Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 64.54
Liaison Shane Stennes
Submission Date Oct. 25, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
IN-2: Innovation 2

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Amy Short
Sustainability Director
University Services, OVP
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:

Acara, a joint program of the Institute on the Environment and the College of Science and Engineering, at the University of Minnesota, gives emerging entrepreneurs a chance to envision and launch successful social businesses. Since 2009, more than 300 students from 20 universities have participated in Acara’s programs, guided by mentors in academia and industry to collaboratively explore business concepts and implement sustainable solutions while developing their leadership skills. Impact goals are to incubate the best ideas and the best students beyond the classroom.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Fall 2011 Challenge was Food security. In post challenge activities, two of the three gold winning student teams traveled to and worked in Dehli communities with partner TERI University to work on food safety and food waste to fuel projects. Read the business plans and watch the 2 minute pitch for the projects: http://acara.environment.umn.edu/acarachallenge/2011fall/


Fall 2011 Challenge was Food security. In post challenge activities, two of the three gold winning student teams traveled to and worked in Dehli communities with partner TERI University to work on food safety and food waste to fuel projects. Read the business plans and watch the 2 minute pitch for the projects: http://acara.environment.umn.edu/acarachallenge/2011fall/

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