Stark State College Earns STARS Silver Rating for Sustainability Achievements

’s sustainability achievements have been recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The College achieved a Silver Rating from STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, a new program that measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

Stark State is among 200 higher education institutions to receive STARS ratings. Stark State’s participation in the program is a “critical step toward building a campus-wide plan that will serve as a foundation for the advancement of sustainability on campus and within the surrounding community,” said Dr. Para M. Jones, Stark State president.

“Sustainability is not new at Stark State,” said Stefanie Smith, SSC sustainability coordinator. “It’s a fundamental aspect of what we do and what we teach.”

In recent years, Stark State has worked to model sustainability in a variety of ways, such as using green cleaning products, installing energy-saving lights throughout facilities, incorporating energy-saving products when renovating, conducting college-wide recycling, reducing energy consumption in computer labs through technology conversions, incorporating white roofing and retrofitting older HVAC systems. The College has targeted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for all major new construction projects.

AASHE’s STARS program is the only one of its kind that involves publicly reported comprehensive information about a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in education and research; operations; and planning, administration and engagement.

“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Paul Rowland. “Stark State College has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver Rating and is to be congratulated for its efforts.”


Unlike other rating or ranking systems, the program is open to all institutions ofhigher education in the U.S. and Canada.