Campus Engagement
Introduction
Engaging in sustainability issues through co-curricular activities allows students to deepen and apply their understandings of sustainability principles. Institution-sponsored co-curricular sustainability offerings, often coordinated by student affairs offices, help integrate sustainability into the campus culture and set a positive tone for the institution. Faculty and staff members’ daily decisions impact an institution’s sustainability performance. Equipping faculty and staff with the tools, knowledge, and motivation to adopt behavior changes that promote sustainability is an essential activity of a sustainable campus.
Featured Resources
New Resources
Powering A Bright Future Discussion Activity on Energy Issues
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
Active, personally relevant learning is at the heart of an effective education. This activity takes students and other campus participants through a process of exploring sustainability through small group discussion ...
- Posted April 11, 2016
- Course Materials
- View more
Climate Change Discussion Activity
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
Active, personally relevant learning is at the heart of an effective education. This
activity takes students or other campus participants through a process of exploring sustainability through small group discussion ...
- Posted April 11, 2016
- Course Materials
- View more
Food, Ethics and Sustainability Discussion Activity
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
Active, personally relevant learning is at the heart of an effective education.
This activity takes participants through a process of exploring sustainability
through small group discussion and personal reflection designed ...
- Posted April 11, 2016
- Course Materials
- View more
Sustainability Culture Indicator
- Awake (Victoria)
Developed in 2011 and since used in dozens of organizations around the world, the Sustainability Culture Indicator (SCI) is an online survey which measures the extent to which sustainability is ...
- Posted April 10, 2016
- Tools
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North D Compost Pilot
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA)
After conducting a waste audit of the North Apartment Residential Complex in October of 2014, it was found that approximately 27% of the trash stream consisted of food waste and ...
- Posted April 6, 2016
- Case Studies
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Sustainable Development Primer for Higher Education Presidents, Chancellors, Trustees and Senior Leaders
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
This primer describes the sustainability related, crucial roles and tasks for presidents, trustees and senior leadership and explains how sustainability is a robust national trend in higher education. The primer ...
- Posted March 30, 2016
- Publications
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Learner-Centered Teaching Activities for Environmental and Sustainability Studies
The broad goal of this volume from Springer International Publishing is to help advance environmental education practices that help increase students’ environmental literacy through learner-centered teaching activities.
- Posted March 29, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar - Student Leadership for Campus and Community Sustainability
- University of Hawaii Maui College (HI)
- University of British Columbia (BC)
This webinar looks at two differing and successful approaches to deepening student engagement in campus and community projects that integrate sustainability into the fabric of the student experience. Both top ...
- Posted March 17, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
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University of Texas at Austin's Energy Conservation Campaign
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Aligning with a building energy audit case study, UT Austin developed outreach materials to encourage technical and behavioral energy conservation. Areas covered include Conservation Conversations; Freezer Loaner Program; Horns Up ...
- Posted March 12, 2016
- Outreach Materials
- View more
Zero Waste Football
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
The first season of zero waste football at CU Boulder.
- Posted March 11, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
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Tailgate Waste Diversion
- University of Southern California (CA)
USC Sustainability and Facilities Management Services are partnering to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill on campus during football tailgates. Student facilitators educate tailgaters on how to ...
- Posted March 11, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Collegiate Game Changers: How Campus Sport is Going Green
- AASHE (MA)
- Green Sports Alliance (OR)
- Natural Resources Defense Council (DC)
Collegiate Game Changers documents the substantial greening initiatives taking place throughout North American colleges. The case studies in this report powerfully confirm that collegiate athletics and recreation departments are embracing ...
- Posted March 11, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Ohio State University Zero Waste
- The Ohio State University (OH)
Ohio Stadium is the largest stadium in the country to attempt zero waste; diverting 90 percent of materials from the landfill by recycling and composting. Ohio State is leading the ...
- Posted March 11, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
UCLA Men's Basketball Sustainability
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
Sustainability PSA about UCLA Men's Basketball Sustainability funded by The Green Initiative Fund.
- Posted March 11, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
UC Davis Sustainability Map
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Outreach Materials
- View more
American University Sustainability Map & Tour
- American University (DC)
Accompany Office of Sustainability staff on a guided campus tour of AU's green buildings, vegetated roofs, green energy systems, and more.
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Outreach Materials
- View more
Sustainable Features Map
- Western Michigan University (MI)
This Western Michigan University Campus Sustainability Features Map identifies buildings, initiatives, and certifications that demonstrate WMU’s effort to build a campus culture of sustainability and model our university’s ...
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Outreach Materials
- View more
UW Campus Sustainability Map
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Outreach Materials
- View more
Shut the Sash Sticker
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
This sticker is intended to remind lab workers to shut the sash of their fume hood.
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Outreach Materials
- View more
AASHE Celebrates Campus Sustainability!
- Harvard University (MA)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Stanford University (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) invited several distinguished higher education sustainability professionals to share their thoughts on where sustainability has been and where it ...
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Dr. David Orr Presents AASHE 2015 Monday Keynote Address
- Oberlin College (OH)
- AASHE (MA)
Dr. David Orr, Oberlin 2020 Project founder and Senior Adviser to the President at Oberlin College, spoke on the AASHE 2015 conference theme, Transforming Sustainability Education.
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
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Brave New Workshop Presents an AASHE 2015 Keynote Address
- AASHE (MA)
Margi Simmons and Elena Imaretska with Brave New Workshop, shared tips and tactics to help arm the higher education community to better advance sustainability efforts.
Brave New Workshop, based in ...
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Dr. Stephen Mulkey Presents AASHE 2015 Opening Keynote Address
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
- AASHE (MA)
Dr. Mulkey has been the president at Unity College for more than four years ago. As president, he is a champion of sustainability science, which he sees as the defining ...
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
State of Sustainability: 10 Things to Know About Colorado State University
- Colorado State University (CO)
Colorado State has a long history as one of the nation’s most sustainable universities, but now CSU is the first university in the world to ever have its sustainability ...
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Outreach Materials
- View more
All About No Waste (Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass Parody)
- Stanford University (CA)
HELP STANFORD WIN! PLEDGE TO REDUCE YOUR WASTE
http://sustainable.stanford.edu/recyclemania
Vocals: Stephanie Fischer
Backing Vocals: Sonja Johnson-Yu and Akua Odoom
Lyrics: Mr. Eco
Video: Brian Christ Films ...
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
The Campus as a Living Laboratory: Using the Built Environment to Revitalize College Education
- American Association of Community Colleges (DC)
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
As community colleges redesign and retrofit campuses in greener ways, many forward-thinking institutions are using these projects as hands-on learning opportunities for students. These so-called “living laboratories” merge academics and ...
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Publications
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Evaluating Campus Green Funds: Student Review of Campus Impacts
- University of Houston (TX)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Motivated by the work of the Campus Green Fund Collaborative and its AASHE publication, How-To Guide: Campus Green Fund Implementation, the Office of Sustainability at the University of Texas at ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Building the Best Team for a Sustainable Operation
- Western Michigan University (MI)
- PortionPac Chemical Corporation (IL)
- Green Seal (DC)
- Georgia-Pacific (GA)
As green as your school may be, achieving and maintaining the level of sustainable operational performance that today's students expect can be challenging. As a facilities manager, how do ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Diversity, Sustainability, and Mentorship: One Event That Does It All
- University of Utah (UT)
Engagement is one of the goals of sustainability on college campuses. As part of that engagement, we want to reach the broadest audience possible, including multiple disciplines, genders, and ethnicities ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Measuring Engagement of Student Population Through Assessment of Sustainability Knowledge: Behavior, Perceptions, and Attitudes
- Michigan State University (MI)
Michigan State University Campus Sustainability commissioned a Sustainability Knowledge Assessment. This assessment represents an initial effort to quantify knowledge of the broad and abstract concept of sustainability. By identifying factors ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Mobility and Climate Action: A Review of the Divestment Movement in Canadian Higher Education Institutions
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
Climate change demands a fundamental reorientation of higher education, yet the majority of Canadian campuses do not have a climate policy. In response, students, faculty, and activists are fighting to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Tours: Using Campus as a Teaching Tool
- University of Louisville (KY)
With sustainability initiatives reshaping campuses in myriad ways from buildings to grounds to dining to energy, water, waste, & transportation systems, it is vital that we develop effective means for ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Building Political Effectiveness and Accountability at a Student-Led Sustainability Office
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
The University of North Carolina Asheville is among a small group of colleges that chose to establish an entirely student-run, student fee-funded department to house sustainability efforts on campus. In ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Transformative Partnerships: Replacing Consumerism with Community
- California Lutheran University (CA)
- City of Thousand Oaks (CA)
Can disciplines traditionally anchored in consumerist perspectives–like marketing and advertising–help students engage with sustainability and provide opportunities to make positive change in their communities? This case study demonstrates ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Banning Bottled Water on Campus; Beyond Excuses
- Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
Over 100 colleges and universities across the US and Canada have enacted a policy of responsible water sales in their purchasing. Such a drastic change for an institution is made ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Spartan Treasure Hunt: Direct Engagement of Building Occupants in Energy Saving Opportunities
- Michigan State University (MI)
The Spartan Treasure Hunt is an early step in the building commissioning process. It engages building occupants to help identify opportunities for energy savings and system improvements during a building ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Internship Programs at the University of Illinois at Chicago: Diversity Strengthens Leadership On and Off Campus
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
This case study will describe two internship programs that operate at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The goal of the Heritage Garden and Office of Sustainability (OS) internship ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Impact Advocacy - Fair Trade in Your Life and on Campus
- Fair Trade Colleges & Universities
Fair Trade empowers farmers and workers and promotes economic development, social justice, and environmental stewardship. The world of Fair Trade includes a wide range of groups and interests; businesses, non-profits ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging Students in Energy Reduction - on and off campus
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
At CU boulder, Residence Life and the Environmental Center are working together to provide all our students with what that they need to practice energy efficiency at home – whether on ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Environmental Dashboard: Using real-time display of resource use & community voices to foster connections & empower stewardship
- Oberlin College (OH)
Many schools now use real-time 'dashboards' that provide feedback on electricity use in campus buildings to encourage conservation behavior. This presentation will engage audience members in an exploration of 'Environmental ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
PHOENIX lifestyle: Consumerism with Conscience
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
A student-led initiative at UMass Amherst that strives to bring awareness to the issue of consumerism in the apparel industry and give students, faculty, and others a unique opportunity to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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SOS – How Global Collaboration will Help you and your Campus
- National Union of Students
There are 17,000 universities and colleges in the world and students need to leave their education equipped to be part of the solution to sustainability issues, rather than part ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Peer Pressure for Good: Behavior Change in Campus Sustainable Action Campaigns
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Want to engage your campus more effectively in sustainability campaigns? Join Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) to learn how it leverages behavior change science to help Minnesotans take action on ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Partnering for an equitable, sustainable school: 3 approaches for building partnerships and programs that connect sustainability
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- University of Virginia (VA)
As diversity and sustainability become more embedded into a campus culture, the connections between diversity and sustainability become more apparent and critical to create a thriving campus. This panel discussion ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Step Away from the Car: Transforming Student Travel, One Haunted Bus and Hipster Bike Ride at a Time
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
- Alta Planning + Design (MN)
Southern Oregon University has gone all-in to help its students break their driving habits. No excuse is safe! Want to drive home midday for an afternoon siesta? No need – there ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
High Impact Leadership Trips: Student-Led Experiential Learning
- Concordia College (NY)
In 2012, Concordia College students organized an alternative spring break trip to Kentucky focused on how people are trying to stop mountaintop removal coal mining. This was so successful that ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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STARS and Pop Cans' - Using a Video Production to Spread Awareness of What it Means to be STARS Certified
- Nova Scotia Community College (NS)
The Nova Scotia Community College is a STARS certified institution with 13 campuses across the province. Over recent years sustainability has increasingly been embedded in all that we do, and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Student sustainability grants for research, scholarship, projects and travel at Ohio State
- The Ohio State University (OH)
For the first time, Ohio State's sustainability offices are jointly managing a grants program for student projects in the areas of energy, environment and sustainability. The program helps to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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A World Café: Transforming University of Washington Sustainability Education
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
Have you ever been inspired by new ideas while sharing a cup of coffee with a friend or colleague? The World Café methodology creates opportunities for the generation of inspirational ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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How an ESCO Brought a 'Just in Time' Sustainability Teaching Opportunity to NMSU's 'Conservation and Modernization' project
- New Mexico State University (NM)
- Ameresco, Inc. (MA)
The 'Conservation and Modernization' project at New Mexico State University is about sustainability education on all levels for campus occupants while doing the tough work of mechanical upgrades and lighting ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
EN 1: Student Educators Program
- Percent of students served by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program
- Description of the student educators program (1st program)
- Description of the student educators program (2nd program)
- Brief description of the student educators program (3rd program)
- Hours worked annually by trained student sustainability educators per students served
- Website URL - Student sustainability educators programs
EN 2: Student Orientation
- Percent of entering students that have an opportunity to participate in sustainability-inclusive orientation activities and programming
- Description of how sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation
- Website URL - Information about sustainability in student orientation
EN 3: Student Life
- Description of the active student groups focused on sustainability
- Description of student gardens, farms, CSAs, fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects
- Description of the student-run enterprises
- Description of student sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives
- Description of sustainability-focused conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events for students
- Description of sustainability-focused cultural arts events, installations, or performances
- Description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles
- Description of sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences
- Description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills
- Description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution
- Description of graduation pledge(s)
- Description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives
EN 4: Student Life
- Website URL - Central sustainability website
- Description of sustainability newsletter or social media platform(s)
- Description of the signage that highlights campus sustainability features
- Description of the sustainability walking map or tour
- Description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience
- Description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications
EN 5: Student Life
- Description of the first sustainability outreach campaign
- Description of the second sustainability outreach campaign
- Description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns
EN 6: Assessing Sustainability Culture
- Description of how and when the cultural assessment(s) were developed and/or adopted
- Copy or sample of the questions related to sustainability culture (upload)
- Copy or sample of the questions related to sustainability culture (description)
- Website URL - Assessment of sustainability culture
EN 7: Employee Educators Program
- Percent of employees served by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program
- Description of the employee educators program (1st program)
- Description of the employee educators program (2nd program)
- Hours worked annually by trained employee sustainability educators per employees served
- Website URL - Employee sustainability educators programs
EN 8: Employee Orientation
- Percent of new employees that have an opportunity to participate in sustainability-inclusive orientation activities and programming
- Description of how sustainability is included prominently in new employee orientation
- Website URL - Information about sustainability in employee orientation
EN 9: Staff Professional Development & Training
- Estimated percentage of regular, non-academic staff that participates annually in sustainability professional development and training
- Description of any internal sustainability professional development and training opportunities
- Description of any external professional development and training opportunities in sustainability that are supported by the institution
- Estimated percentage of staff for which sustainability is included in performance reviews
- Description of how sustainability is included in staff performance reviews
- Website URL - Information about staff professional development and training in sustainability
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.