CWU Sustainability
Commitments and Recognition
AASHE STARS Silver Rating Recognition
In July 2022, Central Washington University completed the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Report to assess its sustainability performance. CWU received a Silver rating with a score of 55.7 out of 100 possible points (a 20-point increase from the 2019 CWU STARS Bronze rating!).
Completion of the STARS assessment was a great accomplishment that provided CWU with a tool for strategically moving forward to continue to improve sustainability at CWU.
CWU's AASHE STARS report (submitted July 2022, valid until July 2025)
CWU Green Office Certification Gold Rating
The Office of Sustainability is proud to be recognized at the Gold level through Central Washington University’s Green Office Certification Program. This certification reflects our strong commitment to advancing environmental, social, and economic sustainability across campus.
By implementing sustainable practices in areas such as energy use, transportation, purchasing, waste reduction, participation, and event planning, our office demonstrates what it means to lead by example. Achieving Gold certification reinforces our dedication to building a more sustainable campus.
Central Washington University's Tree Campus Higher Education Recognition
In recognition of its efforts to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees, the Arbor Day Foundation. they honored CWU as 2019 Tree Campus Higher Education campus. CWU received the national award for meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards. The standards include: maintaining a tree advisory committee, instituting a campus tree-care plan, dedicating annual expenditures for a campus tree program, hosting an Arbor Day observance, and establishing student service-learning projects.
CWU Included in Sierra's 2021 Cool Schools
Central Washington University was included in Sierra's 2021 Cool Schools list. This is the 15th year Sierra has ranked colleges and a record 328 schools across the United States and Canada participated in the survey.
Visit the Sierra website to see a complete list of Sierra's 2021 Cool Schools participants
CWU Included in the 2022 Princeton Review to Green Colleges
Central Washington University is one of the nation's most environmentally responsible colleges, according to The Princeton Review®. The education services company features Central Washington University in its website resource, The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2022 Edition, released on October 26, 2021. The guide is accessible for free at princetonreview.
The Princeton Review chose the 420 schools in the guide based on its survey of administrators at 835 colleges in 2020-21 about their institutions’ commitments to the environment and sustainability. The company's editors analyzed over 25 survey data points to select the schools.
CWU News
CWU Disability Services aims to provide equitable access to education
February 23, 2026 by Rune Torgersen
CWU faculty member awarded Fulbright post-doctoral scholarship
February 23, 2026 by David Leder