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.
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Building on the NAE Grand Challenges Scholars Model to Incorporate the UN SDGs in Higher Education
- Bucknell University (PA)
As sustainability becomes a more and more popular addition in the higher education system, attempts to incorporate it into existing curricula and campus life diversify and too often lose their …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Pulling the Paradox of the SDGs down to Uneven Ground: A Transdisciplinary Learning Journey
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- University of Vermont (VT)
Advocates of the Sustainable Development Goals see them as an important improvement over the Millennium Development Goals, that expired in 2015, that represent an inspiring and inclusive framework for international …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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A New Resource To Engage Your Chemistry Department In Sustainability
- Beyond Benign (MA)
Despite the underlying fundamental reliance on chemistry innovations for a more sustainable future, undergraduate chemistry teaching laboratories still use traditional experiments that are resource-intensive and employ hazardous reagents. It is …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Escaping the Silos and Generating Collaborations: A Sustainable Faculty Development Program
- Furman University (SC)
The Faculty Affiliates Program gives faculty from all departments on our campus opportunities to meet monthly during the academic year to share ideas, generate resources and foster interdisciplinary connections throughout …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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How to Create an Innovative and Interdisciplinary Sustainability Major
- University of Virginia (VA)
This case study examines several innovative degree programs that create unusual disciplinary alliances with sustainability. Integrating sustainability across the curriculum is an important goal for AASHE members. While many universities …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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The Sustainability Exchange at Washington University - Interdisciplinary Focus on Real World Issues
- Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects (MO)
The Sustainability Exchange, founded in 2014 by Bill Lowry and Liz Kramer, brings together students from across the academic spectrum to focus on and seek solutions to real world issues …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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From the 3Es to the SDGs: Updating Sustainability Frameworks Used as Educational Tools
- Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ)
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
With the 2015 announcement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the multitude of research projects, policies, and frameworks of Sustainable …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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From Theory to Practice: Applied Community Projects in Environmental Capstone Courses
- Earlham College (IN)
Over the past five years, Environmental Studies and Environmental Sustainability seniors at Earlham College have completed an 'integrated research project (IRP)' in collaboration with a community partner. The IRP is …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Service and Community Engaged Learning for Social and Environmental Justice
- Champlain College (VT)
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
- University of Hawaii Kapiolani Community College (HI)
- Villanova University (PA)
Service-Learning / Community Engaged Learning is a common practice in higher education and is increasingly found being paired with sustainability. This networking session will allow practitioners to share best practices, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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AIM2Flourish: Transforming Management Education Through Positive Business Innovation Stories
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
The UN Global Goals are the 'World's Must-Do List' to end poverty, combat climate change, protect life on land, and ensure a livable future for all people. Many business leaders …
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STARS Reporting as an Undergraduate Educational Opportunity
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
The University of Illinois, a STARS Gold Campus, has a strong focus on expanding its campus sustainability efforts. Since our 2017 report, administrators have made an increased effort to align …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Leveraging the Campus Sustainability Committee: Zombie Committees vs Robust Change Agents
- Cornell University (NY)
- Duke University (NC)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
What is the secret to successful sustainability committees? Is there a magic formula for long-term effectiveness or do the committees need to evolve over time? Once sustainability programs become more …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Go Green or Get Gone: Teachers College as a Case Study
- Teachers College, Columbia University (NY)
What is the role of graduate schools of education in the face of local and global environmental challenges? This session explores this question by presenting the development process and implementation …
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Preaching Beyond the Choir: How to Institutionalize Sustainability Into Organization-Wide Culture
- Denison University (OH)
It is easy to get caught up in and become comfortable in a group that shares the same views. We know the people who have our back and who will …
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Inducing Paradigm Shifts through Complementary Curricular and Co-curricular Program Engagement
- College of Charleston (SC)
The Office of Sustainability (OoS) at the College of Charleston offers a unique work environment. Housed in Business Affairs & led by 2 Staff who also serve as College Faculty, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Integrating Social Equity: Texas A&M's 2018 Sustainability Master Plan
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
Released in the Spring 2018 semester, Texas A&M's new Sustainability Master Plan has three primary objectives: to better integrate social equity objectives with environmental and economic efforts, to balance the …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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What is a Residence Life Sustainability Plan?
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
The Department of Residence Life at Texas A&M operates as an auxiliary enterprise to provide student housing to approximately 12,000 students annually. Concurrent to the University's update to the campus-wide …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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A Framework for Sustainability Competencies for Your Campus
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- Stanford University (CA)
Last fall we published a study on competencies for sustainability, 'Developing a framework for sustainability meta-competencies,' based on interviews and focus groups with Penn State University employees serving in a …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Mapping the Pathway to STARS Platinum
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- University of California, Merced (CA)
AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) is the leading North American green/sustainable campus rating system developed by colleges and universities for colleges and universities. STARS provides the foundation …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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AASHE STARS: Field Notes From New Adopters
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
- University of Chicago (IL)
- Gordian (SC)
The AASHE STARS program is invaluable. It provides higher education institutions a unified platform for assessing and reporting their contributions towards the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. However, obstacles remain. …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Got Plans? Perspectives on Developing and Implementing Campus Sustainability Plans
- East Carolina University (NC)
- Emory University (GA)
- Harvey Mudd College (CA)
- Marquette University (WI)
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
Panelists and audience members will share diverse perspectives on and experiences with sustainability strategic planning. To serve a broad audience, our panelists (and, hopefully, audience members) represent the following perspectives: …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Notre Dame's Success in Developing a Sustainability Strategy Aligned to SDGs and Its Mission
- University of Notre Dame (IN)
In response to Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical Laudato si', the University of Notre Dame leadership championed a committee out of the Executive Vice President's office to take action. Using a …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Leveraging the SDGs to Build a System-Wide Higher Education Sustainability Strategy
- University at Albany (NY)
- University at Buffalo (NY)
- State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
Sixty-Four schools, nearly half a million enrolled students, 33,000 faculty and 96,000 degrees granted annually--the higher education scope and impact of the State University of New York system is vast …
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How to Create Sustainable Solutions in Your Community
- GreenLight Solutions Foundation (AZ)
Want to learn how to implement sustainability projects with local businesses in your community? Join GreenLight Solutions Foundation for an interactive brainstorming session to create a strategic framework for catalyzing …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Imposters, Insiders, and Collaborators: Bringing Outside Expertise to the World of Sustainability
- Dickinson College (PA)
- University of Florida (FL)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- University of California, Merced (CA)
Sustainability is often viewed as a field reserved for those with expertise gained through an academic background in Environmental Science, Ecology, Sustainability or similar areas, and individuals from outside of …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Abandoned Bikes on Campus: Redistribution and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Eastern Mennonite University (VA)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA and Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, VA are presented with a number of bikes abandoned by students each year. As cycling gains …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Resiliency: A Platform for Institutional Change, Case Study Cal State University San Bernardino
- California State University, San Bernardino (CA)
Historically, California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) has embraced sustainability through faculty curriculum, students initiatives, and facilities management retrofitting projects, however, sustainability efforts are not coordinated and transformational change is …
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Institution Nitrogen Footprints in SIMAP: Updated Results and New Insights
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- University of Virginia (VA)
Seven campuses that participated in the development of the nitrogen footprint tool (NFT) published findings from their initial nitrogen footprint calculations in the April 2017 special issue of Sustainability: The …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process to Perform a Materiality Study on the SDGs
- Villanova University (PA)
To effectively 'ignite change' in regards to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a university must first determine which of them are applicable and material to the organization. This process …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Organizational Transitions and Continuity in a University Setting
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
Turnover is the cardinal issue that plagues collegiate organizations because of the ever changing minds of the student population as well as the traditional four year system of undergraduate education. …
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How to Overcome Challenges at Large, Urban Campuses
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
This will provide a space for large urban campuses to discuss challenges and accomplishments of working on sustainability on Urban campuses. AASHE has lacked the spaces for these types of …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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The Design Thinking Process: User-Centered Solutions to Complex and Confounding Problems
- University of Denver (CO)
Coming out of Stanford's Institute of Design, the Design Thinking (DT) framework has taken the Architecture, and now the business world, by storm. However, this solution- and user-focused design process …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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How a Team of Student Ambassadors Can Amplify and Accelerate Wins for a Small Sustainability Staff
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
Facing the Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals of campus sustainability work with small offices can feel impossible; however, despite having a small staff, college and university sustainability offices can effect real …
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Top Down and Bottom-Up: The Pitt Sustainability Planning Process
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
- SmithGroup (MI)
In 2017 Pitt embarked on their first comprehensive sustainability plan which launched early this year. This session outlines the top-down approaches to connect with leadership and link this planning effort, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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International Networking Meeting
- Portland Community College (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
Members of the international community who are attending the AASHE conference and those who are interested in international issues are invited to join in a networking meeting to share resources, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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How to Design an Annual Report People Actually Read
- Pomona College (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
Have you struggled with keeping up with annual reporting for your sustainability program? Are you somebody who's on top of their annual reporting but feel like nobody reads your report …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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ISSP Networking Session: Do You Have All It Takes to Be an Effective Sustainability Professional?
- Auburn University (AL)
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of Richmond (VA)
- International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) (OR)
Calling all active and aspiring sustainability professionals: come learn about the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) community and earning ISSP's sustainability credentials. Meet with ISSP members and hear sustainability …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Latin Flavor in AASHE: Contributions to Sustainability Offices
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
- Universidad EAN
- Dallas College (TX)
In many institutions of higher education and universities around the world, there are offices that manage the issue of sustainability for years. AASHE is a multicultural space where many of …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals: An Insiders' Account of change in a UK University
- De Montfort University
Higher Education institutions have a crucial role to play in catalysing action to address the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The call to action that the Goals represent can …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Extending Sustainability Practices to Tenant Spaces: Green Leasing at Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
Portland State University (PSU) is home to approximately 60 commercial tenants. Tenants range from food service and retail, to offices, banks, ATMs, and advertising. To encourage sustainability practices and behaviors …
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How Do Sustainability and Resilience Work Together in Practice?
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
Resilience and sustainability have had a confusing relationship over the past decade. While resilience has long been an important element of sustainability, for example going back to the work of …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Resilience Bootcamp - Turning Threats into Opportunities
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
- St. Lawrence University (NY)
- Second Nature (MA)
Resilience is a hot topic for those who work within the campus operational and built environment. But what does it really mean for a campus community and how does it …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Leading and Integrating Sustainability 2.0: A Discussion About Deep Organizational Change
- University of Vermont (VT)
Many institutions are entering a 'Sustainability 2.0' phase, where offices have been established for up to ten years and topics such as recycling, composting, Eco-Reps, and active transportation plans have …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Interactive and Captivating: How to Create a Successful Workshop
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Texas A&M University has found the most effective way to communicate the importance of sustainability with our campus community is through interactive and engaging content. Our most successful approach has …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Smith College House Sustainability Challenge
- Smith College (MA)
As part of Smith College's efforts to integrate environmentally sustainable practices into institutional operations and student life, a diverse group of campus stakeholders launched the House Sustainability Challenge in 2017. …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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From Awareness to Action: Behavior Design for Campus Sustainability
- Root Solutions (CA)
This workshop will provide participants with an overview of Root Solutions' proven human-centered design approach to environmental behavior change. You will learn how to strategically select which behavior(s) to target, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Sustainability Perspectives: A Video Showcase
- Princeton University (NJ)
This session will showcase a diverse collection of videos from institutions across the country, all with different production quality, intended audiences, content, theme, and impact. Start off your morning with …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Sustainability Student Engagement Through the use of Online Platforms
- Colorado State University (CO)
This 30-minute presentation will cover two successful student engagement campaigns run at Colorado State University that primarily relies on custom online platforms. These engagement campaigns have been run for multiple …
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Graduate Students Implement Sustainability During a Short Academic Window: Case Study Eden Hall
- Chatham University (PA)
Eden Hall Campus at Chatham University was built to be a living learning lab for sustainable initiatives in the Falk School of Sustainability. Although the focus of the university is …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Bees as a Bridge From Local Experiential Learning to Collaborative Global Education
- Champlain College (VT)
The Champlain College Apiary was established in 2013 in order to provide experiential learning opportunities for students and community members and to support the college's commitment to sustainability. This living …
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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.