Clarkson University has earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
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.
Clarkson University is committed to sustainability in all it does and this is reflected in the university receiving its third STARS Gold rating over the course of the last eight years.
“The work required to review and assess our programs and operations across all of these dimensions provides us with the information we need to identify our strengths and strategically plan how to improve in other areas,” said Susan E. Powers, Professor and Director of Clarkson’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment. “Clarkson’s strengths and leadership are reflected in our broad inclusion of sustainability in classes and research across almost all of our degree programs; provision of nearly 100% of our electricity on the Potsdam campus from zero-emission renewable sources; and our coordination and planning activities related to sustainability, including diversity, equity and inclusion programming.”
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Clarkson University has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
Clarkson’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website: https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/clarkson-university-ny/report/2024-04-10/.