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
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 ...
- Posted Feb. 14, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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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 ...
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
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Sustainability Fee
- University of Illinois at 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 ...
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
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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
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Charlotte Green Initiative Fund
- University of North Carolina, 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
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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 ...
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
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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
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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
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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 ...
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
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STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Webinar Series: Engagement
- AASHE (PA)
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
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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
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Heartware as a driver for campus sustainability: Insights from an action-oriented exploratory case study
- University of Malaya
- Kyoto University
Literature on campus sustainability transitions is mainly focused on the hardware and software approaches, with less attention on the so-called ‘heartware’ approach. Heartware refers to the internal and voluntary motivation ...
- Posted Jan. 25, 2019
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The impacts of higher education institutions on sustainable development: A review and conceptualization
- Vienna University of Economics and Business
Purpose This paper aims to conceptualize impacts of higher education institutions (HEIs) on sustainable development (SD), complementing previous literature reviews by broadening the perspective from what HEIs do in pursuit ...
- Posted Jan. 11, 2019
- Publications
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‘Whole Earth?’ Using an Exhibition to Raise Sustainability Awareness at a UK University
- Canterbury Christ Church University
Despite mounting evidence of global environmental stress, many educationalists appear to be discounting warnings of ecological collapse from scientists, futurists and community leaders. One way of promoting sustainability awareness may ...
- Posted Jan. 11, 2019
- Publications
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Healthy Communities
- North Lake College - DCCCD (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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 ...
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Research Centers & Institutes
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The challenge of coordinated civic climate change education
- Bard College (NY)
- University of Richmond (VA)
- James Madison University (VA)
- Stanford University (CA)
- Dickinson College (PA)
- University at Albany (NY)
- St. Mary's College of Maryland (MD)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
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
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Sustainability Competition and Interactive Map
- University of Illinois at 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
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Environmental Education at Faculty of Agriculture and Changing Awareness, Attitude and Behavior towards Environment in Turkey
- Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University
- Hitit Üniversitesi
Environmental problems have become increasingly more destructive. For this reason, environmental education and awareness have gained importance. This study had two objectives: to determine the factors affecting the attitude and ...
- Posted Nov. 26, 2018
- Publications
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Students’ mobility attitudes and sustainable transport mode choice
- University of Bergamo
This study aims to explore the propensity of university students to use different sustainable transport modes, taking into account individual and specific trip characteristics, as well as students’ psychological traits ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2018
- Publications
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Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Sustainability: Systematic Review 1990–2016
- Universidad de Antioquia
For any transition towards sustainability to be successful, it is necessary to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) – related to sustainability – in different populations. A systematic review was conducted ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2018
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Enhancing university students’ global citizenship, public mindedness, and moral quotient for promoting sense of environmental responsibility and pro-environmental behaviours
- Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University
- King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi
Many universities have attempted to courage their students to engage in sustainable, green behaviours. However, the mere role of environmental knowledge cannot contribute to students’ engagement in pro-environmental behaviours. This ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2018
- Publications
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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 ...
- Posted Nov. 13, 2018
- Publications
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Student team integrating aspects of sustainability in practical design education
- Chiba University
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the first experiences (activities, attitudes and inclinations) of an undergraduate student team with eco-design activities.
Design/methodology/approach Undergraduate ...
- Posted Nov. 13, 2018
- Publications
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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
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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
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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 ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Well-Being for All, Sustainably at Dawson College
- Dawson College (QC)
Institutes of higher education may be populated with many people, but they can be lonely places for staff and students alike. Stress is also prevalent in our schools. An ever-increasing ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Gameday Waste Minimization
- University of Arizona (AZ)
- University of Rochester (NY)
The University of Arizona will share the success story of their student-run program working to ingrain zero waste practices within athletic events. This workshop will describe the trials and tribulations ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Move Out Solutions With William & Mary's DormMania and the Post-Landfill Action Network
- College of William & Mary (VA)
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
Join the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN) and William & Mary in a discussion about reducing waste during campus move-out! Students throw away tons of usable items every year during ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Do Dorm Move-Out Waste Reduction Programs Really Reduce Carbon Emissions?
- University of Arizona (AZ)
A team of engineering researchers at the University of Arizona, led by Dr. Paul Blowers and undergraduate student Nick Deak, measured the carbon footprint associated with materials collected during a ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Measuring Success - Auditing the Zero Waste Process
- Medical University of South Carolina (SC)
At the Medical University of South Carolina we, like many campuses, are constantly improving our waste system in an effort to strive for 'Zero Waste'. During the 2016 RecycleMania competition ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Stadium Clean-up: Invest in & Engage Student Organizations, Promote Sustainability, Reduce Costs
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
The Diddle/Smith Recycling Program engages student organizations to clean the arena/stadium after football and basketball games, as well as other special events. In exchange for cleaning, volunteers receive ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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How Might we Create a Sustainable Make-A-Thon to Inform Students About Sustainable Design?
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Design U every year puts on the 10,000 makes 24 hour Make-A-Thon where we bring in engineers, designers, business students and whoever else wants to join to essentially make ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging Housekeeping Staff for Zero Waste Success
- The Ohio State University (OH)
Contamination of single-stream recycling is one of the most significant obstacles to waste diversion. While campus culture promotes recycling, users do not reliably recycle correctly. The result is a contaminated ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Achieving Zero Waste and Campus-Wide Compost Bins: Progress from Swarthmore College
- Swarthmore College (PA)
In 2017, Swarthmore College formalized its commitment to achieving a Zero Waste campus, with an interim goal of reaching an 80% diversion rate by 2022. This ambitious commitment, which built ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- 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. Additional content and advanced benchmarking tools will be added to this tab over time.
Programs and Initiatives
The following links connect to specific Content Displays on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
- Central campus sustainability websites
- Co-curricular programs and initiatives
- Active student groups focused on sustainability
- Gardens, farms and co-curricular programs where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems
- Student-run enterprises that include sustainability
- Sustainable investment funds and initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills
- Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience
- Wilderness or outdoors programs for sudents that follow Leave No Trace principles
- Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences
- Programs through which students learn sustainable life skills
- Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities
- Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions
- Student orientation activities that feature sustainability
- Employee orientation activities that feature sustainability
- Sustainability trainings and professional development opportunities available to staff
Scores
The following link connects to the Score Display on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
Campus Engagement Partners
ACPA - College Student Educators International
Washington, DCCampus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association
Bloomington, INCarrier Class Green Infrastructure
Willow Grove, PABusiness Affiliate
Coalesce
Boston, MABusiness Affiliate
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
Washington, DCFairware Promotional Products Ltd
Vancouver, BCBusiness Affiliate
Fit for Green Inc.
Mission Viejo, CABusiness Affiliate
GreenerU
Watertown, MABusiness Affiliate
Korean Association for Green Campus Initiative
Seoul, SeoulBusiness Affiliate
MIST
Chicago, ILBusiness Affiliate
National Wildlife Federation
Reston, VABusiness Affiliate
NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation
Corvallis, ORNOLS
Lander, WYBusiness Affiliate
Northwest Earth Institute
Portland, ORBusiness Affiliate
Post-Landfill Action Network
Dover, NHBusiness Affiliate
Rivanna Natural Designs
Richmond, VABusiness Affiliate
RRS
Ann Arbor, MIBusiness Affiliate
Strategic Energy Innovations
San Rafael, CABusiness Affiliate
Textbooks for Change
Toronto, ONBusiness Affiliate
The Campus Kitchens Project
Washington, DCBusiness Affiliate
The GREEN Program
Philadelphia, PABusiness Affiliate