STARS 3.0 is the second major revision of the program, the vision for which was established by the STARS Steering Committee (SC) in 2019. The new version is the product of almost five years of development and was shaped by the insights of program participants, AASHE Advisory Council members, SC members, and countless other individuals and institutions that provided resources, suggestions, encouragement, and ideas. In accordance with the STARS Technical Development Policy, provisional drafts of the new version were published for public comment in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Those public comment periods have concluded, however the feedback provided is still available for review.
Features to look for in the new version of STARS include:
- Redesigned credits and easier-to-follow scoring formulas
- Simplified course and research inventories
- Streamlined, performance-based credits
- More robust indicators of racial equity and social justice
By redesigning credits with accessibility in mind, continuing to prioritize performance over process, and simplifying measurement where feasible, we were able to expand the scope of STARS and still achieve a 40 percent reduction in the number of documentation fields.
Timeline and Transition
The new version was officially launched on June 18, 2024. Current participants are able to continue working in v2.2 if that is preferable or else upgrade and begin working under the new version right away. More information about the transition to STARS 3.0 is available in the STARS Help Center.
Materials
The updated STARS Technical Manual and other materials are freely available online.