Williams College has earned its second consecutive STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
“We are delighted by this accomplishment,” says Tanja Srebotnjak, executive director of the college’s Zilkha Center for the Environment. “Like our previous STARS reports, this year’s result is a reflection of the broad-based commitment to fostering sustainability in our campus community, academics, operations, planning and investing and the many small and larger collaborations that exist within and across units to implement ideas and make progress.”
Williams has a long history of attention to environmental issues. Its Center for Environmental Studies (CES), founded in 1967, was one of the first environmental studies programs at any liberal arts college in America. Last summer, CES and the college’s Zilkha Center, which had overseen campus sustainability efforts since its founding in 2007, combined to form the Zilkha Center for the Environment, a contributing factor in Williams’ STARS Gold rating. The Center helps Williams achieve its strategic sustainability goals, engaging students in this work through co-curricular programs and management of Hopkins Memorial Forest as well as opportunities for experiential learning, applied research and community engagement.
With more than 900 participants in 40 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Every two years participants report achievements in five overall areas: 1) academics 2) engagement, 3) operations, 4) planning and administration, and 5) innovation and leadership. There are currently 382 institutions with a valid STARS rating.
“The 2025 AASHE Sustainability Award winners exemplify the innovation, leadership, and dedication needed to drive meaningful change in higher education sustainability,” Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser stated in announcing this year’s winners. “Their achievements, spanning diverse institutions and initiatives, highlight the power of collaboration and creativity. We applaud these outstanding individuals and organizations for their vision and impact, and we celebrate their contributions to building a more just and sustainable future.”
Williams’ STARS report is available on the STARS website.
Published May 29, 2025