Wartburg College has been recognized as a sustainability leader in the 2015 Sustainable Campus Index, receiving high rankings in the areas of campus engagement and water.

The 2015 Sustainable Campus Index highlights top-performing colleges and universities in 17 areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).

“Wartburg College’s participation in STARS and strong performance in the areas of Campus Engagement and Water demonstrates significant leadership and commitment to advancing sustainability,” said Meghan Fay Zahniser, executive director of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. “We are pleased to recognize Wartburg College for working to secure a brighter future by incorporating sustainability into campus operations, academics, administration and engagement.”

The college earned all possible points in the Campus Engagement subcategory, which recognizes schools that provide students with sustainability learning experiences outside the formal curriculum, and support employee engagement, training, and development in sustainability. The score was based on success in a variety of areas, including student education, outreach materials and staff professional development.

Recognition in the Water category is based on advancements in water use and rainwater management. Wartburg was the only undergraduate institution recognized in the top five in this subcategory, which honors efforts to conserve water and protect water quality.

The college received the most points allowed for water reduction, in part because of the installation of conservation devices, which led to a 30 percent reduction in usage. Full points were also received for the college’s rainwater management efforts, which include rooftop retention, landscaping to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water and water runoff management during rain events.

“We were very honored to be recognized as a top performer in the AASHE Sustainable Campus Index. We have worked hard to improve our sustainability efforts and greatly appreciate the recognition of the college's efforts,” said Anne Duncan, Wartburg’s environmental sustainability coordinator.

Wartburg previously received a Silver rating in 2014 by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Wartburg College’s STARS report is available at https://stars.aashe.org/institutions/wartburg-college-ia/report/2015-01-29/.