This is an optional Innovation & Leadership (IL) credit. IL credits recognize institutions that are seeking innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and demonstrating sustainability leadership in ways that are not otherwise captured in STARS. Scoring in the Innovation and Leadership section is capped at 10 bonus points total.

Credit Language

IL 59: Work College – version 3.0

Questions & Answers

How has this credit changed between STARS Version 2 and Version 3?

Minimal changes have been made. A comprehensive list of differences can be found in the STARS 3.0 Summary of changes.

Do college work study programs qualify under this credit?

Simply offering student employment through a college work study program is not sufficient under this credit in the absence of formal designation as a Work College. To count, the institution must require at least half of all students who are enrolled on a full-time basis to participate in a comprehensive work-learning-service program.

Suggestions for Institutions

• Work with your institution’s leadership team(s) and/or similar to determine whether work college status has been achieved.

Potential Data Quality Issues

• To qualify, the institution must be formally recognized as a work college by the U.S. Department of Education, the Work Colleges Consortium, or the equivalent. 
• The institution must require at least 50% of all students who are enrolled on a full-time basis to participate in a comprehensive work-learning-service program that reduces the cost of education.