Come hear the results of UW–Madison’s first Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) report

MEDIA ADVISORY

UW–Madison will announce its rating in a national benchmark of sustainability achievements on campus. STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) measures sustainability efforts in higher education institutions and is administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Sustainability integrates environmental, economic and social concerns to create a livable, just and equitable world now and in the future.

With participation from more than 800 institutions in 30 countries, STARS is the most widely recognized framework for publicly and comprehensively assessing sustainability performance in colleges and universities. Institutions report achievements in five categories: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.

Director of Sustainability Missy Nergard notes that the STARS process may be relatively new to UW–Madison, but sustainability investment, strategy and expertise are not.

“It is important to acknowledge that this report is built on the foundation of UW–Madison’s shared history and accomplishments,” Nergard says. “The UW–Madison campus is situated on the ancestral home of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and their enduring commitment to the community, the land and the lakes continues to shape the university. As a snapshot of our progress, STARS will help us chart a path forward as we continue our journey of teaching, advancing and living sustainability.”

Gathering the breadth of data required for the STARS report involved intensive collaboration, coordination and cooperation across campus. A team from UW–Madison’s Office of Sustainability met with over 150 staff, faculty and students in order to ensure the report was as complete and accurate as possible.

“Sustainability is woven into the fabric of the University of Wisconsin–Madison,” says Chancellor Rebecca Blank. “Our commitment to conservation and stewardship now runs through every aspect of our campus as we continue striving toward a more sustainable community.”

WHEN: 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7

WHERE: H.F. DeLuca Forum, Discovery Building, 330 N. Orchard St.

Please RSVP to Nathan Jandl, 802-735-7793, njandl@wisc.edu

About AASHE:

AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future. AASHE’s mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. It provides resources, professional development and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research. For more information about AASHE, visit www.aashe.org.

For more information about the STARS program, visit stars.aashe.org.