Sustainability

Strengthening the Mills commitment to sustainability—and, inextricably, social justice—is a strategic imperative for the College. We have a number of sustainability goals that we have met or are on track to meet in areas such as water conservation and waste reduction. Mills is a signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Carbon Commitment to minimize our environmental impact, and we exceeded our goal of a 15% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Awards/Recognition

  • Top green colleges in the nation, 12th consecutive year, The Princeton Review (2022)
  • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS Silver Rating (2021)
  • Top college in Sierra's Cool Schools (2021)
  • LEED Gold Certification, Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business (2010)
  • LEED Platinum Certification, Betty Irene Moore Natural Sciences Building (2007)
  • National RecycleMania Award: First Place, Food Service Organics Category (2008)
  • StopWaste Business Recognition Award (2007)

Reports

Mills College Sustainability Survey Results

The Mills College Sustainability Survey aims to provide a better understanding of the Mills community's knowledge of, and priorities regarding, campus sustainability. The survey was developed for this inaugural year with the input of members of the Sustainability Committee and other campus sustainability stakeholders. Survey questions will continue to be refined as the survey is implemented annually.

Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS)

STARS is a self-reporting, scored framework for colleges to measure their sustainability performance in academics, engagement, operations, and planning/administration. Mills began reporting to STARS in 2013 and is now updating STARS information annually. Sierra Club Cool Schools and Princeton Review Green Schools rankings for Mills are based on a subset of the information reported to STARS. View Mills STARS reports.

American College and University Presidents’ Carbon Commitment (ACUPCC)

Mills College is a signatory of the ACUPCC, which commits higher education to striving for and achieving climate neutrality, with established intermediate plans and goals. View Mills greenhouse gas inventories, climate action plans, and progress reports.