SUA Earns STARS Silver, Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainability
After pandemic disruptions put sustainability reporting on hold, Soka University of America has returned stronger — reclaiming its STARS Silver rating with regained momentum for continual improvement of campus sustainability.
STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System created by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. Participants self-report achievements in academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.
“SUA is committed to continuously empowering our students, faculty, and staff to be drivers of change in enhancing our campus’ environmental sustainability,” said Kentaro Shintaku ’23, former Soka Institute for Global Solutions fellow and STARS project leader. “The STARS report will be instrumental in tracking our progress as we move forward.”
With more than 1,200 participants in 52 countries, the STARS program is the most widely recognized global framework for publicly reporting a college or university’s sustainability performance, allowing for both internal assessments and comparisons with similar institutions. The effort to collect comprehensive sustainability data across various areas of the university can take about a year to complete.
SUA first began participating in the STARS self-assessment in 2017, earning a Bronze rating. SUA improved to a Silver rating a year later and has since continued to increase sustainability efforts and initiatives. In 2023, three campus buildings—Marie and Pierre Curie Hall and the Ubuntu and Lōkahi residence halls—acquired Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certifications, adding to SUA’s existing LEED Gold-certified buildings, Maathai Hall and the Soka Performing Arts Center. In the past year, SUA established new partnerships with the Soka Amazon Institute and Earth Charter International, providing new educational opportunities in sustainability for students, faculty, and staff.
This newly regained STARS Silver rating demonstrates that SUA remains deeply committed to sustainability. SUA’s publicly available STARS report highlights the university’s strong performance in academics, earning a perfect score for sustainability course offerings and scoring highly in faculty sustainability research. The university also earned strong scores in both campus and public engagement.
For those who live or work on campus, the STARS Silver rating means they’re part of an academic institution that prioritizes ecological stewardship and environmental justice.
“Our community should feel proud of this achievement,” Shintaku said, “because it reflects our collective efforts in making SUA a more sustainable and responsible place, contributing to a healthier planet and a more ethical future.”
Far from resting on its laurels, SUA intends to use this achievement as a springboard for further growth in all areas of sustainability. Shintaku said: “Our goals include further embedding sustainability principles into all aspects of university life, from curriculum and research to operations and community engagement.”
Students interested in getting involved with sustainability on campus are encouraged to reach out to the Student Sustainability Educators at sustainabilityeducators@soka.edu.