91´ÎÔª

Each year, 91´ÎÔª participates in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), which evaluates and ranks institutions based on the breadth and depth of their sustainability efforts. Food and beverage procurement play a major role in this assessment, and we’re proud to say that sustainable sourcing has been a core value of Campus Dining since the beginning.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, ongoing market variability, and rising food costs, we’ve remained committed to cost-effectively supporting a resilient local food system, because we know that’s how we continue to offer the highest-quality food in our dining program. The purchasing decisions we make as an institution that spends millions of dollars annually on food, truly matter.

And here’s the great news: We are performing at the highest level.

This reporting period (FY24), the University earned a Gold rating from STARS!

STARS applies very strict criteria to determine what qualifies as sustainably and ethically produced food, and 27% of our total food expenditures met these rigorous standards. That puts us on par with, or ahead of, some of the most well-resourced universities in the country. Institutions with longer growing seasons, greater access to local food, and more funding dedicated to sustainability initiatives. That achievement reflects the dedication of our operators, who take the time and effort to source local products, fit them into their budgets, and make sustainable purchasing work. It’s the everyday decisions made by our team that got us here.

We are so proud of this accomplishment; we want you to know that it’s the collective effort of the entire Campus Dining team that makes this possible!