UCalgary shoots for the STARS with sustainability efforts

Thanks to the collective efforts of the university community, the University of Calgary has received its third STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The university improved its overall score and continues to rank number 2 in Canada among our U15 peers (as of March 2019). UCalgary has maintained a gold rating since 2013.

Sustainability progress at UCalgary is driven by the Institutional Sustainability Strategy. This provides the direction and impetus for action for the institution to advance sustainability, in support of UCalgary’s Eyes High strategic vision, to become one of Canada’s top five research institutions, engaging in the communities we both serve and lead. Sustainability excellence is also embedded in the priorities outlined in our Academic and Research Plans.

“This STARS gold rating is a reflection of the work the University of Calgary is doing to support sustainability leadership and continually advance sustainable practices on campus,” says Dr. Dru Marshall, provost and vice-president (academic). “We are advancing sustainability education and research, integrating sustainability across disciplines, and partnering with our community to address pressing societal challenges.”

The University of Calgary aims to make sustainability a part of campus life for students, faculty and staff, building leadership capacity, knowledge and partnerships across our faculties and units, and with local and global communities.

"We are excited that the University of Calgary has received the STARS Gold rating,” says Sagar Grewal, president of the University of Calgary Students’ Union. “The Students’ Union and undergraduate students care about sustainability and the future of our environment. We are happy to see that the university is making it easier for students to make sustainable choices and can't wait to see exciting sustainability programs on campus continue."

Measuring UCalgary’s sustainability performance

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. Institutions across the world have registered to use the STARS reporting tool and campuses are required to update their submission at least once every three years to maintain their status.

An institution’s STARS score is based on the percentage of applicable points earned in credits across four main categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations, and Planning and Administration. Stakeholders around campus provided data to the STARS submission, which collectively contributed to an improvement in UCalgary’s overall score as well as showing progress in all four categories.

“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” says AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “The University of Calgary has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”

View the University of Calgary’s full 2019 STARS submission on the AASHE website.

To learn more about our sustainability initiatives and how to get involved, visit the sustainability website.

The University of Calgary’s Institutional Sustainability Strategy provides a road map for continuous improvement in our pursuit of excellence and leadership in sustainability. We aim to become a Canadian post-secondary education leader in sustainability in our academic and engagement programs, administrative and operational practices and through supporting community and industry in their aims for leadership in sustainability. Learn more about UCalgary’s leadership in sustainability.