National organization rates Raritan Valley Community College top U.S. community college for sustainability achievements
BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – Raritan Valley Community College has been rated as the top community college in the United States for its sustainability efforts by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
This is the 10th year in a row that RVCC has been recognized nationally for its sustainability efforts by AASHE. RVCC is also rated the #1 community college in the United States—with a perfect score—for water use. RVCC received a STARS Gold rating from AASHE.
“We are extremely honored that Raritan Valley Community College is being recognized by AASHE as the top community college in the nation for its sustainability efforts. RVCC’s STARS Gold rating is a reflection of the College’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint,” said RVCC President Michael J. McDonough.
With more than 1,200 participants in 52 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: 1) academics 2) engagement, 3) operations, 4) planning and administration, and 5) innovation and leadership.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Raritan Valley Community College has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
Unlike other rating or ranking 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.
Sustainability is an important part of the campus fabric at RVCC, which has cut its campus energy emissions by 58% since 2005. The College is River Friendly, as well as Bee Campus USA and Monarch Watch certified. RVCC has three solar installations, a new greenhouse, publicly available electric car charging stations, a green roof and a green wall, numerous pollinator gardens, a rain garden, three rainwater harvesting systems, and three buildings built to LEED standards.
In 2009 RVCC was the first community college in the nation to sign an environmental stewardship agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, and its current Strategic Plan formalizes its commitment to sustainability.
