Awards

The Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS) is a program run by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS is a comprehensive assessment of campus sustainability performance and is widely recognized as the "industry standard" for measuring sustainability performance at college and university campuses. 

UW-Whitewater has a Bronze Rating under STARS 3.0.  You can read our most recent report here.

The aim of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is to inspire schools, districts, and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to strive for 21st-century excellence by highlighting promising school sustainability practices and resources that all can employ. To that end, the award recognizes schools, districts, and IHEs that: 

reduce environmental impact and costs; 
improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and 
provide effective environmental and sustainability education

Combined progress in ALL three of these areas, known as Pillars, serves as the basis for recognition. UW-Whitewater was recognized as a Green Ribbon School in 2020. UW-Whitewater's submission can be found here.

The annual Green Star Awards® Program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence. The program complements other national landscape award programs that recognize outstanding landscape design and construction. This program salutes the grounds superintendent responsible for maintaining a well-manicured landscape year round. Grand, Honor and Merit Awards are offered in 15 categories, covering all types of private, public, commercial and industrial landscapes. To qualify for entry, a landscape must be at least two years old and under your continuous maintenance for at least two years. 

UW-Whitewater received the award in 2020.

The purpose of the Regents Diversity Awards is to recognize institutional change agents who have established a successful record in fostering greater access and success for students who are members of historically underrepresented populations (including African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Southeast Asians), first-generation, and/or economically disadvantaged. Established by the Board of Regents during Plan 2008, the award signifies the Board’s commitment to “…achieving educational diversity at all UW System institutions… in order to fully develop advanced human potential, the jobs that employ that potential, and the flourishing of communities that sustain it,” (UW Board of Regents Resolution # 8970).

UW-Whitewater Sustainability Office received the award in the Program category in 2024 for our work with the Campus Garden donation program to local food pantries. You can read the Campus Garden Program profile here or visit the Campus Garden and Food Pantries webpage to learn more.