Harvey Mudd College has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.<\/p>\n
Led by the Hixon Center for Sustainable Environmental Design, the College submitted its first report last year and received a bronze certification. Data is submitted from virtually all areas of campus, including the Office of Facilities and Maintenance, the Registrar and Dining Services. Contributing to HMC\u2019s improved rating this year are sustainability efforts that include conducting innovative research in areas such as water use and air pollution modeling, greenhouse gas emissions data, the College\u2019s Green Fund, and a minimum LEED silver rating (or equivalent) for all new campus buildings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re pleased to have moved from a STARS bronze rating to silver,\u201d says President Maria Klawe. \u201cOur students, faculty, staff and trustees all have a role to play in fostering a culture of sustainability. This ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and ecological awareness is part of the College\u2019s quest for equity, diversity and justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sustainability is a guiding institutional principle at Harvey Mudd and its investments are visible throughout the STARS rating categories. The College scored well in many areas, including incentives for developing courses, campus as a living laboratory, research and scholarship, as well as student orientation and public engagement.<\/p>\n
With more than 800 participants in 30 countries, AASHE\u2019s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university\u2019s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: 1) academics 2) engagement, 3) operations, 4) planning and administration, and 5) innovation and leadership.<\/p>\n
Unlike other rating or ranking systems, the STARS 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cA STARS rating shows that we\u2019re not only telling our students that sustainability is important but that we are taking strategic action,\u201d says Tanja Srebotnjak, director of the Hixon Center and Hixon Professor of Sustainable Environmental Design. \u201cTo achieve a gold rating, we\u2019ll need to step up our efforts by improving campus operations and embedding sustainability more systematically into our curriculum and strategic planning. With the help from campus partners, we\u2019ll continue our quest to become a leader in sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of its strategic vision, \u201cHMC 2020: Envisioning the Future,\u201d Harvey Mudd College is reducing the rate at which it contributes to the depletion of natural resources, incorporating concepts of sustainability into its academic and daily affairs and increasing use of renewable resources. The College has four LEED-certified buildings, a specially appointed Sustainability Committee and numerous faculty members and students involved in environmental research efforts here and abroad. President Maria Klawe is also a signatory on the\u00a0American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. Harvey Mudd\u2019s STARS report<\/a> is publicly available on the STARS website.<\/p>\nAbout AASHE<\/h2>\n