The University of Iowa has been recognized for its sustainability initiatives, earning a gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
The designation, announced earlier this semester, places the university among national leaders in sustainability practices in higher education.
The rating comes from AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS), a self-reporting framework that evaluates universities across academics, engagement, administration, leadership, operations, planning and innovation. A gold rating is the second-highest distinction available for universities through STARS.
“Receiving the STARS gold rating represents a shared commitment to sustainability across academics and operations at the UI,” the university said in a statement. “The university continues to see progress around sustainability efforts and the positive impact they have on students, faculty, and staff, while also promoting efficient resource stewardship and innovation.”
The recognition builds on years of dedicated work, with sustainability goals embedded in UI’s 2022 – 2027 strategic plan.
Sustainability in the classroom
A central pillar of Iowa’s sustainability efforts is its focus on preparing students to be future leaders through curriculum and hands-on experiences. The university has increased sustainability course offerings by 44% since 2018, with 74% of departments now including at least one such course, according to the STARS report.
Three colleges – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), the College of Public Health, and the College of Education – require sustainability courses as part of their general education curriculum.
The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) further integrates sustainability into student learning by connecting faculty and students with Iowa communities to address real-world challenges. Since its inception in 2009, IISC has partnered with more than 60 communities on over 400 sustainability projects.
Looking ahead, the university will launch the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability in fall 2025. The school, housed within CLAS, will combine Geographical and Sustainability Sciences and Earth and Environmental Sciences, along with the Environmental Sciences program, to offer three majors and additional minors and certificates.
“This new school will strategically build environmental work as a core pillar of CLAS, grow collaborative and interdisciplinary research, and increase student access to the wide range of career paths in these areas,” says Sara Sanders, dean of CLAS.
Reducing the campus carbon footprint
On the operations side, the university is advancing its goal of becoming a coal-free campus by 2025. Central to this effort is a biomass program exploring alternative fuel sources such as energy pellets, wood chips, oat hulls, and miscanthus grass. The diverse fuel strategy aims to ensure sustainability, cost efficiency, and reliability.
According to the STARS report, 84% of the university’s electricity came from green power as of 2022, making UI a leader among higher education institutions in renewable energy use.
“The UI also prioritizes sustainable goals in construction and design standards of its facilities, including recommissioning existing buildings to minimize energy consumption and using green principals in the design and construction of new facilities and major renovation projects,” the statement said.
Additionally, the university is upgrading its transportation infrastructure. A $16.4 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration will fund six battery-electric buses for the Cambus system, set to arrive in 2026. The grant will also support upgrades to the Cambus Maintenance Facility to accommodate alternative fuel buses in the future.
“All across campus we are working to reduce our carbon footprint by prioritizing sustainability in innovative ways, and we have for years,” says Rod Lehnertz, senior vice president for finance and operations. “The UI’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship are important factors when recruiting and inspiring students, faculty, and those who support the University of Iowa.”
