Cleveland State University has recently renewed its membership in 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, CSU will receive continued support in advancing its sustainability initiatives throughout the institution and in the community.

“CSU takes its commitment to sustainability seriously and we are continually enhancing our efforts to reduce our environmental footprint and integrate sustainability across the campus,” says Joseph Han, Associate Vice President for Administration and Operations.

“AASHE counts on the support of progressive institutions like CSU to fulfill its mission of facilitating leadership to transform our planet,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “As the gateways to knowledge, higher education institutions have a unique opportunity to make sustainability part of everyone’s agenda.”

AASHE hosts the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), a comprehensive campus ranking that enables institutions to measure their progress and learn from others. 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 also offers extensive online resources and discussion forums for professional development and sharing knowledge.

CSU is committed to enhancing AASHE’s mission and overall efforts to improve sustainability in all areas of society. In the fall of 2016, the university was named a Green Power Partner by the Environmental Protection Agency, recognizing its commitment to purchasing at least 30 percent of its electricity from green power sources. CSU has also received LEED certification for four newly constructed buildings on campus, provides RTA bus passes to all students to increase public transit use and has completed an LED-lighting upgrade project designed to reduce energy use across the university.

AASHE is one of two supporting organizations for the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Over 860 presidents and chancellors, including CSU President Ronald M. Berkman, so far have committed to lead their institutions to climate neutrality as soon as possible.

###