Green Mountain College (GMC) has been recognized as the top performer by the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). GMC’s 2018 STARS Gold score of 81.82 is the highest score any baccalaureate or master’s institution has achieved. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in higher education.
In addition to receiving the top score, AASHE awarded Green Mountain College the first ever perfect score for sustainability-based curriculum. GMC also attained the top scores in the areas of Sustainability Research, Air and Climate Operations, and Investment and Finance. Green Mountain College’s full STARS report is publicly available at: https://stars.aashe.org/institutions/green-mountain-college-vt/report/2018-02-23/
“Green Mountain College’s leadership in sustainability is due to the dedicated efforts of our students, staff, and faculty. For over twenty years, Green Mountain College has consistently provided leadership in advancing sustainability. Our mission to prepare students to create a just and sustainable society informs everything we do,” said Robert Allen, Green Mountain College President.
Recognition by AASHE follows several other accolades GMC has received for social, environmental and economic sustainability. The College ranks among the nation’s top three “Cool Schools” by Sierra magazine, the national magazine of the Sierra Club, and GMC was recognized for the fifth year in a row as a member of The Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll.
“This report confirms that GMC continues to serve as a model for campus sustainability while equipping the next generation of students with the skills they need to lead and make a difference in a world that is being transformed by climate change and social injustice,” said Green Mountain College Sustainability Director Ryan Ihrke.
With more than 800 participants in 30 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. “Green Mountain College has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their 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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