After earning its first gold rating in 2022, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has again increased its score through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System.
The new report, announced by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education on Earth Day, is the university’s highest score to date of 71.44, representing a more than five-point increase from its previous report.
STARS is an international reporting framework administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. It comprehensively assesses sustainability in higher education through five focus areas — academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has participated in the program since earning a bronze rating in 2014, increasing its score with each subsequent report.
The reporting effort is organized by the Office of Sustainability using data provided by more than 30 university departments and units, including Operational Technology and Engineering, Dining Services and Campus Planning.
The university again increased its score through its commitment to integrating sustainability into campus operations, teaching, research and service efforts. Recent areas of growth include campuswide participation in sustainability initiatives and programming, as measured through the university’s biennial Sustainability Culture, Literacy and Transportation Survey.
Other factors that led to UNL's increased score include:
- Creation of the Sustainability Ambassador peer-to-peer education program in partnership between University Housing and the Office of Sustainability;
- Expansion of Dining Services' reusable takeout container program;
- Collaboration with peers on sustainability efforts, including the university’s leadership in the Big Ten and Friends Sustainability Network, and participation in the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability pilot cohort;
- An all-time-high waste diversion rate of over 60% of non-hazardous waste, earned through the expansion of the All in the Hall recycling program and composting efforts by Landscape Services in collaboration with Dining Services
Campus community members who want to get more involved with sustainability programs on campus should visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.J
