Eastern earns Silver STARS rating for sustainability culture

by Ed Osborn

Willimantic, CT (08/17/2026) — Eastern Connecticut 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.

Eastern has earned a STARS rating each rating cycle over the past 14 years. This new renewal announcement continues the University's silver rating through March 2029. The STARS program is unique in that institutions gather and submit sustainability-related data as a self-assessment, which is then graded against more than 10 national criteria.

"The renewal of our STARS rating recognizes Eastern's 25-year commitment to climate and sustainability," said Patty Szczys, director of the Center for Sustainability Studies. "It recognizes excellence in integrating sustainability into our core mission through the curriculum and student campus life, and also through partnerships with community organizations and within our operations. The extensive data compiled for this report serve as the foundation for setting goals and measuring improvement going forward, as well as pointing to gaps that new initiatives may fill."

Eastern's STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website at https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/eastern-connecticut-state-university-ct/report/2026-02-17/

As Connecticut's public liberal arts university, Eastern is committed to preparing tomorrow's civic leaders while instilling a sustainability culture throughout the campus. For more than 25 years, Eastern has developed campus sustainability systems, academic programs preparing students for jobs in the green economy, and sustainability outreach to other Connecticut organizations and communities.

Among many sustainability examples on campus is Eastern's Thrift Warriors thrift shop, where students can access gently used clothing and other essentials free of charge. The "Warriors Don't Waste" residence hall-cleanout event salvages and recycles thousands of pounds of furniture and other goods. Energy efficiency programs range from a geothermal installation in the on-campus High Rise Apartments, to using a fuel cell to generate electricity for the David G. Carter Sr. Science Building, to installing energy-efficient, motion-sensing lighting systems across the campus.

An extensive recycling program is in place for all offices, dormitories, and other campus spaces, which some areas participating in composting at the University's community garden. Uneaten food from the University's dining hall is either donated or composted. The University's sustainability initiatives are led by a campus-wide Green Campus Committee, which provides guidance and inspiration to campus operations, academic programming, and institutional outreach.

"Eastern's continued recognition reflects the breadth of work taking place across our campus and the commitment of many faculty and staff who contributed data, documentation, and expertise to this effort," said Eastern President Karim Ismaili. "Sustainability at Eastern is not limited to one office, one committee, or one set of practices. It is connected to our academic mission, our operations, our engagement with the community, our responsibility as a public institution, and our vision for the future. The data collected through STARS gives us an opportunity not only to celebrate what we have accomplished, but to identify areas where we can continue to build on a legacy of success."

To further advance sustainability on its Willimantic, CT, campus, Eastern will launch a committee this fall 2026 to guide the University in pursuing the Carnegie Foundation's Elective Classification for Sustainability. This is a new national designation that recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate a deep, integrated, and institution-wide commitment to sustainability and climate action. Eastern has the opportunity to be among the first institutions to pursue this inaugural classification, which is voluntary, evidence-based, and peer-reviewed.

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. "Eastern Connecticut State University has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver Rating and is to be congratulated for its efforts."

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