Awards and certifications | Sustainable Seneca | Seneca Students

 Seneca receives gold rating from STARS

Seneca Polytechnic has earned a Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in recognition of its sustainability achievements. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, recognizes Seneca's commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic sustainability. 

AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework for publicly reporting comprehensive information on a post-secondary institution’s sustainability performance. Institutions are measured on more than 60 credits, providing data on their academics, engagement, campus operations, planning and innovation.  

Seneca set a path toward sustainability years ago, marked by a Silver rating of 50 out of 100 in its 2020 inaugural submission. The culmination of dedication from students, faculty, staff, and administration is reflected in the achievement of the Gold rating, scoring 67, which exemplifies the enduring commitment to sustainable excellence.  

 Key achievements representing each of the pillars of the Institution 

  Academics 

• Administered a sustainability literacy assessment for the first time to gauge students' knowledge of sustainability topics and challenges.  

• Focused on programs that encourage faculty and staff to engage in sustainability research. This has led to an increase to 34 employees, or 44.7% of all employees who conduct research, who are engaged in sustainability research. 

• Increased the inventory of sustainability courses, with initiatives such as the PRME certification and the Teaching & Learning projects. Currently, 36.67% of courses at Seneca are identified as sustainability-focused or sustainability-focused. 

Engagement 

• Conducted an institution-wide sustainability survey that assessed Seneca's awareness, behaviours, and values regarding sustainability, including areas of interest such as engagement, transportation, and waste.  

Operations 

• We have diversified and invested in carbon sinks, going from 0 metric tons in our 2020 submission to 83.84 metric tons of CO2 equivalent in our 2024 submission. 

• Implemented OSCAR AI sorting and the Friendlier reusable container program at the cafeterias to improve our sustainable dining and diversion rates while decreasing our single-use waste. 

Innovation points 

• Highlighted programs and initiatives, including HELIX, Career Threads, the beehives, and The Jane Fund. 

The Office of Sustainability wants to thank the hundreds of stakeholders involved in providing data, including faculty, academic leads, managers, and directors. It was an institutional effort to increase Seneca's rating from silver to gold for the first time.