1. STARS REPORT 2011-2012 SUMMARY
The Sustainability Tracking,
Assessment & Rating System
(STARS) is an online self-reporting
tool for colleges to monitor rela-
tive progress towards sustainabil-
ity. Following a thorough vetting
process and extensive testing by
the higher education community,
the Association for the Advance-
ment of Sustainability in High-
erEducation (AASHE) developed
it in 2010. Since then, over 500
university institutions have utilized
the STARS reporting tool to receive
a sustainability rating. This score
(ranging from 0 – 100 percent) is
based on the percentage of points
a university earns pursuing cred-
its across three categories: Edu-
cation & Research, Operations,
and Planning, Administration &
Engagement. Ratings of bronze,
silver, gold and platinum can be
awarded depending on the cumu-
lative score.
The University of Southern California sustainability score of 37 percent qualified us for a Bronze
rating. Although the three categories’ scores reflect similar levels of achievement, there were
both remarkably strong components and areas targeted for improvement within each category.
Based on these results, it is evident that USC still needs to take major strides in all three categories of the STARS report to move beyond
its Bronze rating. We recommend that USC construct a comprehensive sustainability plan that addresses the current inconsistencies in
our green ethos and finds actionable strategies to improve them. Then, the senior administration can review this document and take the
appropriate action.
INTRODUCTION RESULTS
EDUCATION & RESEARCH
PLANNING, ADMIN, & ENGAGEMENTOPERATIONS
CONCLUSION
UNDERGRADUATE
& GRADUATE
programs in envi-
ronmental studies
ONLY 4%
of USC’s courses in
the curriculum are
sustainability
-related
NO THEMED HOUSING
for students interested in
the environment.
URBAN GARDEN
workshops on skills like
composting and seed-
starting for students to
get involved
100+ PEER EDUCATORS to reach out
to the student body as part of the Tailgate
Waste Diversion program
USC Sustainability
informational
WEBSITE
NO NATIVE PLANT or
PEST MANAGEMENT
integration
plan
DRIP-IRRIGATED
landscaping on
majority of campus
SUSTAINABILITY STEER-
ING COMMITTEE formed
in 2007
$0 invested by university in
sustainable industries or
businesses
62,600
HOURS
of community
service by
students
NO CLIMATE
ACTION PLAN
devised by the
university
GREEN OFFICE CERTIFICA-
TION PROGRAM created
to implement sustainable
practices into everyday office
operations
OFFICE OF SUSTAIN-
ABILITY in 2010 with 2
employees
7% OF TOTAL
electricity sourced
from clean or
renewable sources,
and rising
CO2
equivalent from building
energy consumption RISEN
BY 10% by 2005
79%
STUDENTS
51%
FACULTY
using SUSTAINABLE
COMMUTING options
New buildings me-
tered and updated
with LOW-FLOW
APPLIANCES
8 STOPS across
campuson Office of
Sustainability tour
EARTH WEEK speaker
events hosted annually
$
Gre
en Offices Prog
ram
SU
STAINABILI
TY
Trojan Certified
EDUCATION
33% 33%
44%
OPERATIONS PLANNING