FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For media inquiries, contact:

Paul Rowland, Executive Director
AASHE
paul.rowland@aashe.org
303.605.3534

New STARS Quarterly Review Highlights Institutional Diversity and its Impacts on Sustainability Performance

DENVER, Colo. (October 9, 2012) – The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has released the fall 2012 issue of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Quarterly Review (SQR). "The Role of Institutional Diversity" focuses on how institutional diversity impacts sustainability performance in higher education.

Capturing the insights and knowledge gained by the 202 institutions that have earned a STARS rating through Sept. 1, 2012, this review explores how the diversity of STARS institutions has changed over time and how participation in STARS according to institution type compares to U.S. demographics.

Findings in this review suggest that the institutional characteristics making higher education institutions distinct also play a role in how campuses are advancing sustainability. Particularly compelling is how NCAA conference rivalry is furthering sustainability on campuses through healthy competition that involves a diverse population of students.

With six institutions highlighted in this issue, readers will learn about:

• Green athletics programs that encourage athletes to make a pledge in support of environmental sustainability
• Socially and environmentally responsible student entrepreneurship
• Campus-wide sustainability audits conducted by undergraduate students
• Significant sustainability advancements made by institutions from one STARS report to another

"An important lesson we are learning about campus sustainability is that it has multiple manifestations – there’s not one way to becoming a sustainable campus," says AASHE Executive Director Paul Rowland. "As we develop a better understanding of how our varied institutions are moving forward, we are developing a renewed appreciation of the complexity of campus sustainability and of the efforts of sustainability advocates. It is particularly interesting to see how STARS both tracks and drives sustainability efforts."

About STARS
Launched by AASHE in early 2010, STARS is the only system of its kind that involves public reporting of comprehensive information related to a college’s or university’s sustainability performance. STARS provides institutions with a standardized assessment tool to measure their sustainability performance. The system includes 139 environmental, economic, and social indicators, which are divided into four categories related to campus activities: Education & Research, Operations, Planning, Administration & Engagement, and Innovation. All of the requirements for evaluating and scoring an institution are transparent and made publicly available.

The STARS Program provides ongoing opportunities for institutions to participate. Registration information and additional details on the program are available on the STARS website, stars.aashe.org.

About AASHE
AASHE is helping to create a brighter future of opportunity for all by advancing sustainability in higher education. By creating a diverse community engaged in sharing ideas and promising practices, AASHE provides administrators, faculty, staff and students, as well as the business that serve them, with: thought leadership and essential knowledge resources; outstanding opportunities for professional development; and a unique framework for demonstrating the value and competitive edge created by sustainability initiatives. For more information about AASHE, visit www.aashe.org.