A Gold Star for Sustainability

Mnookin: “It reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, faculty, and students to make sustainability a priority at UW–Madison.” Bryce Richter

The University of Wisconsin–Madison earned its first gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS), marking key progress on five environmental sustainability goals that were announced in February 2024.

“It’s a welcome accomplishment to achieve STARS Gold this year,” says Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin. “It reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, faculty, and students to make sustainability a priority at UW–Madison.”

STARS is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance, with scoring categories for academics, engagement, operations, and planning and administration.

The UW demonstrated the most improvement in the academics category this year. It now counts 85 departments with sustainability course offerings, 57 of which offer a major or certification that requires sustainability knowledge. The UW also has high levels of student involvement in sustainability, with more than 50 registered student organizations and campus events, including the award-winning Earth Fest.

“Students want more than knowledge — they want practical training in sustainability skills,” says Paul Robbins ’89, dean of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. “This new STARS designation affirms our commitment and signals that UW–Madison is serious about integrating sustainability into its core mission.”

Published in the Spring 2026 issue