Awards & Recognition

University of Richmond strives for excellence in all areas, including sustainability. Read about the University's sustainability awards and accomplishments below.

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  • UR Ranked As Top 50 Green College 2024
    The Princeton Review has recognized the University of Richmond as one of the top 50 schools in the nation for environmental responsibility in the 2024 edition of its annual Guide to Green Colleges
  • UR Recognized Nationally as Top Performer in Sustainability, Diversity & Affordability
    The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has ranked the University of Richmond in the top 10 for diversity and affordability among higher education institutions.

    This ranking comes from their 2023 Sustainable Campus Index, which recognizes top-performing colleges and universities in several sustainability categories.
  • Center for Sustainability Across the Curriculum 2023

    In an effort to increase the accessibility and diversity of sustainability-oriented training for faculty, AASHE designates institutions as Centers for Sustainability Across the Curriculum. These Centers, which are selected based on their experience organizing sustainability-oriented professional development for their own faculty, agree to organize at least one workshop or other professional development offering annually that is open to faculty from other institutions. Each Center decides for itself on the specifics of these offerings (e.g., format, topical focus, timing, registration rates) resulting in programs that can support faculty with a wide variety of needs and interests.

  • STARS Gold 2022

    In 2022, University of Richmond earned a gold STARS rating. The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to gauge relative progress toward sustainability that was developed by AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. You can read the full STARS report here.

  • STARS Gold 2019

    In 2019, University of Richmond earned a gold STARS rating. The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to gauge relative progress toward sustainability that was developed by AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. You can read the full STARS report here.

  • STARS Silver 2016

    In 2016, University of Richmond earned a silver STARS rating. The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to gauge relative progress toward sustainability that was developed by AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. You can read the full STARS report here.

  • AASHE Top Performer

    AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, recognized University of Richmond in its Sustainable Campuses Index as a Top Performer Diversity & Affordability in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2019, AASHE recognized University of Richmond’s Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor as an innovative high-impact project. You can read more about these distinctions here.

  • Princeton Review Green College

    The Princeton Review has recognized University of Richmond as a Green College since 2009.

  • Second Nature Marks of Distinction 2019

    Second Nature, the lead supporting organization for the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, awarded University of Richmond marks of distinction in 2019 for participating in We Are Still In and for achieving a 25% reduction in carbon emissions.

  • Sierra Club Cool School

    The Sierra Club ranked University of Richmond as a Cool School in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.