Babson among Top Colleges for Green Curriculum
Babson College has been selected as a top college with a green curriculum, according to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) 2016 Sustainable Campus Index.
Babson has a long commitment to sustainability, including the 2008 signing of the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment setting Babson on a path to climate neutrality by 2050.
This commitment has led to Babson’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System STARS Gold Rating. By implementing new recycling and compost stations, installing solar panels on its new residence hall and illuminating its campus with energy-efficient light, Babson’s STARS Gold Rating reflects its promise to uphold and encourage sustainability. Within the curriculum, students at Babson can customize their degrees by adding concentrations, but even without doing so, a track in Environmental Sustainability will be enhanced by a number of disciplines including economics, film, and law, among others, allowing for wholesome sustainability career preparation.
“The institutions and initiatives featured in this year’s Sustainable Campus Index showcase the great work that higher education institutions are doing to lead the global sustainability transformation,” said AASHE’s Executive Director, Meghan Fay Zahniser. “I hope the contents of this report will inspire students, administrators, faculty and staff at colleges and universities to work together to implement innovative solutions to the challenges that we face today.”
Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE)
AASHE unifies colleges and universities that share the same vision for a sustainable future and strive to create one. Using its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), the index distinguishes higher education institutions that outperform other colleges and universities in “17 distinct aspects of sustainability related to academics, engagement, operation, and administration.”
AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with and for higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges. For more information, visit. Follow AASHE on Facebook and Twitter.
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS)
STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance developed by AASHE. With nearly 800 participating institutions, STARS is the leading tool for measuring higher education sustainability performance. 124 reports were submitted in the most recent calendar year, resulting in an 11 percent increase over the previous year and a third consecutive year of growth. All reports are publicly accessible on the STARS website.