Loyola Earns AASHE Gold Rating

Loyola has earned a Gold rating by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The STARS rating system (Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) is an extensive process looking at the operational, curricular, research, and administrative aspects of sustainability in a university. In doing so, Loyola is the first Chicago-land and Jesuit school to achieve this rating level. 

This is THE national standard for rating a university's sustainability programs and performance. Over 200 institutions have been rated by STARS.  Of those, only 54 have achieved a Gold rating.  STARS is intended to consider social, economic and environmental factors managed by universities and is a useful tool for understanding sustainability across all sectors.  Data from STARS is shared with the Princeton Review and Sierra Cool Schools for their annual report card programs. 

This was a highly collaborative effort with a majority of the work being done by students in a graduate class in the School of Education led by faculty member Tavis Jules and the Director of Sustainability, Aaron Durnbaugh but drawing information from nearly all aspects of the university including academic affairs, research services, libraries, human resources, student development, investment, facilities, purchasing, dining services and others.   

AASHE’s STARS program is the only one of its kind that involves publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in three overall areas: 1) education & research, 2) operations, and 3) planning, administration & engagement.

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.