Smith Named a Top Performer in 2026 Sustainable Campus Index

Smith College has been named a Top Performer in the 2026 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI), ranking among the top five baccalaureate institutions overall. Published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the index recognizes institutions demonstrating leadership in sustainability based on their performance in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).

The recognition reflects the breadth of sustainability work taking place across Smith, from campus decarbonization and landscape management to teaching and research, dining and investment practices.

“This recognition is a reflection of the significant sustainability work already happening across Smith,” said Erinn McGurn, associate vice president for sustainable capital programs. “At the same time, STARS gives us a valuable college-wide picture of where we’re excelling, where there are gaps and where there are opportunities to improve. We see the framework not as a goal in itself, but as a tool for asking better questions and driving meaningful change.”

Smith’s Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability (CEEDS) assembled and reviewed the College’s STARS submission, drawing on data and practices from across the institution. Smith has participated in STARS four times, using the assessment to benchmark its progress and identify opportunities for continued improvement.

A comprehensive approach to sustainability

Smith’s sustainability efforts span the College’s operations, academic programs, research and institutional decision-making.

The College has committed to carbon neutrality by 2030, and a major geothermal energy project now underway is expected to reduce campus carbon emissions by nearly 80% over the next four years. By substantially reducing on-campus fossil fuel combustion, the project represents a significant step toward Smith’s climate goals.

The geothermal project also exemplifies Smith’s “Campus as Classroom” approach, creating opportunities for faculty scholarship, classroom investigation, student internships and co-curricular learning.

Smith’s 20-year Landscape Master Plan, adopted in 2022, similarly connects environmental performance with the College’s educational mission. The plan calls for new approaches to landscape management that increase ecological performance, reduce synthetic inputs and link climate-positive changes with social benefits.

Sustainability is also increasingly integrated into teaching and research. The CEEDS research fellowship program supports two to four faculty fellows each year, including student research, while curricular enhancement grants support faculty developing innovative approaches to sustainability and climate change across Smith’s academic divisions.

In dining, Smith has expanded its purchasing of locally and community-based, ecologically sustainable and certified humane foods, while highlighting plant-forward meals. The College has also made progress toward its commitment to responsible investment; as of June 30, 2024, Smith’s exposure to fossil fuel-specific managers had declined to 1.8%.

Using assessment to drive progress

For Smith, the value of STARS extends beyond the recognition itself. The assessment provides a common framework for understanding sustainability across a complex institution and creates opportunities for collaboration among operational departments, academic departments, researchers and students.

The College is using the latest results to bring groups across Smith together to examine the findings, identify opportunities and consider how existing work can evolve to better align with the College’s sustainability goals.

“The STARS framework provides an excellent foundation for continued improvement,” said Beth Hooker, senior director, CEEDS and sustainability. “It helps us understand the full depth of sustainability, open conversations across the college and identify where we can make meaningful progress.”

That work is part of a broader effort to embed sustainability throughout the institution, alongside Smith’s Carbon Neutrality Roadmap, Campus Planning efforts and other initiatives underway.

The 2026 recognition builds on Smith’s participation in STARS over more than a decade. The College earned a silver rating in 2014, gold in 2017, silver in 2020 and gold in its most recent assessment.

The latest recognition reflects not only progress already made, but Smith’s continuing commitment to sustainability as an institutional priority—one that connects environmental stewardship with learning, research, community resilience and the College’s broader mission.