Membership in environmental association cited as sign of University’s commitment to sustainability

Its new membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education will further the University of Windsor’s efforts toward building a healthy and just world, says Paul Henshaw, a professor of environmental engineering and the University’s environmental advocate.

The association enables higher education institutions to meet their sustainability goals by providing specialized resources, professional development, and a network of peer support. Membership covers every individual at an institution, so the entire campus community can take advantage of member benefits.

“We have now joined over 800 institutions in the USA and Canada in their journey toward sustainability,” says Dr. Henshaw. “Membership gives everyone in the university community access to information on best practices.”

The association hosts the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), a comprehensive campus sustainability rating system that enables institutions to measure their progress and learn from others. With STARS as a roadmap, institutions can select meaningful and appropriate pathways to sustainability while conserving valuable resources, combating global warming, and building healthier communities. Its website offers extensive online resources and discussion forums for professional development and sharing knowledge.

Henshaw has provided links to the AASHE from the newly-launched UWindsor sustainability website: www.uwindsor.ca/sustainability.

The association’s executive director, Paul Rowland, welcomed new UWindsor members.

“We are delighted to have the University of Windsor on board and participating in the campus sustainability community,” he said. “This shows a real commitment to playing a leadership role in some of the biggest challenges of our time, and provides the campus community with access to thousands of examples of best practices in campus sustainability.”