University of Richmond Recognized Nationally for Sustainability Achievements with Third STARS Gold Rating from AASHE
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — For the third time, the University of Richmond has earned a STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, is a self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership. This year, the University of Richmond also worked with GreenerU, an independent contractor hired to perform an external audit of submitted credits to ensure reporting aligned with AASHE criteria.
UR shared ongoing projects and highlights, including a 65% reduction of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions since 2009 and a significant academic focus on sustainability. UR offers a sustainability minor, and faculty are engaged in a diversity of research related to sustainability.
“Across campus, there are countless ways that students can combine scholarship with real-world environmental stewardship,” said director of sustainability Rob Andrejewski. “Nearly 75% of academic departments offer courses related to sustainability, and in an effort to support experiential learning, many courses at UR are working to use the campus as a living lab.”
For example, a class taught by Todd Lookingbill, a professor of geography, environment, & sustainability, integrated service activities with the James River Park System and immersive nature walks on campus along Westhampton Lake and the Eco-Corridor.
Andrejewski notes that the STARS report showcases the significant progress UR has made towards achieving the goals set out in the campus Sustainability Plan.
“The data for this report was collected through a collaborative effort of many people across UR,” he said. “It tells the story of an entire campus community willing to step up and address one of the biggest challenges of our time.”
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