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
Re-generation: Regenerate, Renew, and Refresh - Preparing Our Students to Lead
- Montana State University (MT)
Our graduates, coined the Re-Generation, has the responsibility to lead the world to a economical and ecological balance. To do this, they will draw on their campus experience to help ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Welcome to College! Focusing on Identity + Justice + Sustainability in a First-Year Orientation Program
- Williams College (MA)
Root is a first-year orientation program that welcomes students to the Williams College campus and explores the intersection of justice, identity, and sustainability. The program is a collaboration between the ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Art, Science, Ways of Knowing and Agency in Place: Backyard Phenology as a Tool
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
We are inspired by a successful art-science collaboration featuring an adorable silver camper (the 'Climate Chaser') serving as a tiny natural history museum and recording studio to capture stories of ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Lead your school to carbon neutrality and 100% renewable energy.
- Second Nature (MA)
- Environment America (MA)
The Climate Leadership Network comprises more than 600 colleges and universities in every state and the District of Columbia who have committed to take action on climate and prepare students ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Best Practices for Minimizing Waste on College and University Campuses
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
- Texas State University, San Marcos (TX)
- Staples Business Advantage (MA)
With institutions scoring an average score of 1 point in waste reduction and diversion, there is tremendous room for improvement and institutions across the country are looking for ways to ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Transforming Sustainability at Texas A&M University
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
Prior to the master plan update, Texas A&M had a series of district plans to direct campus development. These plans supported various campus districts, but where the plan boundaries met ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Promoting Sustainability & Sustainable Behaviors: Real-World Challenges
- Florida State University (FL)
- University of Denver (CO)
Sustainability professionals are usually tasked with creating pro-environmental behavior change, but come to this work with a variety of backgrounds and knowledge on how to make that happen on our ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Galvanizing Student Power for Intersectional Sustainability Efforts
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
A diversity of perspectives leads to more effective problem-solving. So when we talk about Zero Waste on college campuses, how do we bring different perspectives to the decision-making table? It ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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St. Louis Higher Education Sustainability Consortium (and regional friends!) Meeting
- University of Missouri-St. Louis (MO)
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (MO)
The Saint Louis Higher Education Sustainability Consortium would like to invite members and regional friends to this informal meet-up time to compare notes, discuss ideas, and share inspirations from the ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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AASHE STARS as a Framework for Sustainability Master Planning: Purdue University
- Heapy Engineering (OH)
- Purdue University (IN)
Alignment and integration are two of the key concepts driving Purdue University Office of Campus Master Planning and Sustainability's effort to develop a five year Sustainability Plan for Purdue ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Cultivating Student Sustainability Leadership
- University of South Carolina (SC)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
How does one lead in a way that is inclusive, equitable and ecologically conscious? Can we become leaders who seek to empower change agents and inspire a value shift through ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Leveraging ENERGY STAR to Increase Campus Efficiency: A Northwestern University Case Study
- Northwestern University (IL)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
Attendees will learn how to implement best practices in energy efficiency and engage the campus community in behavior change. ENERGY STAR® guidelines and assessment tools provided the foundation for Northwestern ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Free, Open Source Energy Dashboard: A Platform for Collaboration Between Students, Faculty, and Facilities Management
- Beloit College (WI)
- Central College (IA)
- Macalester College (MN)
Beloit College is spearheading an effort to create a free, open source energy dashboard that will be usable and customizable across a range of institutions. Features include: acquiring, archiving and ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Towards Inclusive Sustainability: Fostering Solidarity in Environmental Work On and Off Campus
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
On the University of Arizona campus, the social justice (SoJo) committee of the student government-sponsored program Students for Sustainability works on projects that raise awareness for environmental justice issues; promote ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Taking Sustainability to the Basement: Indoor Campus Growing Solutions for any Room, any Size and any Budget
- Missouri State University (MO)
- Compass Group (NC)
A student driven initiative to create a year-round, hyper-local, on-campus food source that is run by students and funded by the campus dining partner. This model can be adapted to ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Development of a Sustainability Culture Assessment to Inform Planning
- James Madison University (VA)
Higher education institutions commonly refer to 'a culture of sustainability'; however, until very recently, few institutions have assessed the sustainability culture of the campus community. Instrument development work is nascent ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Refillable water bottles, reusable bags, and bicycle lights: Is sustainability swag sustainable?
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
When students arrive on your campus, perhaps they find a refillable water bottle in their residence hall room. Or at new student orientation, perhaps they receive a reusable bag with ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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EcoExchangeEdu: Promoting Inter-Campus Collaboration to Strengthen the Culture of Sustainability in South Texas
- Trinity University (TX)
- University of Texas at San Antonio (TX)
- University of the Incarnate Word (TX)
EcoExchangeEdu (EEE) is a group of students, staff, faculty, and administrators from South Texas colleges and universities united by a shared commitment to sustainability. Established in 2014, EEE has been ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Carbon Pricing in Higher Education: Panel with 3 Models for Internal Carbon Pricing and Engaging in National Leadership
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- Yale University (CT)
Learn about what models other colleges are using to inform your own carbon pricing design and implementation strategy! At our panel discussion, we will discuss the systems that Vassar, Swarthmore ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Engaging Students and Community: Creating Safe Spaces through Community Sensitivity Training Programs
- Furman University (SC)
Furman University and the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability work to create a student experience that promotes real world student learning experiences and meets community needs. In order to ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Creating a Space for Collaboration and Cohort Building through Community Based Student Work Experiences
- Furman University (SC)
Furman University has a very strong Student Sustainability Fellowship Program through the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability. This program provides students with project-focused, sustainability related work experiences at a ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability and the Capstone Experience: Lessons from 5 Years of Applied Sustainability at Southwestern University
- Southwestern University (TX)
For the past five years, the Southwestern environmental studies capstone experience has allowed students to engage with salient social, economic, and environmental sustainability issues on their campus. Each year, environmental ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustaining Ourselves - A Collaborative Mini-Retreat for Sustainability Professionals
- Carleton College (MN)
- Macalester College (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Join sustainability professionals across Minnesota in discovering how a model of stepping away from our various institutions, discovering common challenges and building cross-institution relationships helps us sustain ourselves. The planning ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustaining Food and Housing Insecure Students on College Campuses
- Portland Community College (OR)
Food insecurity or the lack of reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food is common at colleges and universities across the country, undermining the educational success of thousands ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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RecycleMania's Race to Zero Waste
- Brigham Young University (UT)
- Keep America Beautiful (CT)
- Aquinas College (MI)
A review of participation and analysis of data from the first full year of RecycleMania's Race to Zero Waste. In it's first year as a formal competition category ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Flow State Organizations: Organizational Design for Sustainability
- Harvard University (MA)
- University of Hawaii System Office (HI)
Our existing organization model has proven to be incapable of the pace, depth and breadth of change that the sustainability agenda requires. We need to co-create flow state organizations that ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Gamification and Socialization of Sustainable Habits at Boston University Using the JouleBug Mobile App
- Boston University (MA)
- Joulebug (NC)
This session will be an overview of the JouleBug sustainability platform, as well as a discussion of Boston University's specific experience with the platform, from both a student and ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Finding the Sustainability Sweet Spot: Where Operations and Education Converge
- Portland Community College (OR)
- University of Calgary (AB)
Education for sustainable development requires an interdisciplinary approach. Yet, few organizations are ready to embrace the dynamism that breeds collaborative academic success. Like academic disciplines, college operations are too frequently ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A Relay-Race, not a Sprint: Advancing Campus as Lab in Solidarity
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- University of Calgary (AB)
Campus as a Living Laboratory' is a rapidly evolving strategy for deploying innovative and utilitarian sustainability strategies. Presenters from diverse geographic locations and institution types examine the differences and similarities ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Student-led community food access initiative
- Johnson C. Smith University (NC)
A student-led garden was started on the campus grounds at Johnson C. Smith University in the fall of 2012. This initiative was put into place to address food security issues ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Throwing in the Towel: Lessons Learned from Launching a Paper Towel Compost Program
- Austin Community College (TX)
Waste diversion is a common thread woven throughout Austin Community College District's sustainability goals. With 11 current campus locations and new facilities added continuously, the footprint of the district ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Learning for Sustainability Core Competencies Through an Evidence Based Internship Program
- Western Michigan University (MI)
The Wesustain Internship Program is a semester-long, paid, discovery-driven opportunity for ambitious students seeking to gain leadership experience while exploring both on and off campus sustainability projects. This program provides ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Bees on Campus: Student Engagement in Sustainable Practices
- Trinity University (TX)
- Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus (OR)
Our presentation will discuss the benefits and implications of using beekeeping to engage university students, faculty and staff in sustainable practices. Our goal is to stress the importance of pollinators ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability Solidarity on Multi-Campus Community Colleges
- Central Community College (NE)
- Cuyahoga Community College (OH)
Community colleges with a single sustainability office but multiple campuses in different cities and locations face challenges to create a sustainability solidarity that extends to all sites. One main campus ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Translating sustainability education and community action into solidarity by engaging underrepresented students in living labs
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Dickinson College (PA)
Living laboratories are increasingly becoming an important part of sustainability education at all levels. Many living laboratories enable participants to show 'internal' solidarity with classroom learning and 'external' solidarity with ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Longitudinal Sustainability Literacy and Culture Assessment for Students, Faculty, and Staff - Lessons Learned and Results
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of Michigan (MI)
As more institutions increase their focus on sustainability both academically and operationally, the need for measurement increases. Currently, there is no common tool for measuring sustainability literacy, the culture of ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Breaking Boundaries in Sustainability Education
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
What brings together faculty in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Sports Management and Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies? A new cohort-based fellowship program, hosted by the University of Minnesota's Institute ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Learning the Language of Executive Leadership to Increase Sustainability's Value
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
- Purdue University (IN)
With higher education facing a new political landscape, ongoing budget cuts and an affordability crisis, among other challenges, sustainability professionals must be able to define and communicate sustainability's value ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Greeks Go Green: Engaging the Collegiate Greek Community in Sustainable Practices
- Davidson College (NC)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
Greek and other social organizations are a potent force on many college campuses, yet there has been little discussion about best practices for engaging these organizations in sustainability initiatives. Case ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability Summer Camps on Campus
- Central College (IA)
- Macalester College (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
This workshop highlights examples from two schools utilizing the resources of campus during the summer months through sustainability-focused day camps for kids. At the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Sarita Wetland ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Communicating Sustainability Through Social Media
- Colgate University (NY)
- Lehigh University (PA)
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
In order to reap the full benefits of engaging your campus community and the public in sustainability through social media, it is important to think about strategies to better leverage ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability and the Arts
- Colgate University (NY)
- State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
- University of Georgia (GA)
A major challenge for sustainability in higher education is effectively engaging the campus and surrounding community. The arts allow us to visualize and vocalize the hidden and complex into narratives ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Prioritizing Sustainable Learning
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
- University of South Alabama (AL)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
- CannonDesign (NY)
Many of today's colleges and universities have prioritized sustainability and, as a consequence, highly sustainable buildings and landscapes. And, without a doubt, both prospective and current students have expressed ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Athletics as a Resource for Advancing Campus Sustainability Goals
- The Ohio State University (OH)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- Green Sports Alliance (OR)
In 2016, with the support of the White House, the Green Sports Alliance announced October 6th as the inaugural Green Sports Day to celebrate the power of sports as an ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Building a Culture of Sustainability through New Student Orientation
- Boston University (MA)
The mission of the Sustainability Ambassadors program is to motivate, inspire, and lead Boston University's efforts in supporting a culture of sustainability during new student orientation. The approach to ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Exploring the Web-based Promotion of Sustainability in KBOR Institutions: Strategies for Design & Implications for Practice
- Pittsburg State University (KS)
To more fully understand how the concept of sustainability is represented by institutions of higher education in the state of Kansas, a scoping review of web-based content through university websites ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Meatless Monday on Campus: How to VEG (or BEEF) up Your Campus Sustainability Efforts by Connecting to Students Through Food
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- Bon Appétit Management Company
- The Monday Campaigns (NY)
- Changing Tastes (MA)
At the AASHE conference, Meatless Monday is how we connect sustainability through our food choices. In this session, we'll explore how to use the same approach to leverage Meatless ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Comparing Move Out Programs: Sharing Perspectives on Waste Diversion, Campus & Community Collaboration, & Sustainability Goals.
- Colorado State University (CO)
- University of Iowa (IA)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- Wilfrid Laurier University (ON)
Be part of an interactive discussion where 4 universities share their move out program from the perspectives of Housing, Sustainability, Facilities & Surplus & learn ways to advance sustainability, reuse ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Strategic Alignment: Communicating Sustainability's Contributions and Value to Mission Level Priorities
- Harvard University (MA)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- Second Nature (MA)
- Purdue University (IN)
Given the challenges facing higher education, from ongoing budget cuts and an affordability crisis to new political realities, sustainability professionals must identify and make a case for the ways in ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Next Generation Campus Green Funds
- Appalachian State University (NC)
- New York University (NY)
- Evergreen State College, The (WA)
- Mohawk College (ON)
Through the use of green funds, colleges and universities have the ability to empower students who are passionate about bringing clean energy and sustainable projects to their campuses. This joint ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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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.