Cleveland State Community College has recently become a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education to further campus efforts toward building a healthy and just world. Through membership in AASHE, Cleveland State will receive support in advancing its sustainability initiatives throughout the institution and in the community.
“We are very honored to be a part of this organization,” stated Dr. Carl Hite, CSCC President. “It will give us access to all kinds of resources as we initiate our sustainability efforts here at the college, and because of this, we feel it will be a mutually beneficial organization.
AASHE enables higher education institutions to meet their sustainability goals by providing specialized resources, professional development, and a network of peer support. Membership covers every individual at an institution, so the entire campus community can take advantage of member benefits.
“We are delighted to have Cleveland State on board and participating in the campus sustainability community,” said Paul Rowland, executive director of AASHE. “This shows a real commitment to playing a leadership role in some of the biggest challenges of our time, and provides the campus community with access to thousands of examples of best practices in campus sustainability.”
Among AASHE’s major programs is a standardized, comprehensive assessment instrument called STARS, or Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System. STARS metrics cover every sector of campus, from planning and administration to operations to education and research. With STARS as a roadmap, institutions can select meaningful and appropriate pathways to sustainability while conserving valuable resources, combating global warming, and building healthier communities.
AASHE is one of two supporting organizations for the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Over 650 presidents and chancellors so far have committed to lead their institutions to climate neutrality as soon as possible.