UNLV recently earned a silver rating for its sustainability initiative from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), developed by AASHE, measures and encourages progress in sustainability by participating AASHE universities and college campuses in North America. Universities are judged on education and research, operations, planning, administration and engagement, and innovation.

UNLV scored high marks for campus sustainability planning, research and support programs, employee and student training opportunities, and community partnerships. Highlights include:

• More than 60 percent of waste collected on campus in 2010 was diverted from landfill disposal.
• Nearly 95 percent of building space is maintained with sustainable building operations and maintenance guidelines.
• Almost half of all academic departments at UNLV have faculty involved in sustainability research.
• The Association of Physical Plant Administrators recognized UNLV Facilities Management with its 2010 Award of Excellence - the organization's highest honor - for its innovative sustainability and service-oriented efforts.
• A new minor in solar and renewable energy was formed that integrates aspects of sustainability into existing science, engineering and public policy curriculum. A graduate certificate was added this spring.

The UNLV sustainability council prepared the report. The council formed in 2009 to bring together faculty, staff, and students from across campus to work collaboratively on sustainability projects. STARS, through its system of common measurements, will help the council track UNLV's sustainability progress and will lead to meaningful comparisons across universities over time.

STARS awards schools with platinum, gold, silver or bronze ratings. Approximately 80 institutions have been officially rated since the program's inception in 2010. UNLV is an AASHE member institution and a charter member of the STARS program.

Read the entire UNLV STARS submission

Learn more about UNLV's Urban Sustainability Initiative