American River Courtyard is just one Sacramento State facility figuring into the University's latest high ranking for successful efforts in support of sustainability. (Sacramento State/Andrea Price)
By Dixie Reid
Sacramento State is golden when it comes to sustainability.
The University is ranked ninth overall among Master’s Institutions worldwide in the newly released 2019 Sustainable Campus Index, produced by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
Sacramento State retains its Gold status, based on points measured by the AASHE program named STARS (the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System), a transparent, self-reporting framework that allows institutions to measure their sustainability success.
This is the fourth consecutive year Sac State has achieved both an overall Top 10 ranking and the Gold level among institutions offering at least 50 master’s degrees and fewer than 20 doctoral degrees.
The Index also recognizes colleges and universities in 17 impact areas, ranking Sac State as the overall sixth-ranked performer in the Buildings category.
That ranking is based on the University’s ongoing maintenance and operation of existing campus structures, many dating to the 1950s and '60s, and the sustainable design of new buildings, including Riverview Hall, American River Courtyard, and The WELL.
The Ernest E. Tschannen Science Complex, which opened for classes Monday, Aug. 26, is the most energy-efficient science building in the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system. The complex will figure into future Index reports.
“Our continued success within the sustainability realm exemplifies our commitment to making a difference, both on- and off-campus,” said Jonathan Bowman, vice president for Administration and Business Affairs.
As of March 2019, 503 colleges and universities in 12 countries, 47 American states, and eight Canadian provinces submitted data to STARS. All were vying to earn a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum status.
Only five campuses worldwide, including UC Irvine and Stanford, achieved Platinum.
Two other CSU campuses – Cal State Northridge and Chico State – joined Sacramento State as Top 10 Master’s institutions.
However, Sac State is the only university in the CSU system ranked as a top performer in the Buildings category.
“We are happy to recognize Sacramento State for its leadership in advancing sustainability,” said Meghan Fay Zahniser, AASHE’s executive director. “I’m grateful for the work being done by Sac State to help move society toward a more equitable and sustainable future.”