Student STARS Researcher

Job Description:

Primary Responsibility

The Student Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) Researcher is responsible for facilitating data gathering and entry for CMC’s participation in AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Ratings System).

Data may be sensitive and will require strict adherence to confidentiality procedures, policies and legal guidelines.

The position is expected to work 5-10 hours per week for each of the 15 weeks in the semester. Work Sites will include three CMC campuses (Spring Valley, Edwards, and Steamboat Springs).
* This is a part-time position which is limited to 28 hours per CMC’s workweek. CMC’s workweek is Saturday through Friday.

Education and experience sufficient for the rigors of the position: incumbent must be full-time CMC student pursuing a BA in Sustainability Studies degree or a BS in Business with a Sustainability emphasis/minor. Current enrollment in any 300 level SUS course or higher is required.

Applicant must demonstrate knowledge of core foundations of sustainability (as evidenced through coursework taken or in progress or through work or volunteer experience). Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; with e‑mail and library/internet research; and with Google-based equivalents to Microsoft Office suite. If further training is required to meet this qualification, some moderate training may be undertaken on the job.

Reliability and follow-through regarding work assigned. Willingness to serve as one face of the STARS project team at internal and public events.

Excellent oral and written communication skills. Attention to detail. Ability to assume a high level of responsibility for managing one’s own work and coordinating that work with STARS project team leadership and STARS program goals.

Welcoming. Innovative. Focused on Student Success. These principles reflect the soul of CMC. They guide us in building our teams, cultivating leaders, and expanding our approaches and mindset. They guide us to be an institution of higher education that’s the right fit for every faculty member, staff, student, and community member in its trust. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to working effectively with students, employees, and community members of all backgrounds.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) or conversational language abilities preferred.

The hiring pay rate is $17.76 per hour. Benefits include retirement contribution, annual and sick time, mental health resources, and tuition benefit. CMC utilizes a wage progression compensation model that accounts for a candidate’s skill and experience. Although a hiring rate is listed, this will be set commensurate with the successful candidate’s qualifications and in compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

Position anticipated to close on February 10, 2026 or until filled.

• Facilitate data gathering and entry for CMC’s participation in AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Ratings System). These are complex activities that include the following to be supervised by Sustainability Studies faculty.
• Undertake extensive STARS training assigned/provided by supervisor, to include:
• Learning from the STARS Technical Manual.
• Watching STARS training videos.
• Reading additional STARS training material.
• Working closely with supervisor to learn the processes for data gathering and analysis using secondary data gathering tools (mostly spreadsheets) and the STARS online system itself.
• Analyze data needs, and suggest, in partnership with supervisor, best practices for gathering data.
• Design and carry out successful stakeholder communications with areas of operation across all CMC sites and operational areas (academics, facilities, operations, and planning) to facilitate data gathering and analysis.
• Enter data into secondary data gathering instruments (mostly spreadsheets) and into the STARS system itself.
• Assist student groups from the SUS 450 (Sustainability…