UAA earns bronze for sustainability

UAA recently earned a bronze rating for its dedication and commitment to sustainability through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). As a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (ASSHE), UAA participated and submitted a report to STARS, an instrument used by ASSHE to measure sustainability performance on college campuses throughout the country.

The system compiles multiple factors to determine the campus' rating, including environmental, economic and social indicators, which are divided into four categories related to campus activities: education and research; operations; planning, administration and engagement and innovation.

Sustainability director Paula Williams said, "STARS is a great tool for seeing where UAA is lacking and trying to fill those gaps. It has sparked discussion in several departments around campus about the benefits and costs of sustainability and how we can measure those benefits and costs in order to justify our decisions supporting sustainable actions."

Williams also said the STARS rating's transparency allows the public to see how UAA is doing. "The rating is not only important because it is one of the most widely used by colleges and universities across the nation, but it allows me and anyone else who wants to look, to see where we are and where we can become more sustainable."

Visit the STARS website to view UAA's rating.