91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Measuring Sustainability Performance with STARS
NAEP Annual Meeting
April 2012
Presentation by Nurit Katz, UCLA
stars.aashe.org
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
A little about you…
• AASHE Member?• STARS
Participant?• Faculty?• Staff?• Administrator?
• Student?• International?• Other?
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
About AASHE
• A North American association of colleges & universities working to create a sustainable future. Over 1000 campus members.
• Professional home for campus sustainability officers.
• Mission: Empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
What is STARS?
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
What is STARS?• A voluntary, self-reporting
framework• A guide for advancing sustainability
in all sectors of higher education.• A common standard of
measurement for sustainability in higher education.
• A tool that promotes a comprehensive understanding of sustainability that includes its social, economic and environmental dimensions.
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
• “You can only brag about what you can measure.” – Sadie Ross, SUNY Empire State College
• Sustainability is a new frontier with few established metrics. A standard framework for measuring success is needed.
• STARS is a broad-based, stakeholder-designed, tested framework.
Why is STARS Needed?
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
STARS Background• In 2006, the Higher Education Associations’
Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) called upon AASHE to create a campus sustainability assessment tool.
• STARS versions:– STARS 0.4 (Sept. 07)– STARS 0.5 (Aug. 08)– STARS Pilot (2008)– STARS 1.0 (Sept. 09)– STARS 1.1 (Feb. 11)
• All versions of STARS have been shared with the higher education community for suggestions on how to enhance the tool to better fit the needs of the community.
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Collaboration vs. Competition
• STARS is a rating system, NOT a ranking system
• STARS provides a venue to share best practices and learn from other institutions
• STARS was created by the higher education community for the higher education community
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Categories• Education and
Research• Operations• Planning,
Administration, & Engagement
• Innovation
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Sub-Categories
• Education & Research– Co-Curricular Education; Curriculum; Research
• Operations– Buildings; Climate; Dining Services; Energy;
Grounds; Purchasing; Transportation; Waste; Water
• Planning, Administration & Engagement– Coordination & Planning; Diversity and
Affordability; Human Resources; Investment; Public Engagement
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Purchasing
Tier One• Computer Purchasing• Cleaning Product Purchasing• Office Paper PurchasingTier Two• Historically Underutilized
Businesses• Vendor Code of Conduct
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Credit Outline1.Credit Rationale
2.Criteria
3.Applicability
4.Scoring
5.Reporting Fields
6.Measurement
7.Standards & Terms
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
STARS Reporting Tool
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Scoring• Average of the 3 categories + Innovation
Credits• Total possible score – 104 • Example:
• Edu. & Research – 30• Operations – 25 • Plan., Admin. & Engage. – 35
»Average = 30
• + 2 Innovation = 32 Final Score
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Innovation Credits
Recognize …• Creative and innovative strategies
implemented on campuses• Areas where a campus has
exceeded credit criteria• Letter of affirmation required
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
STARS Ratings
Rating Level Minimum Score Required STARS Bronze 25 STARS Silver 45 STARS Gold 65 STARS Platinum 85
STARS ReporterFor institutions that wish to use STARS and submit data publicly but are not
pursuing a rating
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
STARS Reporter
Flexibility Recognition
Incremental progress
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Public STARS Report
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Accuracy of STARS DataThere are three ways to ensure STARS data are accurate:1. A Responsible Party is required to
sign off on each individual credit.2. The President or Chancellor is
required to submit a letter with the STARS submission verifying the accuracy of the information.
3. All information institutions share will be posted publicly on AASHE's website.
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
STARS Process Step-by-Step
1. Register at stars.aashe.org2. Compile required documentation as
noted in the STARS Technical Manual and Reporting Tool
3. Submit for a STARS rating4. Share your story5. Renew participation in STARS
Note: a STARS rating is valid for 3 years before it expires
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
STARS Timeline• Participating institutions have one
year to submit their STARS data.
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Benefits of Participating
• Earn recognition • Streamline reporting• Benchmark with peers• Collaborate across campus• Access to the online Reporting Tool• Save time and money in developing
a sustainability plan or report
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
How is STARS Different?• Open to any institution of higher
education• Only offers positive recognition• Transparent • Self-assessment • Encompasses sustainability, not just
environmental indicators• Created by the higher education
community
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
STARS Founding Partners & Partner Organizations
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Governance
• AASHE Board of Directors
• STARS Steering Committee
• Partner Organizations
• Technical Advisors
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Who can Participate?• Any higher education institution in
the US and Canada• International Pilot• Do not have to be a member of
AASHE• College districts or university
systems – If a university system registers,
individual campuses within that system may still register for STARS.
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
How much does it cost?New Registrants:
AASHE Member …………………$900Non-Member ……………….……$1,400International Pilot Participants....….Free
Renewing Participants:
AASHE Member …………………$450Non-Member ……………….……$700
Register on-line at stars.aashe.org
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Continuous Improvement• STARS 1.1 Technical
Manual Administrative Update One– September 2011
• International Pilot– October 2011
• STARS 1.2– February 2012
• STARS 2.0– No sooner than 2013
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Questions?1) Email [email protected]) Call (859) 309-67553) Subscribe to the STARS Update &
AASHE Bulletin (www.aashe.org/user/newsletters)
4) Post a question to the AASHE Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums (www.aashe.org/forums)
5) Post to the Campus Sustainability Perspectives Blog (www.aashe.org/blog)
91st Annual Meeting & ExpositionApril 1 – 4, 2012
Anaheim, California
Thank You!
stars.aashe.org