Stevens Institute of Technology Receives STARS Gold Rating for Sustainability Achievements
Gotham 360 is pleased to announce that our client, Stevens Institute of Technology (Stevens), has earned a STARS Gold 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. 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.
Stevens’ STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website: https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/stevens-institute-of-technology-nj/report/2020-03-02
This report is the second STARS report completed by Stevens, the first earning a Silver rating in December 2015. Since that first report, Gotham 360 has continued to work closely with the Facilities and Campus Operations department to brainstorm and implement new solutions, a few of which are highlighted below. All of our efforts over the past 4+ years have culminated in the submission of the latest report, which came in 17.74 percentage points higher than the first. This achievement of Gold shows a strong dedication to sustainability and represents a tireless effort from the STARS Steering Committee that was comprised of Stevens faculty and staff across all departments, with assistance from student group liaisons.
Some areas of notable improvement on Stevens’ campus within the last four years are as follows:
1. Purchase of RECs (renewable energy credits) to offset carbon emissions associated with 100% of Stevens’ campus electricity usage
With the limited available roof and ground space already occupied by solar panels, Stevens is furthering its support of renewable energy by purchasing RECs to offset 100% of the electricity consumed on campus. The first purchase covered the fiscal year 2019, and REC purchasing will continue as Stevens continues to focus on energy efficiency as a primary method of carbon emissions reduction, among other strategies.
2. The pursuit of LEED certification for new construction
Stevens has committed to building all new construction to a minimum standard of LEED Silver. The new Gateway Academic Center, which opened December 10, 2019, is expected to receive a LEED Gold certification before the end of the year.
3. Establishment of the Sustainability Management Masters Programs and its associated courses/research
Prior to this addition, there was no sustainability-specific program at the graduate level. Dr. Dibyendu Sarkar, the academic leader of this degree program, is also a co-chair of the STARS Steering Committee, alongside Bob Maffia, VP of Facilities and Campus Operations. The increase in the number of sustainability courses offered, sustainability-related research and capstone projects, and sustainability lecture series and programs had a significant positive impact on several STARS credit categories. This is offered as an MS or an MS/MBA dual degree. There is also a new Graduate Certificate program in Environmental Management that can be finished in two semesters, which is ideal for working professionals.
4. Adopting sustainability learning outcomes for all Schaefer engineering programs
Sustainability learning outcomes were adopted into the core teaching pillars of the Schaefer School of Engineering and Science, which houses the predominant student population.
5. Sustainability requirements and targets through the dining vendor and stated sustainability purchasing preferences across other areas of purchasing
A new Sustainability Practices exhibit was added to the contract with the current campus dining services contractor, including requirements such as posting adequate recycling signage and purchasing locally grown food. The Office of Procurement also adopted and publicly shared new sustainability purchasing preferences for items such as office paper, IT equipment, furnishings, janitorial supplies, etc.
6. Creation of a Green Commuter Club and a Transportation Demand Manager, who is also a sustainability liaison
Centrally positioned in the city of Hoboken, NJ, Stevens has access to a variety of public transportation options including bike shares, commuter rails, light rails, ferries, and a campus shuttle. In order to further encourage faculty and staff to utilize these options, and others, such as carpooling, a Green Commuter Club was established. With great success right off the bat, the TDM role has since been expanded to include campus sustainability engagement and communications duties.
Stevens is incredibly pleased to be able to showcase these programs and others in their STARS report and is dedicated to using the STARS framework and inspiration from other AASHE institutions to further their commitment to sustainability. As of writing, Stevens now joins three other New Jersey institutions with active STARS ratings - Princeton University (Gold), Raritan Valley Community College (Silver), and Stockton University (Reporter).
Gotham 360 will continue to work closely with Facilities and Campus Operations to further efforts in energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste reduction, and water efficiency, while also continuing to advise the Committee on other sustainability initiatives. More information on sustainability at Stevens can be found here.
Is your institution an AASHE member? Are you wondering how to go about submitting a STARS report? Email Sarah at