After three years of widespread collaboration with the higher education sustainability community, AASHE launched STARS 1.0 on January 19. STARS (the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to gauge relative progress toward sustainability.

Over 120 colleges and universities have already registered as STARS Charter Participants. These institutions represent 34 U.S. states, 4 Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. The diversity of Charter Participants is reflected in institution types as well – research universities, community colleges, baccalaureate colleges, and special focus institutions alike have all signed up to participate.

In addition to unveiling the new STARS website and logo (pictured above), the January 19 launch of STARS 1.0 included the release of the following three components:

1) Measuring Campus Sustainability: Reaching for the STARS Webinar
Over 400 viewers tuned in to watch the live event, which featured Dave Newport (Director of the Environmental Center, University of Colorado at Boulder), Chris O’Brien (Sustainability Director, American University), Nan Jenks-Jay (Dean of Environmental Affairs, Middlebury College), and Paul Rowland (Executive Director, AASHE). The presenters introduced STARS, spoke to the benefits of participation, and fielded questions from viewers.

A video of the event and answers to all questions received during the event are archived online.

2) STARS Reporting Tool
The STARS Reporting Tool is the online repository for all STARS data. As of January 19, STARS Participants can use the online Reporting Tool to document their performance for each credit and submit for a STARS rating.

To learn more about the STARS Reporting Tool, tune in to the next AASHE webinar:
  STARS Reporting Tool 101
  Tuesday, February 16
   2:00 p.m. Eastern

This event will cover the nuts and bolts of using the STARS Reporting Tool, including:

• A demonstration of how the Reporting Tool works from the first time users log in to the final steps of completing the submission
• Tips to streamline the reporting process
• An opportunity to ask questions

RSVP to receive log-in instructions.

3) STARS 1.0 Technical Manual
The STARS 1.0 Technical Manual (pdf) is the go-to guide for the STARS credits. The document includes details about each STARS credit, including the credit criteria, a description of how points are earned, the reporting fields that participants complete to document that they earn the credit, guidance on measurement, relevant definitions, and examples. In addition, the document provides background on how the system was developed, how ratings are calculated, and more.

While no major changes were made between this document and the Early Release edition (released in Sept. 2009), participants who have been using the Early Release edition may wish to consult the Record of Changes (pdf), which details the differences between the documents.