The Office of Sustainability facilitates MSU’s triennial report to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), an American-based certification organization. AASHE provides a framework to measure sustainability efforts within higher education institutions. The Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS) assessment is used by over 900 schools in 40 countries and 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: academics; engagement; operations; planning and administration; and innovation and leadership.
In 2019, MSU achieved its first Gold STARS rating, becoming one of three Gold-rated institutions in Michigan. MSU received its second Gold STARS rating in 2022, and is currently the highest rated institution in the state. The university has been certified through AASHE since 2011, achieving silver that year and again in 2016. The continued progress in the university's overall rating from is a testament to the growth and commitment to MSU’s sustainability efforts. More than 100 individuals across MSU contribute to the STARS reporting process, and the entire Spartan community continues to work to further sustainability in MSU's campus, community, curriculum and culture.