STARS Assessment
Sustainability Tracking and Reporting System (STARS)
The Office of Sustainability facilitated MSU’s third 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 800 schools in 30 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 a Gold STARS rating, becoming one of three Gold-rated institutions in Michigan. The university has been certified through AASHE since 2011, achieving silver that year and again in 2016; this is MSU's first Gold rating. This increase in its overall rating from the previous silver reports is a testimony to the growth and commitment to MSU’s sustainability efforts. More than 150 individuals across MSU contributed to the certification report, and the entire Spartan community continues to work to further sustainability in MSU's campus, community, curriculum and culture.
