September 29, 2026, Santa Rosa, CA – Santa Rosa Junior College’s long-term work in making SRJC affordable and improving access for its students has helped earn the College a Top Performer Recognition in the 2026 Sustainable Campus Index rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) through its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
SRJC has earned recognition as a top performer in the impact areas of Representation & Access and ranked 5th in Overall Performance for Associate & Short Cycle Institutions. Representation & Access measures how well an institution creates an inclusive and supportive environment while ensuring students from all backgrounds can access and succeed in higher education. It considers racial and ethnic representation, gender equity, campus climate, affordability, access to educational opportunities, and student success.
“Access and representation are central to our mission as a community college. We want every student to see themselves reflected in our college community and to have a genuine opportunity to pursue an education that is affordable, accessible, and leads to success. This recognition reflects the work we are doing to create a campus where students from all backgrounds can belong, participate, and thrive,” said Angélica Garcia, Superintendent/President.
SRJC’s sustainability efforts extend beyond infrastructure. The College integrates sustainability into academics and student learning, supports sustainable agriculture and wildfire resiliency training at Shone Farm, and operates the student-funded Any Line Any Time Free Bus program. These initiatives build on SRJC’s longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
STARS is a transparent framework that enables colleges and universities to measure and publicly report their sustainability performance. More than 1,200 institutions in 52 countries participate in the program, which evaluates achievements across academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Santa Rosa Junior College has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
SRJC first participated in STARS in 2019, becoming the first California community college to earn a STARS designation. The College’s Gold rating reflects continued progress and provides a framework for measuring future sustainability efforts.
“STARS gives us a way to measure where we are, identify opportunities for improvement, and compare our progress over time,” said David Liebman, Energy & Sustainability Manager. “This recognition is not an endpoint. It gives us another tool to continue building a more sustainable and resilient college.”
About Santa Rosa Junior College
Founded in 1918, Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) is a vital gateway to higher education and career advancement in Sonoma County. Serving an average of 22,000 students each semester, SRJC offers a wide range of academic and career education programs, student support services, and clear pathways to four-year universities. With locations in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Roseland, and specialized sites including Shone Farm and the Public Safety Training Center, SRJC combines academic excellence with hands-on learning opportunities. Guided by its mission to foster learning and growth for all, SRJC is committed to equity, inclusion, sustainability, and innovation in support of student success.
About AASHE
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) empowers higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. AASHE provides resources, professional development, and a network of support to help colleges and universities advance sustainability across governance, operations, academics, and research. For more information about AASHE, visit www.aashe.org.
For more information about the STARS program, visit stars.aashe.org.
