Raritan Valley Community College has been recognized as the top community college in the United States for its sustainability efforts in the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index.
A publication from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 13 impact areas, as measured through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
This is the 11th year in a row that RVCC has been recognized nationally for its sustainability efforts by AASHE. RVCC earned a gold rating in AASHE STARS in 2022. STARS measures and encourages environmental, social, and economic sustainability in higher education.
“We are very honored that Raritan Valley Community College’s proven track record in reducing its carbon footprint is being acknowledged by AASHE, earning RVCC the distinction as the top community college in the United States for its sustainability efforts,” said RVCC President Michael J. McDonough.
“The college’s commitment to sustainability is one of the central themes of its new, five-year Strategic Plan, which calls on RVCC to “lead with sustainability by embedding environmentally responsible practices within educational experiences and every aspect of campus operations.”
With more than 1,200 participants in 56 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most recognized framework in the world for reporting information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in five areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.
Sustainability is an important part of the campus fabric at RVCC, which has cut its campus energy emissions by 58% since 2005. In July, Raritan Valley Community College announced that it was carbon neutral for the sixth year in greenhouse gas emissions from purchased electricity and fossil fuels used on campus.
RVCC has three solar installations, a greenhouse, 12 new publicly available electric car charging stations, a green roof and a green wall, numerous pollinator gardens, a rain garden, three rainwater harvesting systems, and three buildings built to LEED standards.
In 2009 RVCC was the first community college in the nation to sign an environmental stewardship agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency.
