In recognition of its sustainability achievements, SUNY Oneonta has earned a STARS Silver rating 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.
The rating was announced just in time for SUNY Oneonta’s annual Green Dragon Week, a series of Earth Day-themed events from April 17-21, including a lecture by climate justice activist Arielle King, a cleanup at the City of Oneonta’s Neahwa Park, a campus tree walk and a panel discussion with recent SUNY Oneonta graduates who are pursuing sustainability-related careers or graduate programs.
“SUNY Oneonta is proud to have earned the STARS Silver recognition,” said university Sustainability Coordinator Rachel Kornhauser. “It confirms our commitment to integrating sustainability into all aspects of the university. Sustainability is a buzzword that is often used without much meaning. At SUNY Oneonta, its meaning is apparent in the education provided to our students, the engagement with our on- and off-campus community, and the way our facilities are built and operated.”
SUNY Oneonta has expanded its sustainability efforts since its last STARS self-assessment in 2018. The 2023 report recognizes the university for innovation in three areas: the sustainability course designation program, on-site food shelf and Tree Campus USA certification.
Other notable accomplishments include:
- establishment of the university’s first net zero carbon building and installation of the campus’s first geothermal wells as part of the Alumni Hall renovation project;
- completion of a Clean Energy Master Plan;
- Green Office and Green Room Certification programs, to make sustainability a more regular part of office behavior and campus life;
- signing onto the University Global Coalition and committing to work to “create a more sustainable future for all;” and
- hiring eight new faculty with specialties in sustainability to support the continued integration of sustainability into academics.
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: 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. “SUNY Oneonta has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver 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.
Kornhauser said the STARS report provides both validation of the progress the campus had made thus far and a roadmap for continued work. “We are proud to use the information in the report to see where we excel and where we can further improve as we continue to work toward a socially just, environmentally healthy and economically stable future,” she said.
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.