University of Montana Achieves Gold Rating for Sustainability in STARS

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The University of Montana (UM) has reached a pivotal milestone by earning a Gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). This achievement underscores UM’s growing leadership in sustainability efforts, reflecting a campus-wide commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation.

What is STARS?

STARS is a global framework that measures the sustainability performance of higher education institutions. Administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the system evaluates universities across five key areas:

  1. Academics – Integration of sustainability into curriculum and research.
  2. Engagement – Efforts to involve the campus and broader community in sustainability initiatives.
  3. Operations – Environmental efficiency in energy, water use, waste management, and more.
  4. Planning and Administration – Development of sustainability-focused policies and governance structures.
  5. Innovation and Leadership – Implementation of forward-thinking and impactful sustainability projects.

With more than 1,200 universities participating worldwide, STARS provides a platform for institutions to benchmark progress and establish goals for continuous improvement.

UM’s Path to Gold

UM has been a regional pioneer in sustainability, becoming the first institution in its area to join the STARS program in 2014. At that time, UM earned a Silver rating. Since then, the university has made consistent strides, achieving Gold for the first time in 2023.

This accomplishment highlights significant progress, as UM had previously attained only Bronze and Silver ratings in prior assessments. It now stands alongside other institutions, such as Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, which also earned Gold in 2023 after starting its participation in 2019 with a Silver rating.

Leadership and Collaboration

The Gold rating is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire UM campus. Eva Rocke, UM’s sustainability director, celebrated this recognition, stating, “Earning our first STARS Gold rating is a moment of immense pride for the University of Montana. This recognition reflects the collaborative efforts of our entire campus community to advance sustainability across academics, operations, and beyond.”

The executive director of AASHE, Meghan Fay Zahniser, also praised UM’s dedication, noting, “UM has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for its efforts.”

STARS was designed by the campus sustainability community to offer clear standards for recognizing and supporting sustainability efforts. The system provides tools and resources for institutions to improve operations, develop sustainability-focused education, and engage with communities.

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