The University of Minnesota Twin Cities has received a STARS® Gold rating! The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS®) Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recognizes the long-term sustainability goals and performances for all higher education.

Currently, STARS lists 408 institutions with a valid STARS rating. Roughly half of those have a STARS Gold rating. 

Highlights of the University’s score: 

Research:

Full points were given for Center for Sustainability Research (6/6). Sustainability is infused across a wide array of research and community engagement centers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. To align with the University's threefold mission of research and discovery, teaching and learning, and outreach and public service; research and community engagement centers touch upon a host of fields, from climate resilient agriculture to socially equitable health, to designing the sustainable energy resources of the future. Examples include the The Center for Planetary Health and Environmental Justice, the Institute on the Environment, the Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR), the Center for Sustainable Polymers, the Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy at the Humphrey School, Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory, and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change, among numerous others. 

Curriculum:

Full points (4/4) were earned for having solutions-focused applied learning or living laboratory experiences for students that address sustainability challenges. UMN Twin Cities offers a wide variety of applied learning opportunities for students that address sustainability challenges. Programs include: Stop the Thud, which monitors birds across campus; exploring campus shell and roof opportunities for innovative/artistic solar installations; and mapping ecosystem services of campus green space. The Office of Sustainability’s Living Lab page features materials to aid students, faculty, and staff in the development of proposals.

Engagement:

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities received 23 out of 25 points in the Public Engagement category for programs that support student and faculty/staff civic engagement, sustainability-focused community partnerships, support for continuing education opportunities within the state, publicly accessible facilities such as the Weisman Art Museum that provide cultural services, and for sharing our sustainability experiences and expertise with peers.

Health Safety & Wellbeing:

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities received 3 out of 3 points for fostering a holistic approach to student and employee health, safety and wellbeing by offering student and staff wellbeing and assistance programs through Boynton Health, Lyra Health, the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, the USenate Safety Committee, emergency assistance programs for students, and initiatives to address food insecurity such as the Nutritious U Food Pantry.

Materials Management:

UMN Twin Cities received 3.75 out of 4 points for the extensive programs in place which responsibly manage and recover materials that are hazardous, repairable, recyclable, and which minimize the use of single-use disposable plastics. 

1. The ReUse Program collects surplus items from over 250 buildings, redistributing furniture and equipment valued at over $200,000 to UMN departments each year.
2. Over 1200 pounds of organics from on-campus dining, research facilities, and public space are collected annually by Waste & Recovery Services, making UMNTC home to one of the most robust composting programs in the Big 10.

Building Design & Construction:

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities was recognized with 2.81 out of 3 points for the incorporation of leading-edge sustainability requirements and standards into the design and construction of buildings on campus. The sustainable building guidelines used in state-funded projects is called B3 (Buildings, Benchmarks, & Beyond), developed collaboratively by the UMN’s Center for Sustainable Building Research alongside the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Department of Administration. B3 guidelines include the SB 2030 Energy Standard, a progressive energy conservation program designed to significantly reduce the energy and carbon in MN buildings. 

Coordination & Planning:

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities received 10 out of 11 points for establishing sustainability coordination and planning across campus. UMN Twin Cities has built a bedrock foundation and cumulative momentum for sustainability and climate action leadership since the The Board of Regents set a sustainability policy in 2004. The University succeeded in meeting the 2011 Climate Action Plan goal of a 51% reduction in emissions and currently pushes harder towards decarbonization through the goals established in the 2023 Climate Action Plan. Significant work and research has already been catalyzed by the plan, including additional on-campus renewables and hybrid buses, strategy to expand and protect tree canopy on campus, establishment of a task force for vulnerable populations, workplace safety updates, and research alignment for updated building standards.

About AASHE:
AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future. AASHE’s mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. It provides resources, professional development and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research. For more information about AASHE, visit www.aashe.org. For more information about the STARS® program, visit stars.aashe.org.