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St. Lawrence College (SLC) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Silver standing in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS is a comprehensive sustainability rating system for colleges and universities, addressing environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability.
SLC is committed to integrating and advancing sustainability in all areas, as it is a key part of its strategic direction and integral to College operations, academic programming, and community engagement, according to Glenn Vollebregt, SLC President and CEO.
“We are proud to have achieved a STARS Silver rating for our sustainability accomplishments and look forward to watching our efforts grow and improve through the STARS program. Congratulations to the SLC Sustainability department for their work on this exciting achievement and to employees who contributed to the submission,” Vollebregt said.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said Meghan Fay Zahniser, AASHE Executive Director. “SLC has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
Some highlights from SLC’s 2024 STARS submission include:
1) Academics: Across academic course offerings, SLC reported 20% sustainability focused or inclusive curriculum content.
2) Operations: SLC is on track to achieve 2030 reduction targets and has embedded deep energy retrofits into its five-year capital plan. SLC is committed to low carbon and sustainable construction, and the new Sustainable Landscape Management Plan targets to improve biodiversity on SLC properties.
3) Engagement: Increased SLC community engagement in a culture of sustainability including through the launch of the Climate Leadership Program, a 125% increase in student membership in the Footprint club, and connection to over 800 students and 80 staff and faculty through sustainability events, workshops, and initiatives.
Read more about the STARS program and SLC’s 2024 STARS submission in the public report.
About STARS
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.
With more than 1,200 participants in 52 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.