Furman University receives STARS Gold rating for sustainability achievements

For the fourth time, Furman University has earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

Furman’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website here.

“Achieving a STARS Gold rating means that sustainability is intertwined in everything we do at Furman, from academics and engagement to operations and administration,” says Laura Bain ’02, associate director of sustainability assessment at The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities. “We use this comprehensive reporting framework to highlight our successes and identify our shortfalls. Because it is an open reporting platform, it allows us to learn from our peer institutions and ask for help in solving our sustainability challenges.”

With more than 1,200 participants in 52 countries, 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 five overall areas: 1) academics 2) engagement, 3) operations, 4) planning and administration and 5) innovation and leadership.

“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Furman University has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”

Furman has received five STARS ratings since 2011, beginning with two silver awards and earning its first of three golds in 2015.

It takes an entire campus community to bring home the gold, says Bain.

“Sustainability requires a common vision,” she says, “and the Shi Institute is creating opportunities for realizing that vision together and is leading Furman toward a more sustainable future.”

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.