Since last fall, Bellevue College has been reaching for the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System) and is how now been awarded the STARS Silver rating!
STARS is a tool produced by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) that looks at sustainability holistically, measuring the environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability on campuses via three categories: Education and Research (ER), Operations (OP), and Planning, Administration, and Engagement (PAE).
In October 2012, Bellevue College had a graduate student complete an assessment and found that we were at the bronze level, but through the advancements of both students and employees we achieved our current Silver rating.
Specifically our score improved in:
- Mode split of students and employees: The employee drive alone rate decreased more than 10% from the previous survey when the original report was drafted.
- Captains of Sustainability: Bellevue College now has Captains of Sustainability in 23 departments.
- Strategic Plan: We identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to meet our sustainability goals.
- EPEAT: Information Resources is reviewing environmental ratings when purchasing computers.
- Advocacy: Students and the College have stood up for transit service in the face of cuts.
You can read all about the initial presentation and report from the fall 2012 announcement HERE.
Last Updated January 14, 2014