HBCUs Shoot for
the Stars
Building the data infrastructure HBCUs need to document their sustainability work, access climate funding, and gain national recognition through the STARS sustainability assessment framework.
A partnership between Howard University and Yale University, led by CORE Futures Lab.
HBCUs Lead Sustainability, Without Recognition
HBCUs committed to environmental stewardship and community resilience
HBCUs that have attained STARS ranking
Pilot institutions in the Shoot for the STARS cohort
HBCUs engaged in the HBCU Campus Energy Dataset baseline study
Historically Black Colleges and Universities have deep roots in environmental stewardship and community resilience. Yet they remain virtually absent from national sustainability rankings and assessment frameworks. Not because they lack commitment, but because they lack data infrastructure.
The STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) framework, managed by AASHE, is the gold standard for sustainability assessment in higher education. Achieving STARS certification unlocks access to federal and foundation climate funding, operational cost savings, and national recognition. But the data systems required to complete a STARS assessment are resource-intensive, and most HBCUs have never had the staff, tools, or technical support to build them.
The Shoot for the STARS Initiative changes that by deploying the financial resources, technical expertise, and professional development necessary for 5 HBCUs to establish robust sustainability data systems and position themselves as leaders for the remaining 90+ institutions nationwide.
The SHOOT Framework
The initiative is structured around the SHOOT acronym: five phases that take HBCUs from recruitment through certified sustainability leadership. Each phase builds on the last, creating a replicable model for the entire HBCU sector.
Howard University — Center of Applied Data Science and Analytics (CADSA)
Core Futures Lab
Yale University