Furman University Charter Participant in “Stars” National Sustainability Rating
February 2, 2011
GREENVILLE, SC – February 2, 2011 – Furman University has earned an overall Silver rating following its initial submission to STARS 1.0, a sustainability tracking program developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
STARS stands for Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, a self-reporting framework for gauging progress toward sustainability on college and university campuses.
Furman’s overall score of 51.46 placed the university in the Silver rating. The levels of STARS ratings include Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The minimum score for the Silver level is 45 points, while Gold and Platinum require a minimum score of 65 and 85 points, respectively. Furman was a Gold rating for Education and Research.
An institution’s STARS score is based on the points it earns in each of the three main categories of STARS credits—(1) Education and Research, (2) Operations, and (3) Planning, Administration and Engagement. Institutions can also earn up to four credits for innovative practices and performances, which are added to the score averaged across the three main categories.
“Furman’s charter participation in STARS is another example of our desire to collaborate across higher education and to seek the very best approaches to sustainability for campuses and communities,” said Dr. Angela Halfacre, director of the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability at the university. “This rating provides a valuable benchmark for our future strategic planning and progress.”
The initial STARS submission is another benchmark in Furman’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. During the past decade, Furman has incorporated sustainability in its university strategic plan, completed a sustainability master plan, founded the Shi Center for Sustainability, built the first LEED-certified building in South Carolina and created an undergraduate major in Sustainability Science (the first of its kind at a liberal arts college).AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future. The organization launched the STARS program in January 2010.
For more information, visit the STARS website or contact the Shi Center for Sustainability at 864-294-3655.
