASHE website. The STARS program, which provides a rating based on credits earned, allows for both internal comparisons of progress as well as comparisons with similar institutions.
"The advantage of STARS is that institutions can earn credits for all of their contributions to sustainability," says Paul Rowland, AASHE executive director. "From providing sustainability coursework, to using green cleaning products, to energy efficiency in campus buildings, there are lots of opportunities for a school to identify and track its sustainability progress."
"The U of C is proud to be a Charter Participant in STARS," says Bob Ellard, vice president (facilities management and development). "STARS will provide further opportunities for collaboration between students, faculty and staff on advancing our sustainability goals."
The U of C has made significant progress in campus sustainability receiving top marks across Canada (tied with four other institutions) in the 2009 College Sustainability Report Card. Administered by the Sustainable Endowment Institute, this assessment ranks both Canadian and American post secondary institutions on various aspects of campus sustainability. The 2010 report card will be published in November of 2010.
For more information about the STARS program, visit: http://stars.aashe.org/
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