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
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New Resources
Educating for Sustainability Webinar Series - The Why and How of Transformative Learning
- AASHE (MA)
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
This webinar will provide the context around why transformative learning and deeper engagement in sustainability issues are important. The ways we learn and engage are critical to fostering the skills …
- Posted March 20, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Putting “Reduce” to Work: Getting Rid of Plastic Bags on Michigan State University’s Campus
- Michigan State University (MI)
In order to mitigate the effects of plastic bags on the environment and to fulfill Michigan State University's commitment to sustainability, we pioneered a two part initiative to reduce both …
- Posted March 19, 2018
- Case Studies
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AASHE Award Winner Series - Composting, Recycling and Turning Trash Into Cash
- Austin Community College (TX)
- University of San Diego (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
Andy Kim, Director, Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability and Darien Clary, Sustainability Coordinator, Austin Community College District (Winner of AASHE 2014 Best Case Study from an Associate College with 5,000+ Full-Time …
- Posted March 12, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar Series: The Form and Function of the Sustainability Agenda in Higher Education Institutions - Hawaii Approach to Sustainable Living On and Off-campus
- University at Albany (NY)
- University of Hawaii Kauai Community College (HI)
- AASHE (MA)
Colleges adapt to new circumstances based on differing motivations: some are seeking new growth strategies while others are trying to avoid decline. Sustainability initiatives provide an opportunity to analyze how …
- Posted March 12, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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How old is our Campus? – measure the environmental benefit of adaptive reuse of existing building
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
This project will generate three renovation and adaptive-reuse strategies for one worst performed building, environmental impact reduction benefit of adaptive reuse will be quantified and the used as a benchmark …
- Posted March 5, 2018
- Publications
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University of Vermont Eco-Reps Composting Campaign
- University of Vermont (VT)
At the University of Vermont (UVM), the Recycling and Waste Management program and the UVM Eco-Reps have identified a lack of understanding of composting within on-campus residential halls. Although composting …
- Posted March 5, 2018
- Case Studies
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University of Vermont Eco-Reps "EcoWare, Everywhere!" Campaign
- University of Vermont (VT)
The University of Vermont (UVM) implemented reusable EcoWare to-go containers in retail locations 2011. Data collected from the past 4 years has shown that EcoWare uses became concentrated in residential …
- Posted March 5, 2018
- Case Studies
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Engaging Chemeketa Community College through Collaborative Community Art with an International Focus
- Chemeketa Community College (OR)
For the 2017 Earth Day event, Chemeketa created a collaborative Earth Day Art Installation based on the story of Sadako Sasaki and the 1,000 paper cranes. Sustainability, the Associated Students …
- Posted March 5, 2018
- Case Studies
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Recovery and Reuse; On-Campus and Off
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
Many of the challenges sustainability seeks to address can be challenging to visualize. Moreover, the scale of these challenges can stifle the motivation to act before one even begins. These …
- Posted March 5, 2018
- Case Studies
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Biking at Dickinson
- Dickinson College (PA)
Learn what The Handlebar Bike Cooperative offers to the campus community and how Dickinson makes biking accessible to everybody.
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Chatham University: Leading the Way to a More Sustainable Future
- Chatham University (PA)
- The Conservation Fund (GA)
Chatham University's Eden Hall Campus is pioneering a vision for a new kind of campus--one that strives to create more energy than it uses, and immerses students in sustainable practices …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Healthier Campus Initiative and Bicycle Friendly University Webinar
- League of American Bicyclists (DC)
Learn how to become a certified Bicycle Friendly University through The League of American Bicyclists. The information provided is practical for employees at colleges hoping to switch to an alternative …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Gendered citizenship and the individualization of environmental responsibility: evaluating a campus common reading program
- Washington State University, Pullman (WA)
Campus common reading programs are intended to stimulate critical thinking and dialogue across disciplines yet scarce evidence exists to evaluate the success of such programs. We assess the extent to …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Publications
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Faculty Development for Advancing Community Engagement in Higher Education: Current Trends and Future Directions
- University of San Francisco (CA)
This research involved the conduct of a conceptual review of 28 refereed journal articles and a survey of campus centers for community engagement staff to identify salient features and trends …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Publications
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Evaluation of an informational and behavior change program to increase students' self-reported energy conservation
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)
- State University of New York at Brockport (NY)
A systematic evaluation of a program, consisting of sustainability education, self-management strategies, and feedback, to decrease college students' energy use was conducted. During treatment, the experimental group showed increased self-reported …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Publications
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Creating a Healthy, Environmentally Responsible and Socially Just Campus Food System
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
Description In 2016, a year-long study release by the California State University (CSU) found that 24 percent of our system's 460,000 students were food insecure. To address this issue, and …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Case Studies
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Environmental justice frameworks in student affairs assessment practice
- University of Georgia (GA)
Assessment and evaluation of programs are core components of ethical professional practice for student affairs administrators in higher education. This paper reviews three environmental frameworks and applies the Just sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 20, 2018
- Publications
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Campus Alternative Food Projects and Food Service Realities: Alternative Strategies
- Emory University (GA)
As United States colleges and universities have developed campus projects to contribute to alternative food networks, strategies have matured from event-based, on-ramp activities to purchasing commitments, statistical tracking, and new …
- Posted Feb. 12, 2018
- Publications
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Barriers to innovation and sustainability at universities around the world
- University of Michigan (MI)
- University of São Paulo
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS
- James Cook University (Queensland)
- University of Nottingham
- Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
- University of Passo Fundo
This paper explores the link between innovation and sustainability in the context of higher education, with the purpose of investigating the fundamental barriers for innovation and sustainable development in universities …
- Posted Feb. 12, 2018
- Publications
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University Sustainability: Assessing College Sustainability Rating Systems
- Yale University (CT)
This paper seeks to assess the three major university sustainability rating systems in the United States on their ability to drive positive sustainability outcomes. Since the mid-2000s the Association for …
- Posted Feb. 5, 2018
- Publications
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Sustainable Development: Educating With Purpose
- International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) (MA)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY “Sustainable Development: Educating with Purpose” is the focus of this year’s ISCNGULF report. In an increasingly fractured world, the Sustainable Development Goals are an instrument for solidarity. Their …
- Posted Feb. 5, 2018
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Connecting Cities and Campuses through Climate Leadership Initiatives
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
- Second Nature (MA)
Climate change presents one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. Opportunities for inter-sectoral collaboration to drive climate solutions are beginning to emerge and mature with the higher education sector …
- Posted Feb. 5, 2018
- Publications
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Don’t Get Left Out: Navigating New Processes for Sharing STARS Data with Sierra and Princeton Review
- AASHE (MA)
- Sierra Club (DC)
- The Princeton Review (MA)
Since 2012, AASHE has collaborated with Sierra magazine and The Princeton Review to allow colleges and universities to use the STARS Reporting Tool to share their sustainability data for potential …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Sustainable Living and Learning: A Learning Community for First-Year Students
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)
First-year students have the opportunity to participate in a special, two-semester long Learning Community that will investigate the intersection of sustainability and consumption with a particular emphasis on the relationship …
- Posted Jan. 23, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Talking Truth: Finding Your Voice Around the Climate Crisis
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
Talking Truth was initiated in fall 2015 to support and build on understanding of climate disruption. Our experiential events employ storytelling, film screenings, art making, author talks, and reflective writing. …
- Posted Jan. 3, 2018
- Case Studies
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Implementing a Sustainability Internship Program at Siena Heights University
- Siena Heights University (MI)
Michigan is experiencing numerous environmental health threats, and the SHU Sustainability Internship Program was created to engage students to address environmental challenges. Using the AASHE Guide to Creating & Managing …
- Posted Jan. 3, 2018
- Case Studies
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Fossil fuel divestment in US higher education: student-led organising for climate justice
- Pitzer College (CA)
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
Based on over one year of participant observation within the student-led fossil fuel divestment (FFD) movement, this article contextualises the origins, successes, challenges, and inner workings of the FFD movement …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
- Publications
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Radically different learning’: implementing sustainability pedagogy in a university peer mentor program
- Portland State University (OR)
Sustainability education is a growing field within higher education that fosters personal and intellectual engagement with the interconnected tensions of pressing social, ecological, economic, and political issues. Sustainability education aims …
- Posted Dec. 13, 2017
- Publications
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Beyond Campus: Engaging Students in Sustainability, Resilience and Climate Policymaking
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- AASHE (MA)
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
In the aftermath of President Trump’s decision to abandon the Paris Agreement, universities, cities, states, and companies have stepped up to lead. A coalition representing fully half the U.S. population …
- Posted Dec. 7, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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New App Leverages Power of Rewards Currency, Smart Tech and Games to Drive Purposeful Engagement Among Students
- PIPS Education Fund (NY)
Calls by the new U.S. President to roll back environmental, health and justice protections has left many students feeling insecure and concerned for their futures. Interestingly, a campus' overall commitment …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Occupant Engagement Leads to Substantial Energy Savings for Plug Loads
- Keewi Inc. (CA)
Plug loads, defined as devices plugged into the wall outlet, comprise about 33% of a commercial building's total energy expenditure. Existing management technologies have overlooked the effects of building occupants …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Student Summit Opening Keynote Speaker: Lydia D. Avila
- Power Shift Network (DC)
Lydia D. Avila is the Executive Director of the Power Shift Network - a diverse, national network of youth-led and youth-focused climate justice organizations. Lydia is originally from a working …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Student-Driven Climate Outcomes: A Liberal Arts College's Journey in Energy/Sustainabiity
- Entegrity (AR)
This poster tells a story about students that were the drivers of bringing a focused engagement to their campus to achieve climate goals. The students researched initiatives at other campuses …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Finding Your Voice: Understanding Otherness in Sustainability Education
- Texas A&M University (TX)
This presentation aims to examine the relationship between the pillars of sustainability, and the power based relationships that are created when a dominant culture subjects others to accept the status …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Green the Greeks at Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
An in depth guide to creating and implementing a sustainability program focused on Greek organization involvement in a public university. Topics will include establishment, data recording, participation, roadblocks, collaborating with …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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In Their Own Words and by the Numbers: A Mixed -Methods Study of the Advancement of Sustainability in American Higher Education
- Florida Atlantic University (FL)
A call for the urgent implication due to the increasingly hostile environment is pressing. All social sectors should respond to the change with active participation. Notably, 'higher education institutions are …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The Internet of Things (IoT) and the Student Experience: Sustainability by Design
- The Sextant Group (PA)
Every day we hear of a new technology that is Internet-connected, enabled, enhanced! If they can afford it, college students are eager first adopters of these gadgets and their applications. …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Empowering Student Leadership in Tough Times
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
Our greatest legacy as campus sustainability changemakers may be the leaders we develop. National news can sometimes discourage students, yet can also be profound motivation for a life of leadership …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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How to Build Strategic Power -- Seven Secrets for Leaders to Win Change On & Beyond Campus
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win' - Gandhi This dynamic, interactive workshop will hone your public leadership skills and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change film screening
- Bullfrog Films (PA)
A 127-minute feature documentary. Filmmaker Josh Fox continues in his deeply personal style, investigating climate change in 12 countries, acknowledging that it may be too late to stop some of …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond Offsetting: Onsetting Scope 3 Emissions and Supporting Innovative Local Projects
- Earth Deeds (MA)
Universities struggle to find meaningful ways to address their Scope 3 emissions, especially with regard to staff travel and study abroad. This session will explain carbon onsetting as a positive …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Materials Health and Transparency: The Social, Physical, and Environmental Impacts
- Bruner/Cott Architects (MA)
Material health and transparency are not only issues of sustainable building, but also social justice and public health. Building construction has both upstream and downstream consequences to people and communities. …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Why a majority of students don't live their 'sustainability values' and what to do about it
- GreeniPhi (VA)
While the average college student claims to value sustainability, their commitment to environmental conservation often fails to translate into action. This session uses insights from psychology and business to explore …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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By Impacting Hearts and Minds, Emergent Leadership Transforms Brick and Mortar Projects Into Much More
- The EMERGE Leadership Project (WA)
If conventional leadership was all that was needed to create a truly sustainable built environment - one that generates choices equitably -- we would be there already. This presentation offers …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Emphasizing Diversity and Equity in Your Sustainability Narrative
- Chemeketa Community College (OR)
As practitioners of sustainability, too often we take an approach that applies the dominant cultural sustainability paradigm (personal sustainability efforts and outdoor activities) and excludes social inequity (human and environmental …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Fix It Friday
- Illinois State University (IL)
Fix It Friday is a program at Illinois State University in which students majoring in the Fashion Design and Merchandising program set up sewing machines in various locations around campus …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Lean Green Financing at MSIs
- Huston-Tillotson University (TX)
In the rapidly evolving field of sustainability, both new technology and financing mechanisms are opening possibilities for green projects on campuses previously perceived as unattainable. Over the past three years, …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Doing More With Less
- Santa Clara University (CA)
In a world where information of many current events is so readily available, there seem to be countless opportunities to utilize the content for educating about sustainability. However, taking advantage …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Why a Social Justice Framework Is the Only Way to Collective Climate Justice and Deep Sustainability
- Hackman Consulting Group
This poster session lays out the rationale for the absolute need for a social justice framework when doing climate justice and sustainability work by making three essential points: 1. How …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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In Serving Solidarity, Let's Talk about Privilege: Critical Conversations About 'Unsustainable' Race, Class & Gender Privilege
- Hackman Consulting Group
While attention to the ways dynamics of racism, classism and gender oppression target people of color and native people, poor and working class people, and cisgender women and trans* folks …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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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.