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
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Earth Day Extravaganza
- Auburn University (AL)
Earth Day Extravaganza on Auburn University's Campus Green Space to celebrate Earth Day!
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
- View more
Bash the Trash Performance at Dominican College
- Dominican University New York (NY)
Dominican College kicked off its Earth Week celebration with a performance of Bash the Trash. Bash the Trash builds, performs, and educates with musical instruments made from recycled and reused …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
- View more
MUSC Earth Day & Local Food Festival
- Medical University of South Carolina (SC)
On Wednesday April 10th, 2019 MUSC hosted the largest Earth Day event in the Charleston area. Running from 11am to 2pm on the MUSC Horseshoe, MUSC Earth Day and Local …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
- View more
CSI (College of Southern Idaho) 10th Annual Sustainability Fair
- College of Southern Idaho (ID)
Picture of some of the thirty exhibitors at CSI's 10th Annual Sustainability Fair
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
- View more
Earth Week at St. Lawrence University
- St. Lawrence University (NY)
This year, nearly a dozen student organizations came together to celebrate Earth Week with several campus events. The week started on Tuesday, April 16th with Mt. Trashmore, an art installation …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
- View more
William & Mary Earth Day Festival 2019
- College of William & Mary (VA)
Individuals celebrating Earth Day at the College of William & Mary through tabling, a butterfly tent, and photographs taken with the Lorax
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
- View more
Earth Day Reception & Award Ceremony
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
The 11th Annual Earth Day Reception & Award Ceremony at Indiana University South Bend. The event took place Thursday, April 18, 2019, 5:30-7:30pm in the University Grill. The goal was …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
- View more
Earth Month Activities
- University of Scranton (PA)
Earth Day Fair
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
- View more
UVA Earth Week 2019
- University of Virginia (VA)
Earth Week is a UVA tradition that celebrates the planet we all share. Students, faculty, staff, and community members were all invited to take part in over 27 events that …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
- View more
How Can Wolves & Ag Co-Exist? (Earth Day Event)
- Feather River College (CA)
Feather River College's Sustainability Action Team hosts a Spring Sustainability Series. This year it culminated with an event called "How Can Wolves and Ag Co-Exist" in partnership with the Plumas …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Case Studies
- View more
Tarrant County College Southeast Campus Aquaponics Cultivation Center and Wildlife Development
- Tarrant County College Southeast (TX)
This is a massive, on-going project that we have been developing as a committee over the past 2 years. Right now, I am in the process of developing 2 miles …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Case Studies
- View more
Connecting Academic and Administrative Units through Sustainability Professional Development
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
The Sustainability Certificate program was developed in 2017-18 to foster meaningful dialog and empower leadership in sustainability among campus employees. The program connects a diversity of departments and initiatives engaged …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Case Studies
- View more
Sustainably Developing Sustainability Programs and Curriculum
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
- AASHE (MA)
The climate is changing in higher education today with unpredictable state funding, evolving student populations and dialog about sustainability of higher education itself. With the urgency for sustainable solutions to …
- Posted April 4, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Sulitest®: A Mixed-Method, Pilot Study of Assessment Impacts on Undergraduate Sustainability-related Learning and Motivation
- Pittsburg State University (KS)
A United Nations international collaboration between the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) resulted in the creation of Sulitest® (aka Sustainability Literacy Test) …
- Posted March 15, 2019
- Publications
- View more
PCC, Sustain Me! A Higher Education Sustainability & Environmental Justice Podcast
- Portland Community College (OR)
This has been an ongoing project that has blossomed from a local/regional production and has now been promoted, recognized, listened to, and presentations have been given nationally and internationally on …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2019
- Case Studies
- View more
Central College Student Green Fund
- Central College (IA)
What is Green Fund? The purpose of the Central College Student Green Fund is to promote innovative student projects that further the vision of sustainability at Central College.
Who can …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2019
- Green Funds
- View more
Zero is Hero: Use a Zero Waste Events Program to Re-Teach Recycling
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- AASHE (MA)
Do you know how many events occur on your campus every year? Can you guess how many of those events use disposables? Do you have a hard time engaging your …
- Posted Feb. 21, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
AIM2Flourish: An Experiential SDGs-Assignment for Students
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
The UN SDGs are the world’s must-do list by 2030, and we need every student, everywhere to identify themselves as Global Goals leaders. Now in its third year, the free, …
- Posted Feb. 14, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Sustainability Fund
- North Carolina State University (NC)
NC State students began contributing a sustainability fee per semester in fall 2013 following a student-led campaign that included pledges of support from more than 2,000 students and letters of …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
- View more
Sustainability Fee
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
The Sustainability Fee is a student-led initiative to improve the quality of campus operations, reduce UIC’s environmental impact, and generate awareness about environmental and sustainable issues by creating opportunities for …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
- View more
Renewable Energy Initiative (REI)
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The Appalachian State Renewable Energy Initiative is a student-led, student-funded organization that seeks to install renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on campus. Projects can be proposed by any student, …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
- View more
Charlotte Green Initiative Fund
- The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (NC)
The Charlotte Green Initiative (CGI) is a student-led initiative that collects a $1 per semester Green Fee from each full-time UNC Charlotte student. These funds are allocated to projects that …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
- View more
Northwestern Sustainability Fund (NSF)
- Northwestern University (IL)
The Northwestern Sustainability Fund is a $50,000 pool established to catalyze Northwestern student engagement in energy and sustainability. The Northwestern Sustainability Fund (NSF) provides one-time grant funds for student-led projects …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
- View more
Green for Green
- Mills College (CA)
Green for Green is a student-led initiative to encourage students to be actively involved in Mills sustainability. Green for Green is a student controlled grant program specifically set aside for …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
- View more
Student Sustainability Fund
- Clark University (MA)
The Student Sustainability Fund is a resource for the advancement of sustainable practices, education, and infrastructure within the Clark community. It supports student-designed, student-led projects to improve campus sustainability.
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
- View more
Green Fund
- Loyola University Maryland (MD)
In February 2014, the Senate of the Student Government Association of Loyola University Maryland approved a $2,000 budget line to a new “Green Fund” initiative to go towards sustainability projects …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
- View more
STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Webinar Series: Engagement
- AASHE (MA)
Expanded from last year, the STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Series will help you gain the insights you need to submit a high-quality STARS report in time for the 2019 …
- Posted Jan. 30, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Stakeholder Perceptions of Campus Sustainability Efforts: Lessons from Vermont
- University of Vermont (VT)
Universities have begun to officially recognize advancing sustainability as an institutional goal. This paper reports on research on students’ awareness, attitudes, and behaviors at the University of Vermont as a …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2019
- Publications
- View more
The Road to Gold: Sustainability Success Really is Written in the STARS
- Texas A&M University (TX)
STARS, or Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System, is a self-reporting system which scores itself on various categories, including academics, engagement, operations, planning & administration, and innovation & leadership. The …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Service Learning Catalyst
- University of Texas at El Paso (TX)
Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) is a non-profit network that creates solutions to local and global sustainability challenges through service learning projects. Current and past projects have centered around …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Most Likely to Succeed: Tips for Students when Developing Sustainability Initiative Proposals
- Trinity University (TX)
The presentation offers 8 tips for constructing comprehensive plans to build a foundation for success, the key elements of a proposal, and campus stakeholders to consider when developing a proposal.
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Making the World Safe for Pollinators, One Campus at a Time
- Abilene Christian University (TX)
Bee City USA is an organization that is dedicated to protecting declining pollinator populations. These organisms are keystone species in the environment and one third of human food production depends …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Healthy Communities
- Dallas College (TX)
Student activists at North Lake College researched tobacco usage on campus and how it affected students and faculty. Through activism the students were able to have their district pass a …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Dollars are Flying Out of Your Green Fund! Does that Equal Success?
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Aggie Green Fund was established at Texas A&M University in 2011 and remains a resource for students to lead green initiatives. Areas of success and improvement in the utilization …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
UT Austin Green Labs and Green Offices
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
The Green Offices and Green Labs initiative at University of Texas at Austin aims to transform campus workspaces into more eco-friendly environments. Improvements include reducing overall waste, implementation of collection …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Four Steps for Leading Impactful Environmental Change On-Campus
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
The Campus Environmental Center at University of Texas at Austin explains their strategy for encouraging student-led activism. They describe their steps as: build a motivated community, create a strategic plan, …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Aggie Eco-Reps: Engaging students in sustainability initiatives
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Aggie Eco-Reps at Texas A&M University began as a recycling initiative in 2010; today the program has grown to 80 members. The goal of the Aggie Eco-Reps is to …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
St. John's University Academic Center for Equity and Inclusion
- St. John's University, New York (NY)
The Academic Center for Equity and Inclusion (or “Academic Center”) organizes scholarly and pedagogical activities that advance St. John's University's commitment to an inclusive and equitable University community. The Academic …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Research Centers & Institutes
- View more
The challenge of coordinated civic climate change education
- Bard College (NY)
- Dickinson College (PA)
- James Madison University (VA)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- St. Mary's College of Maryland (MD)
- Stanford University (CA)
- University at Albany (NY)
- University of Richmond (VA)
Many sustainability educators want to more effectively engage their students with climate policy. They also seek to support students’ civic and change agent skills and dispositions to take on critical …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Publications
- View more
Sustainability Competition and Interactive Map
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
This project was developed to accomplish grant deliverables focusing on campus education surrounding sustainability initiatives and upgrades to Illinois electrical infrastructure. The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Office of …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
Impact of communication sources for achieving campus sustainability
- Cornell University (NY)
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
Using self-reported data from over 12,000 students, staff, and faculty members, this study aims to quantify the effectiveness of various sustainability information sources on the awareness and behavioral changes of …
- Posted Nov. 13, 2018
- Publications
- View more
Sustaining our Communities Through Care and Action
- Western Washington University (WA)
Sustainability is becoming more expansive; ideas about social and economic justice and human health are becoming integrated into the environmental field. But is this holistic ideal replicated in the way …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A Primer on Living Wage Policies and Just Employment
- Saint Joseph's University (PA)
This session provides an introduction to living wage policies and just employment principles, applicable not only in higher education, but in any form of organization. Intended for attendees seeking an …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Stay Rad Post Grad: Finding Your Path After College
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
Are you graduating? Are you panicking? Or maybe you know exactly what you want to do, but it's just a matter of making it happen. Join the PLAN staff (with …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Innovation: Creating a new Minor in Somatic Sustainability at Appalachian State University
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Awakening somatic intelligence and understanding sustainable body practices are important aspects of an enlarged conversation of sustainability. As a part of that dialogue, we have created a new minor in …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Secrets to Success for Your Career and Your Campus in Sustainability
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
Do you want tips to create a great career in sustainability? Do you also want to create more positive impacts on campus and beyond? Do you want to be a …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Resilience and Renewal - A Retreat Model: Preparing Ourselves for a Lifetime of Global Change
- Central College (IA)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Join sustainability students in discovering how a model of stepping away from our various institutions, discovering common challenges, and reflecting on our resilience can help us sustain ourselves. Central College …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Adaptation and Resilience in Sustaining Ourselves - A Micro-Retreat
- 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 Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Addressing the Global Water Crisis: One Toilet at a Time
- Niagara Conservation (TX)
Water scarcity is one of the most pressing issues in sustainability today. How can we address the global water crisis? Emily Schmidt from Niagara will explore the large scale impacts …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Urban, Rural, and On-Campus Solutions (UROC): Living Campus Accelerator Toolkit
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Arizona State University has committed to becoming carbon neutral for campus buildings by 2025. University Sustainability Practices (USP) is working tirelessly to help fulfill this vision. USP and partner universities …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- 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.