Texas State earns STARS Silver rating for sustainability achievements

Texas State University has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from 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. 

Texas State’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website: https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/texas-state-university-san-marcos-tx/report/2022-12-12/

The certification is based on Texas State's STARS report, covering the university’s sustainability efforts based on 2019-2022 data. The designation is valid through Feb. 26, 2026.

“Texas State’s designation as a STARS Silver campus will serve as a benchmark for future efforts to further enrich our campuses,” said Texas State President Kelly Damphousse. “We are committed to continually improving the quality of life on our campuses and in our community. We commit to be responsible stewards of our financial, environmental, and human resources. The STARS program will help us to maintain these commitments as we continue into the future.”

Texas State has a longstanding commitment to environmental conservation, exemplified by the university’s stewardship of the headwaters of the San Marcos River, the national award­winning Bobcat Blend composting program, Masters in Sustainability Studies and active co-curricular environmental groups. This commitment was formalized in 2018 with the creation of the Office of Sustainability, through which the STARS report was prepared.

With more than 900 participants in 40 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. “Texas State has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver 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.

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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.