The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
The university’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website at stars.aashe.org/. UW-Platteville has been a member of AASHE since 2014 and has achieved a Silver rating since 2018.
“This rating recognizes the priority our university places on creating a sustainable future and leading by example for our students and community,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich. “It takes the efforts of many people across campus to make this happen – staff, faculty and students – and I thank everyone for their continued commitment to our sustainability initiatives.”
The UW-Platteville Sustainability office was created in fall 2012. The establishment and funding of a dedicated position provided a catalyst for the development of a culture of sustainability at the university. Over the past several years, a long list of sustainability initiatives has been realized, which have formed not only a base for future work but also part of the university’s identity. UW-Platteville’s 2019-24 Strategic Plan includes a directive to “create a culture of sustainability” and it is applied throughout the university. The campus itself is a laboratory and operational decisions incorporate stewardship, resiliency and innovation.
Equity is also at the heart of the university’s sustainability initiatives. UW-Platteville is an access institution, and sustainability helps provide the best possible learning opportunities for all students by promoting health and wellness, deep and transformative learning opportunities, and reducing overhead costs allowing more investment in high-quality, affordable education.
UW-Platteville recently received several national recognitions for its commitment to sustainability, including being named in Princeton Review’s 2023 Green School list and Sierra Magazine’s 2021 Cool School list, as well as being named a 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School.
With more than 900 participants in 40 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: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and 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. “The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver rating and is to be congratulated for its efforts.”
For more information about the STARS program, visit stars.aashe.org.