AASHE STARS Gold

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education awarded the University of Iowa a gold rating from its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating system (STARS).

STARS is a self-reporting framework for universities to measure their sustainability performance in categories of academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.

Receiving the STARS gold rating represents a shared commitment to sustainability across academics and operations at the UI. The university continues to see progress around sustainability efforts and the positive impact they have on students, faculty, and staff, while also promoting efficient resource stewardship and innovation. 

Bee Campus USA

As a Bee Campus U.S.A. affiliate, the University of Iowa is committed to providing high-quality pollinator habitat and reducing pesticide use on campus.  For more information, visit our UI Bee Campus webpage.

Bicycle Friendly University

The University of Iowa is a certified bike campus with Bike Campus U.S.A. This certification means that our university is committing to creating a more livable and bike friendly campus as well as provide more support towards the bikers in our community. Biking is a great alternative to driving on campus and our campus is arranged with bikers in mind. The League of American Bicyclists has designated the University of Iowa as a Silver Bicycle Friendly University. Visit our Transportation page to discover biking resources for our campus and Iowa City.

EPA Green Power Partner

The University of Iowa is a Green Power Partner with the Environmental Protection Agency. The UI is meeting a green power commitment to the EPA by burning oat hulls in place of coal, generating approximately 10 million kilowatt-hours of green power. The University of Iowa is currently ranked the No. 2 green power partner on the EPA's list of Top 30 Colleges and Universities.

LEED Certified Buildings

The University of Iowa is committed to sustainability in its campus development through the incorporation of green principles in the placement, design and construction of new campus facilities and major renovation projects.

Numerous buildings on campus have achieved LEED Certification through the U.S. Green Building Council.

Tree Campus USA

Trees are an important part to every college campus and their natural beauty creates a livable and productive environment for students across the country. By being a certified tree campus with Tree Campus Higher Education, as well as being an accredited arboretum, the University of Iowa is committed to the maintenance and growth of the trees on our campus. The university consists of 8,000 trees that range over 300 different species and includes many rare and historic trees and even several state champion trees. To discover the many trees across campus, check out UI Facilities Management's Tree Inventory map.

Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability

The University of Iowa is a proud member of the Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS). UMACS "was established in 2005 to support higher education staff, faculty and students in the region who are working to advance sustainability on their campuses and in the community. [They] believe that by building collaborative relationships and sharing ideas and resources, we can advance our work for a more sustainable and just society."