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
The Future of Life on Earth: A Case for Academia’s Role in Advancing Conservation and Biodiversity to Address Climate and Human Health
- Harvard University (MA)
- Stanford University (CA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (MA)
In a January 2021 executive order addressing the climate crisis, President Joe Biden committed the U.S. to an ambitious conservation goal: to protect 30 percent of U.S. land ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Maintaining a Campus Bike Share Program for the Long Term
- Bemidji State University (MN)
Located in Northern Minnesota, Bemidji State University (BSU) operates within a dispersed, rural, and diverse community. Following a three-year pilot program in which Nice Ride attempted to establish a self-sustaining ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Tracking Behavioral Activities to Reduce Waste Generation
- University of Illinois, Springfield (IL)
This study collects primary data from students enrolled in the Introduction to Environmental Health course. This study is a multi-year repeated cross-sectional study where the instructor will collect data each ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Micro-credentials for Higher Education Employees
- Southern New Hampshire University (NH)
Micro-credentials have become an important part of learning for adults and workers who need to acquire specific job-related skills (Gibson et al., 2015). Defined as "a visual representation of your ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Studying Plug Load Savings from Idle Devices in Unoccupied Buildings during the Pandemic
- Stanford University (CA)
During the pandemic, some unoccupied buildings at Stanford were reaping less electricity savings than expected. In these particular buildings, heating and cooling had been turned off, and all occupants were ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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How the Free Store Can Change the Face of Sustainability
- University of Southern Maine (ME)
The Office of Sustainability at USM has a group called the Eco-rep. The USM Eco-reps have gone on to create the Free Store, which collects donations to give out to ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Athletics, Activism & Action: Partnering to Creatively Communicate Sustainability
- University of Kentucky (KY)
Communication can be difficult on a Campus. Utilizing partnerships on campus, UK Recycling, Sustainability and Energy Research created a new way to engage campus - WholeSum- a blog that encourages authentic ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Food Waste and Food Insecurity: A Multidimensional Approach With Three Pillars of Sustainability
- University of Kentucky (KY)
Food insecurity, a growing concern due to unsustainable and unjust food systems, has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic whereas food waste issues remained prevalent. The pandemic has disproportionately affected ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Student Involvement in Supporting the Carbon Commitment at UNC Asheville
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
This session will explain steps to take toward climate action on a university campus. In a UNC Asheville course entitled "Communicating Climate Change," a group of students led an initiative ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Sustainability Advisory Council - Lessons Learned in Setting a Sustainability Strategy
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
The UW-Madison Sustainability Advisory Council (SAC) convened in the fall of 2020 in order to leverage the results of the University's first STARS report to develop strategic sustainability recommendations ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Towards Sustainability Maturity: A Local-to-Global Approach at a Learning Community
- Bucknell University (PA)
An innovative simultaneous planning/implementation process for sustainability maturity/resiliency has been deployed. Sustainability is the ability of a community to endure and remain resilient socially, technologically and environmentally. At ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Collaborative Back-casting Game for Audacious Sustainability Visions
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
Several sustainability researchers that collaborate with cities have proposed a visioning game to connect audacious goals with action-oriented strategies (Reutter, 2018; Withycombe Keeler, Beaudoin, Lerner, John, Beecroft, Tamm, Wiek, Lang ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Pedagogies for Cultivating Critical Consciousness: Engaging With Social Justice and Sustainability
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The challenge to support students in higher education to navigate complex issues related to not only sustainability but racial equity and social justice has become increasingly dynamic yet essential. Cultivating ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Campuses Launch Innovative and Creative Waste Minimization Practices in Response to Pandemic
- George Mason University (VA)
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift toward sustainable economic practices, colleges and universities across North America have become great sources for innovation that can inspire both long-term ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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The Future is Collaborative: Outcomes From a Network of Sustainability Professionals in Virginia
- James Madison University (VA)
- Radford University (VA)
With an average of just 1.5 - 2.1 paid non-student sustainability staff positions at institutions of higher education, access to a broader network of sustainability professionals with common goals ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Sustainability on Tap! Experience a Silo-Busting Student Engagement Event
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Busting through academic silos can be tough. Enter - Sustainability on Tap! For the past 4 years, this University of Texas at Austin event has brought together graduate students from every ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Finding Intersectional Solutions to Environmental Sustainability & Social Justice
- Augsburg University (MN)
During the summer of 2021 and continuing into the 2021-2022 school year, Nyasa is conducting research with Monica McDaniel, the Sustainability Officer at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to identify ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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The Future is Co-Created: EfS Through Relationship Building in the Delaware Valley
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- PHENND (PA)
This session will introduce the new PHENND Sustainability network. Starting as a community of practitioners interested in finding partners for real-world Education for Sustainability (EfS), PHENND Sustainability has grown into ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Building the Future We Desire: Crossing Boundaries & Challenging Historical Ideas of Sustainability
- University of Minnesota, Crookston (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
The Student Engagement Leadership Forum on Sustainability (SELFsustain) is a five-campus collaborative retreat that rotates between campuses. In April 2021, UM-Crookston hosted a provocative online series on indigenous identity, community ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Creating Sustainable Curriculum Processes for a Sustainability Outcome
- Fleming College (ON)
In 2018, Ontario Colleges Quality Assurance Services (OCQAS) conducted an institutional level quality audit of Fleming College, Ontario, Canada. This audit involved a comprehensive review of the College's quality ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Transformative Sustainability Learning: An Affective Photovoice Lens
- Texas A&M University-Commerce (TX)
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville (WI)
This presentation shares the results of a doctoral dissertation in an educational sustainability program. The purpose was to understand the learning experiences and the role of affect for students in ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Resiliency Planning Through Relationship Building and Appreciative Inquiry
- Bemidji State University (MN)
Located in Northern Minnesota, Bemidji State University (BSU) operates within a dispersed, rural, and diverse community. Bemidji State staff and faculty will be joined by planning consultant Precipitate and a ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Assessing Campus Sustainability Literacy and Culture: How Are Universities Doing It and To What End?
- George Mason University (VA)
Assessing student, staff, and faculty sustainability literacy and culture poses a challenge to many higher education institutions (HEI). The assessments are essential for providing an understanding of campus sustainability knowledge ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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High Impact Low Carbon Exchanges: Teaching Sustainability Through Global Classroom Partnerships
- Salisbury University (MD)
- Universidad Latinoamericana De Ciencia Y Tecnología (ULACIT)
Studying abroad allows students from across the globe to experience different cultural, political, learning, and natural environments. For these reasons and many others, learning institutions (including universities) have prioritized this ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Understanding Diverse Student Participation in Campus Sustainability Programs
- University of Georgia (GA)
Nationwide a lack of diversity in sustainability roles and initiatives is well documented. Many attribute this lack of diversity to the limited representation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Campuses as Living . . . Archives: Using Campus Histories to Explore Diversity, Equity, and Belonging
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
Are you working at an institution struggling to effectively respond to and support student-led-protests for social justice and equity? You may have an unexplored treasure trove of useful and inspirational ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Climate Solutions 101: Curricula That Inform Conversations & Inspire Action on Climate Solutions
- Villanova University (PA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Project Drawdown (CA)
- Solutions Journalism Network (NY)
Project Drawdown and the Solutions Journalism Network are partnering to offer a webinar for AASHE educators and staff who want to shift the conversation about climate change away from gloom ...
- Posted Jan. 13, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Saving the Campus Farm: One Approach to Leveraging Institutional Support for a Campus Farm Space
- Butler University (IN)
Although there has been a dramatic increase in the number of campus farms in the past thirty year, most farms serve as co-curricular resources or have limited use in formal ...
- Posted Jan. 13, 2022
- Case Studies
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Diverting Materials from University Waste-stream - Centre for Creative Reuse
- Concordia University (QC)
Concordia University’s Center for Creative Reuse (CUCCR) is dedicated to diverting materials from inside Concordia’s waste-stream and offering them to the general community free of cost. In 2017 ...
- Posted Jan. 3, 2022
- Case Studies
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CSUF Celebrates Arbor Day With Tree Planting Ceremony
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Cal State Fullerton, in cooperation with the City of Fullerton, celebrated Arbor Day by planting several trees throughout campus. The mayor, city council members and administrators from the City of ...
- Posted Dec. 9, 2021
- Photographs
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A Framework for Advancing Anti-Racism Strategy on Campus
- National Assocation of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (FL)
The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) serves as the preeminent voice for diversity officers at institutions of higher education throughout the country and around the world ...
- Posted Dec. 9, 2021
- Publications
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Ditching Desktop Printers: A Behavior Change Guide to Cutting Paper Use, Energy Consumption, and Costs
- AASHE (MA)
- Root Solutions (CA)
Replacing individual desktop printers with a shared office or department ‘multi-function’ printer (MFP) is one of the most impactful ways campuses can reduce paper use. It also generates a suite ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2021
- Publications
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Introducing a Climate Anxiety Toolkit and Generating Insights from a Co-Evaluation Process
- AASHE (MA)
- University of Technology Sydney
In this webinar, the presenters will introduce a recently developed climate toolkit as well as conduct a co-evaluation process of the resource with participants. The webinar will draw on insights ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Campus Culture and Communication at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Campus Culture and Communication Internal Analysis Team ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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External Collaboration at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the External Collaboration Internal Analysis Team. Through ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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Better Together: Co-designing Student Engagement with Residence Life
- Boston University (MA)
Lasting culture change around sustainability is key to making your climate action plan goals a reality. The Eco-Rep model has been an effective tool for reaching students at many institutions ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Campus Move-Out Programs
- Carleton College (MN)
Campus move-out can be a busy time for college campuses and its students. What do you do with items left behind from students? Join this networking session to share your ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Coping With Climate Anxiety In and Beyond the Classroom
- University of Hawaii System Office (HI)
- University of Vermont (VT)
We're all surrounded by students from what's been dubbed the 'climate generation' (a group that is particularly attuned to the threat and inequity of climate change) as well ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Optimization of Environmental Communication Through the Analysis of Media Engagement
- Hope College (MI)
This presentation aims to explore the relationship between communication medium and effectiveness in the digital landscape during COVID-19. The presentation explores video, graphic, and photo as communication methods for different ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Leveraging Culture Competency for Organizational Change: Conditions for Excellence & Innovation
- Aquinas College (MI)
- 122 Consulting Group (PA)
Organizations have historically struggled with the effective implementation and integration of sustainability into over arching strategic planning. This challenge not only inhibits the progression sustainability throughout the organization, it also ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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I Wonder Can You Hear Me Now? The Emotional Work of African-Americans and University Engagement
- University of Virginia (VA)
We are fighting two pandemics, COVID-19 and racism. The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor have sparked discussions around the country on the impact of institutional ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation for Climate Justice on Island Earth
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
- University of Hawaii System Office (HI)
A major institutional focus of the university of Hawai ªi Office of Sustainability has over the past 3 years has been our partnership with Dr. Lipe 's office to establish ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Leading with Social Justice to Advance Sustainability: Learning from Indigenization
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)
Early in 2020 the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) adopted its first Sustainability Vision. Building on a sustainability policy adopted in 2014, the vision leads with social justice and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Stronger Together: Merging the Sustainability Office and the Office of Inclusive Excellence
- California State University, Monterey Bay (CA)
In summer 2020, California State University Monterey Bay reorganized its Sustainability Office. Moving it from Facilities Management to the Office of Inclusive Excellence. This was done in recognition of the ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Pandemic as Opportunity to Strengthen Campus Food Resources and Address Food Insecurity
- University of the Pacific (CA)
Prior to the pandemic, efforts to co-brand food-related resources: a garden, food pantry and kitchen, as a strategy for addressing food security had begun. There were also plans for assessing ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Measuring Campus, Climate Anxiety and Ideas for Coping Beyond the Classroom
- University of Vermont (VT)
We're all surrounded by students from what's been dubbed the 'climate generation' (a group that is particularly attuned to the threat and inequity of climate change) as well ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Climate Action Workshop, Using Climate Interactive's En-Roads Model
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Come to the Climate Action Workshop and create a scenario to address global climate change with known technologies and policies. You will be immersed in the challenge and opportunity of ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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(Some of the) Surprising Findings About Living Wages in Higher Education During a Global Pandemic
- Saint Joseph's University (PA)
Between the global pandemic, broadening awareness of racial inequalities, and intensifying financial pressure, American higher education institutions are having to revisit their core beliefs, implicit assumptions, and day-to-day operations. During ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Mobilizing to VOTE: Climate 2020
- Our Climate (OR)
Our Climate's workshop will highlight our voter registration and Get Out The Vote campaign. Young people are the largest voting bloc in this country, we can have a tremendous ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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We are Uprooted and Rising: The Fight for Food Sovereignty in Higher Ed
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
What does it look like to have a future that nourishes and sustains all of us for generations to come? How can colleges and universities support that future for their ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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.