JMU earned a STARS Silver rating in March 2022 in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. JMU has a long history of sustainability efforts across the university. The recent performance that is documented in the STARS report reflects the continued work of JMU’s faculty, staff, and students.

• Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards
  • Campus Environmental Stewardship Initiative, Gold Medal, 2010
  • Food-related Waste Reduction Program, Honorable Mention, 2012
  • Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment, Bronze Medal, 2013
  • East Campus Hillside Naturalization Project, Silver Medal, 2014
  • Strategies for Residence Hall Energy Reduction, Honorable Mention, 2016
• The Virginia Recycling Association, Award for Excellence, Outstanding University Category, 2013
• The Virginia Sustainable Building Network, Green Innovation Award for Wayland Hall, 2013
• James River Green Building Council, Green Building Leadership Award, 2014
• U.S. Green Building Council of Greater Virginia, Best Institutional Project for the Student Success Center, 2015
• International Society of Arboriculture, Gold Leaf Award for Outstanding Landscape Beautification Activities, 2016
• Water Environment Federation, Gold Level in Project Management & Gold Level in Innovation for MS4 Program, 2016
• Princeton Review's guides to green colleges, included 2010 to present
• Tree Campus USA, Arbor Day Foundation, 2018 to present
• APPA Leadership in Educational Facilities, Sustainability Innovation Award, 2018
• Virginia Environmental Excellence Program Sustainability Partner, 2014 to present
• Bee Campus USA Affiliate, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, 2019 to present
• Princeton Review's Top 50 Green Colleges, 2022
• Virginia Pollinator-Smart Program Certification, 2023