STARS Ratings recognize the sustainability achievements of post-secondary institutions
The University of Winnipeg is pleased to have earned a STARS Silver Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS stands for the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, which measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. UWinnipeg is also featured in the AASHE’s 2015Sustainable Campus Index publication, which highlights the University as the second highest performer in the category of dining and food.
“We have done a lot of work to make UWinnipeg a more sustainable campus, particularly in the last decade, and it’s uplifting to be recognized for our stand-out initiatives such as Diversity Food Services and the UWSA BikeLab,” says Dr. Annette Trimbee, UWinnipeg’s President and Vice-Chancellor, noting that this follows the recent announcement that theUniversity’s Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex was awarded LEED Gold status.
“UWinnipeg has taken a comprehensive approach to sustainability, with improvements made in all areas. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to overhauling our waste management practices, we’ve made measurable strides. But there is more work to be done,” said Alana Lajoie-O’Malley, UWinnipeg’s Director of Campus Sustainability.
Lajoie-O’Malley also announced UWinnipeg is currently in the process of renewing its sustainability strategy, looking inward to assess what should be done in the next ten years, such as integrating sustainability into experiential learning. Lajoie-O’Malley anticipates this deliberate planning process will help UWinnipeg build on and improve the current STARS Silver Rating.
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: 1) operations 2) academics, 3) engagement and 4) planning, administration.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser, noting that UWinnipeg is to be congratulated for its efforts.
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.
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