Texas A&M Ranked Top In Texas For Sustainability Efforts

Texas A&M University is ranked No. 1 in Texas and No. 63 nationally in the Sierra Club’s listing of Cool Schools for its sustainability efforts, which include maintaining environmental standards and methods used to protect the planet.

Texas A&M is also ranked first among all Southeastern Conference schools in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating  (STARS) System, said Kelly Wellman, director of Texas A&M’s Office of Sustainability.

“Texas A&M embraces a holistic understanding of sustainability. We recognize the interconnectedness of balancing a healthy economy with social equity and a healthy environment,” she said, adding that Texas A&M is a gold-rated STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) institution.

According to the Texas A&M’s latest STARS figures, about 36 percent of sponsored researchers engage in some form of sustainability research.

“The fact that we are being recognized nationally shows that Texas A&M is working to solve global issues,” Wellman said. “That is the definition of sustainability — looking at better ways to utilize resources for the benefit of everyone.”

Other SEC schools to earn a Gold STAR rating are the University of Missouri, the University of Georgia and the University of Arkansas.

October is Campus Sustainability Month. Activities for the rest of the month can be viewed on the Office of Sustainability website.