Sustainability
su·stain·a·bi·li·ty | /səˌstānəˈbilədē/
noun
meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Learn + Connect
AASHE Stars Gold
The Association for the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS) is a point based sustainability self-assessment. The reporting system tracks four overarching categories: Education and Research; Operations, Planning, Administration and Engagement; and Innovation.
STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS® was developed by AASHE with broad participation from the higher education community. The University of Arkansas was first awarded STARS Gold in 2017 and was awarded Gold again in 2021!
Visit our publicly displayed STARS rating.
Our Goals
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1990 Emissions LevelsThe University of Arkansas's mid-term (2021) goal for greenhouse gas reduction is to reduce to our 1990 emissions levels even as our campus grows. The UofA met this ambitious goal in 2017, but must continue to hold down emissions while campus grows. |
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Zero WasteAs part of our mid-term emissions goal, the University of Arkansas is striving to reach 50% diversion from landfill by the year 2021. The 2019 diversion rate was over 37%. The long-term zero waste goal is 90% diversion from landfill by 2040. Please reduce, reuse, and recycle. |
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Carbon NeutralityThe University of Arkansas signed the College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2007, pledging our long-term goal to become carbon neutral by 2040. This commitment was reaffirmed through Second Nature's Climate Pledge in 2018. This is the flagship sustainability goal of the University of Arkansas. |
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Active TransportationThe Office for Sustainability goal is to have 60% of campus commuters using a form of alternative transportation (not driving alone) by 2025. The 2019 UA commuter survey showed 35% of campus commuters drive alone as their primary mode of transportation. Alternative transportation includes walking, biking, skateboarding, e-scooting, carpooling, using public transit, or any other active form of transportation to get to campus. |
UA Resiliency Center
UARC is an interdisciplinary research and graduate studies program, hosted by the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, in partnership with the College of Engineering and the Walton College of Business. resiliency.uark.edu
Mission: inspiring current generations to explore the intersections of economic, social, and environmental systems; to integrate this understanding into knowledge and technological innovation through interdisciplinary research; and to transform the global systems upon which our prosperity depends to make them more resilient and sustainable.
