Niagara College has earned a STARS Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in recognition of its sustainability achievements. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
Niagara College first participated in the STARS program in 2013 when it achieved a Bronze Rating.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Niagara College has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
Some notable accomplishments that helped NC receive the Silver rating include:
- Completing an inventory of over 2,500 academic courses offered by Niagara College demonstrating that almost 10% of the courses we offer are sustainability courses and/or courses that include sustainability;
- The installation of two aquaponic systems contributing to the sustainable food network being developed on campus;
- Community Partnerships that have been developed including the Niagara Sustainability Initiative, the GM GREEN program and Walker Environmental Group;
- Utilizing the campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research;
- Over 30% of programs and faculty involved in research at the college include sustainability.
“This is an important college-wide accomplishment that has taken over two years to complete,” said Taryn Wilkinson, NC’s sustainability coordinator. “I want to thank everyone who participated and contributed to achieving our Silver Rating.”
Niagara College’s STARS report is publicly available online.
With more than 650 participants on six continents, 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 four overall areas: operations, academics, engagement and planning/administration.
Unlike other rating or ranking systems, this program is open to all institutions of higher education, and the criteria that determine a STARS Rating are transparent and accessible to anyone. Because STARS is a program based on credits earned, it allows for both internal comparisons as well as comparisons with similar institutions.
