OSU earns STARS Silver Rating again for excellence in sustainability

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Media Contact: Jordan Bishop | Communications Specialist | 405-744-9782 | jordan.bishop@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University has been recognized for its efforts in sustainability once again.

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) bestowed a STARS Silver Rating on OSU in its annual report.

STARS — the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System — measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. 

OSU earned a 55.56 score for the 2019 fiscal year, up three points from the 51.92 score it received for 2018.

A gold rating is achieved by reaching a 65 and OSU Sustainability Coordinator Kristeena Blaser believes OSU is on trajectory to reach that goal in a couple of years.

Highlights from the report are OSU receiving a 6.9 out of 11 score on its air and climate rating, which looks at greenhouse gas emissions. 

OSU’s energy score was a 6.67 out of 10, with good marks in the energy efficiency in buildings on campus, as well as the school’s clean and renewable energy output.

The report also looks at other factors on campus, including academics, research, student engagement, affordability and more.

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.      

The next report, which will look at 2020’s score, will be released in early 2022.                

For more information about OSU’s sustainability efforts visit: https://fm.okstate.edu/energyservices/sustainability/index.html  and to read more about the STARS program, visit stars.aashe.org.