Campus merits rating for sustainability achievements

Hanover has earned a STARS rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in recognition of its sustainability achievements.

AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that works to create a sustainable future. STARS, the sustainability tracking, assessment & rating system, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. With more than 900 participants in 40 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the world’s most widely recognized framework for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to sustainability performance.

STARS not only assesses environmental factors but also social and economic factors. Participants selfreport achievements in five areas, including: planning and administration, innovation and leadership, academics, engagement and operations. Each institution’s STARS score is based on the percentage of applicable points in these areas and innovation credits earned are added to the final percentage to determine the total score. Unlike other rating 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.