Raritan Valley Community College has earned a STARS silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. Participating in STARS supports RVCC’s continued progress towards environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The college completed its first STARS report in 2011.
This year, RVCC reported under the new STARS 3.0, which features a greater scope than previous versions of the rating system. In 2025, RVCC was honored as the top community college in the country for sustainability efforts based on the previous STARS rating.
RVCC’s STARS report highlights programs and practices across campus that contribute to sustainability, including those led by the Center for Environmental Studies, Department of Institutional Engagement, Student Life clubs, and the Forum Environmental Sustainability Committee. The RVCC’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website.
“Raritan Valley Community College continues to look for new and innovative ways to increase campus sustainability and to demonstrate environmental leadership in the classroom, across campus, and throughout the community,” said RVCC President Michael J. McDonough.
“The college’s greenhouse gas reductions, academic curriculum, sustainability research, and ecologically managed grounds practices demonstrate its commitment to sustainability in all areas,” McDonough said.
With more than 1,200 participants in 52 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. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: academics; engagement; operations; planning and administration; and innovation and leadership.
Other New Jersey higher education institutions with STARS rankings include Kean University (silver); Montclair State University (silver); New Jersey Institute of Technology (gold); Ocean County College (bronze); Princeton University (gold); Raritan Valley Community College (silver); Rutgers University-New Brunswick (silver); and Stevens Institute of Technology (gold).
Photo caption: One of three sets of solar panels on campus at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg. (Image courtesy of RVCC).
