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�ٺ���Ƶ has earned a renewed gold rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, or STARS. This time around, the campus measured up to significantly revised criteria, including additional, challenging performance metrics.

STARS, a program of the , assesses sustainability across environmental, social and economic dimensions in four categories: academic, operations, engagement, and planning and administration. Nearly 450 colleges and universities around the world are active participants in STARS.

�ٺ���Ƶ, in becoming the first UC to be rated under the new criteria, received an overall score of 74.67 percent. The campus scored 15 credits in a bonus category for innovation and leadership, in such categories as nitrogen footprint, fair trade campus, green laboratory program, and diversity and equity recognition.

“STARS is considered the most comprehensive sustainability assessment tool in higher education,” said Camille Kirk, director of sustainability and campus sustainability planner. “We are really pleased to see that �ٺ���Ƶ maintains a gold rating, and anticipate using this assessment to drive campus sustainability forward to new achievements.”

Kirk announced the STARS rating during the campus’s second annual Sustainability Summit. See separate story.

What’s next?

Kirk and others are reviewing the STARS report to identify areas for improvement and to help guide other sustainability efforts.

The Office of Sustainability also continues to collaborate with �ٺ���Ƶ with an eye toward meeting the , or SDGs, which seek to address global economic, social and environmental challenges including poverty, hunger, climate change and inequalities.

“The SDGs speak deeply to �ٺ���Ƶ values and strengths as a campus, and are relevant locally as well as globally,” said Jolynn Shoemaker, director of global engagements, Global Affairs. “Global Affairs conducted a survey of �ٺ���Ƶ faculty that showed our campus is supporting the SDG agenda across all 17 goals, both in the U.S. and in other countries around the world.”

‘Sustainable future for all’

Completing a university STARS report is a massive, complex undertaking. Kelli O’Day, who joined the Office of Sustainability as its assessment program manager in January, led the project from initial collection of metrics across the Davis campus to evaluation and report development.

Formerly sustainability coordinator for the ASUCD Coffee House, O’Day wasn’t new to sustainability reporting when she began her work on STARS, but has since gained a more holistic view and appreciation of the university’s commitment to sustainable practices, leadership and innovation.

“I knew a lot about one small part — the food portion — but now I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in everything from water to planning and administration,” O’Day said. “I'm so proud of all that �ٺ���Ƶ does and supports to secure a sustainable future for all.”

STARS on video

If you missed the STARS summary presented at the Sustainability Summit, you can (starts at 1:13:27).