The University of Delaware earned a STARS Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in recognition of continuous improvements in academics, engagement, innovation, leadership and operational efficiencies.

AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) program is the world's most widely recognized framework for sustainability reporting in higher education.

"This accomplishment is a reflection on gains since the University's 2020 Bronze rating," said Jeffrey Summerhays, director of sustainable operations in Facilities, Real Estate and Auxiliary Services.

STARS measures a range of efforts, from institutional commitments to systemic support for individual actions.

"Together, we have decreased our waste by 18 percent and increased our recycling by 37 percent," said Summerhays. "We have more users of our bus system than ever before at nearly half a million riders yearly."

The self-assessment identified two dozen projects that together prevented more than 9,500 tons of lifetime carbon dioxide equivalent emissions between 2021 and 2025. During that time, more than 80 faculty across 23 departments taught or researched sustainability topics. As part of Earth Day 2025, Grounds planted a dozen native trees on campus.

"This assessment has helped us build a baseline for UD's continuing sustainability efforts," said Summerhays. "The Office of Sustainability is not resting on the new Silver status. We have several new initiatives for improving our environmental footprint as a university that will affect spaces across campus."

Among the planned projects, laboratories across the University can begin participating in the My Green Lab program this year, which will help researchers run more efficient and sustainable labs.

The University's STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website.