The University of Minnesota Crookston has been recognized as a top performer in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index in the area of research and overall excellence among baccalaureate institutions. A publication from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
“This level of recognition wasn't achieved by one person or by one department, it is a reflection of sustainability being a core value to the researchers on the Crookston campus,” said Sustainability Director and Associate Professor Katy Chapman, Ph.D. “Greater than 75 percent of the faculty engaged in research and 100 percent of the academic departments where research takes place include sustainability-related research. This is an achievement of all the faculty and staff actively involved in research on the Crookston campus.”
U of M Crookston recently earned its first STARS rating in the silver category with a score of 60.64 following submission. A total of 36 faculty and staff members were noted for their research and 27 of those conducted sustainability research.
"All of us at AASHE extend our warmest congratulations to U of M Crookston for their achievement,” applauded AASHE’s Executive Director, Meghan Fay Zahniser. “By fostering sustainable practices and initiatives, you set an inspiring example for your peers and future generations. Your efforts are a testament to the positive impact that institutions can make when they prioritize sustainability and take meaningful action. Keep up the outstanding work in creating a brighter, more sustainable future for all!"
U of M Crookston’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/university-of-minnesota-crookston-mn/report/2024-02-13/
About STARS
The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS was developed by AASHE with broad participation from the higher education community. The credits included in STARS span the breadth of higher education sustainability and are organized into four categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations, and Planning & Administration. All reports are publicly accessible on the STARS website. For more information, visit stars.aashe.org.
About AASHE
AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff, and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with and for higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges. For more information, visit www.aashe.org.