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 stars@aashe.org2) 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