Babson Receives STARS Gold Rating for Sustainability Achievements
Babson College 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, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. 
“Our STARS rating is a comprehensive measure of Babson’s sustainability (including social and environmental) efforts. It includes curriculum, research, operations (recycling, transportation, dining, etc.), public and community engagement, and planning and administration,” says Babson Sustainability Manager Alexander Davis. “Our Gold rating puts us in the top third of institutions that report to STARS. Dozens of individuals across campus contributed to both earning the rating and collecting data for it—ranging from Facilities to Student Financial Services. We earned Exemplary Practice credits for areas such as our Sustainable Dining Certification (Green Restaurant Association rating for the Reynolds Crossroads Café) and for earning 4.5 stars on the Campus Pride Index (wide range of sustainability topics).”
With more than 800 participants in 30 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. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: 1) academics 2) engagement, 3) operations, 4) planning and administration, and 5) innovation and leadership.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Babson has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
Unlike other rating or ranking systems, this 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.
About AASHE
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.