American University Earns Its Seventh STARS Gold Rating

For the seventh time, American University has earned a STARS Gold Rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS - Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System - measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

AU received its latest STARS Gold Rating based on the percentage of applicable points earned across four main categories of credits - academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration - as well as innovation and leadership. Unlike other ratings or rankings, STARS is a transparent self-assessment system and is open to all institutions of higher education. Based on credits earned, it allows for both internal comparisons as well as comparisons with similar institutions.

"Staff, faculty, and students across the university are responsible for the diverse sustainability programs that are featured in the STARS report. This STARS report is truly a reflection of the community-wide commitment to sustainability that AU embodies," said Megan Litke, Director of Sustainability at AU.

Some of AU's key achievements reflected in the STARS report include:

• 87% of academic departments offer sustainability courses.
• AU is home to four research centers and institutes focused on sustainability - Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal; Center for Environmental Policy; Center for Environment, Community, and Equity; and the Center for Environmental Filmmaking.
• AU offers sustainability outreach programs that focus on the unique needs of faculty, staff, and students.
• All new construction on campus is required to be LEED Gold certified.
• AU continues to be carbon neutral.
• AU composts food waste from across campus.
• 88% of students and 65% of staff and faculty choose sustainable commuting options.
• AU has a dedicated office of sustainability and an advisory group that continues to advance sustainability on campus.
• AU's ESG (environmental, social, and governance) policy states the university will integrate ethical and social values prudently to align mission-related considerations while achieving maximum risk-adjusted returns.
• AU provides a variety of wellness programs for students and faculty and staff.

"American University should be congratulated for demonstrating its substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating," said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser.

"We look forward to using the data from this STARS report to identify opportunities to expand our sustainability work. Everyone on campus can contribute directly to advancing sustainability initiatives on campus and we want to ensure that everyone understands the unique role they can play, "said Lia Gomez, Sustainability Analyst who leads the efforts around data collection for STARS.

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.

AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future. AASHE's mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. It provides resources, professional development, and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research. For more information about AASHE, visit www.aashe.org.

For more information about the STARS program, visit stars.aashe.org.