Campus Engagement
Introduction
Engaging in sustainability issues through co-curricular activities allows students to deepen and apply their understandings of sustainability principles. Institution-sponsored co-curricular sustainability offerings, often coordinated by student affairs offices, help integrate sustainability into the campus culture and set a positive tone for the institution. Faculty and staff members’ daily decisions impact an institution’s sustainability performance. Equipping faculty and staff with the tools, knowledge, and motivation to adopt behavior changes that promote sustainability is an essential activity of a sustainable campus.
Featured Resources
New Resources
Sustainability Action Funds - Starting, Maintaining, Evolving student-led support for sustainability
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Southwestern University (TX)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Green Funds have been historically used by many universities to advance student sustainability initiatives and empower student leadership. This workshop will explore Green Funds at four (4) different universities, expand ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Behavior Lab - An interdisciplinary approach for Student Affairs
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Discovering ways to generate sustainable behaviors on campus can be a daunting challenge for students, faculty, and staff. Efforts to promote activities that foster individual actions for collective sustainability impact ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Building Energy Quotient, A Fresh Perspective on Sustainability and Engagement in Universities
- ASHRAE (OR)
- Hanson Professional Services (FL)
The ASHRAE Building Energy Quotient (Building EQ) program empowers facility owners to understand their building's energy performance in comparison to facilities of the same type in the same climate ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging Employees on Sustainability at Small Institutions
- Southwestern University (TX)
From Green Office Certifications to Green Teams, from EcoAmbassadors to Green Lunch & Learns, the possibilities for engaging faculty and staff on sustainability topics are endless! But which one is ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Going Zero Waste: It's not Just Business, it's Personal
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
There are many long-established zero waste best practices addressing bins, signage, reusables and more. Unlike LED retrofits, low-flow faucets or other infrastructure projects, a zero waste initiative requires the participation ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Developing a culture of trust, feedback, and growth in the workplace
- Duke University (NC)
- Trust (MA)
Change moves at the speed of trust.' -Stephen Covey To be intentional in creating change, we need to have enough data points. One essential data point for our own personal ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Archiving the campus as a living laboratory: preserving a long memory for transformative change
- University of Utah (UT)
Sustainable change on campus is often driven by student-led projects, project-oriented courses and co-curricular activities associated with the Sustainability Office. However, aside from dissertations and theses, student work is seldom ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Sustaining the Mainstreaming of Climate Change Frameworks/Knowledge as University Core Curriculum
- University of Buea
Education and learning have powerful potential in fostering knowledge, skills and competences for action towards climate change mitigation. This study focuses on examining the role of mainstreaming and sustaining climate ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Menstruation Conversation : The intersection of sustainability, inclusivity, and empowerment
- Dot Cup (IL)
Menstruation is having a moment. 2019 brought us the first ever Menstruation-Focused Oscar Winner - Period End of Sentence, as well as the first annual National Period Day. At Dot Cup ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Boxes to Farm to Compost'- A Paradigm Shift from an Extractive Culture to Regenerative Culture
- Iowa State University (IA)
As a land grant university with a student population of over 30,000 students and about 6000 faculty and staff, there is a multitude of packaged items delivered to the ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Rankings: Comparing STARS with Times Higher Education University Impact Ranking
- University of Calgary (AB)
STARS has long been the key performance indicator for sustainability in UCalgary's Eyes High strategic vision. It is also the most broadly used sustainability assessment tool in higher education ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Student Employment and Internships as the Foundation of a Sustainability Program
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (WI)
The Sustainability Office at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is focused on student engagement through several High-Impact Practices to support co-curricular education, but the core of this activity is centered on ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Protect the Roots: Promoting Sustainability with Policy and Planning that Prioritizes Campus Trees
- University of Kentucky (KY)
- University of Louisville (KY)
As the popularity of programs like Tree Campus USA demonstrate, there is widespread agreement that trees provide tremendous value to our campuses across a broad spectrum of key campus metrics ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging Alumni in Sustainability: Working with Development & Alumni Relations
- Lehigh University (PA)
Alumni are one of a college or university's greatest assets and their contributions back to an institution do not go unnoticed. Many sustainability professionals want to engage alumni in ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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College & University Recycling Coalition (CURC) Campus Recycling Session
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), in partnership with the United States Composting Council and Elevate Packaging, recently administered a survey to colleges and universities to understand how their ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Inspiring Green Fashion in a Fast Fashion Landscape
- University of the Pacific (CA)
The fast fashion industry encourages buying cheap clothes with a short lifespan which need to be constantly disposed of and replaced. College students can be especially vulnerable to fast fashion ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Power Dialogs: Coordinated Civic Education on Climate Solutions and Justice
- Bard College (NY)
Power Dialogs are a tool to mobilize educators across the planet to provide young people with realistic optimism that for fundamental economic reasons, the world is heading towards an energy ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Graduate Student Opportunities for Innovative Pedagogy & Institutional Leverage: How We Can Plug In
- Princeton University (NJ)
Graduate students often serve as educators-in-training with an ear to the ground of the undergraduate experience. What role can we uniquely play in expanding sustainability curricula at our institutions? How ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Harnessing Student Enthusiasm to Create Institutional Change
- University of Virginia (VA)
Universities are filled with students who are eager and excited to create sustainable change. Oftentimes, that enthusiasm helps put on grand events that gather large crowds and spark important conversations ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Sustainability in Universities: way to STARS
- Universidad EAN
Several universities that have been implementing sustainability on their campuses are not yet part of the STARS system, but they can follow other indicators and sustainability management systems. The idea ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Come Help Shape the Sustainability Strategy of the Largest Higher Ed System in the Nation
- San Mateo County Community College District Office (CA)
In May of 2019 the largest post secondary system in the nation unveiled a new Climate Action and Sustainability Policy. Some might consider this policy to be advanced, others may ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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The Staff Engagement Escalator: A Facilitated Discussion on Developing Human Potential
- University of Virginia (VA)
- McGill University (QC)
What are the clever ways we meet new staff members and pull them into the fold? --- Why do some staff members attend events but not engage beyond that? --- How do ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Let's Be Real: An Honest Conversation on Student Engagement Programs
- Fort Lewis College (CO)
- University of Denver (CO)
Co-curricular and extra-curricular student engagement stands as a primary focus of sustainability work in higher education. Furthermore, institutions are continuing to grow and explore various delivery models for applied learning ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Big Schools, Big Headaches: Completing STARS and Catalyzing Change at Large Universities
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- AASHE (MA)
Large universities can pose large and unique challenges to completing a STARS (Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System) report and using the results to drive change. From siloed departments to ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Inspiring Leaders for Sustainability On Campus & Beyond: Networking Meeting
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
How do we develop leaders to bridge sustainability, community engagement, and civic leadership? Our greatest legacy as campus sustainability leaders may be the leaders we develop. The national news can ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN USA) Networking Session
- United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (NY)
This networking meeting will be an opportunity for attendees interested in, researching, and/or implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 goals to be ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Student Affairs/Engagement Meet-Up
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Come join staff, students, and faculty from across the country that work in, with, or led by students to gather in solidarity, discuss best practices, explore opportunities to expand engagement ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Offices of One
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
- University of Louisville (KY)
We all know that Sustainability Coordinators are amazingly talented and highly motivated. We can do anything, right? Well, the truth is that we cannot do EVERYTHING; and yet so many ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Solve Climate Worldwide Teach-in / 3.30.22 / Engage 1 Million Students
- Bard College (NY)
- AASHE (MA)
Another summer of record-breaking heatwaves, droughts, fires and floods has shown us how fast climate change impacts are hitting. As educators, there is nothing more important than engaging students across ...
- Posted Nov. 3, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Climate Action Vision 2019
- Barnard College (NY)
This vision is the product of a collaborative, communitywide effort. During the 2017-2018 academic year, the College hosted a “Campus Conversation” workshop series in which faculty, staff, and students worked ...
- Posted Oct. 6, 2021
- Publications
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A Campus Sustainability Map Organized by the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
In recent years, many institutions of higher education have posted sustainability maps on the Internet. These maps typically highlight campus features and some even provide tours. One way to locate ...
- Posted Oct. 6, 2021
- Publications
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Florida Tech Alumni Center
- Florida Institute of Technology (FL)
Florida Tech Alumni Center - The Folliard Alumni House at Florida Institute of Technology received a makeover in 2020, and was re-engineered as a zero-energy facility. The new center features a ...
- Posted Oct. 5, 2021
- Photographs
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Green Engagement Fund
- University of Southern California (CA)
The University of Southern California Green Engagement Fund (USCGEF) was created in 2014 to fund student-driven, innovative projects aimed at increasing sustainability at USC while increasing awareness in environmental stewardship ...
- Posted Sept. 21, 2021
- Green Funds
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Campus Sustainability Investment Fund
- Santa Clara University (CA)
The Campus Sustainability Investment Fund (CSIF) is an internal fund that provides financing to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainability projects that generate emissions reductions and cost savings ...
- Posted Sept. 21, 2021
- Green Funds
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Webinar: Leveraging Social Media for Sustainability Campus Engagement During and Beyond COVID-19
- AASHE (MA)
- American University of Sharjah (Ash Shariqah)
In this interactive session you will learn how to effectively use social media platforms to engage with your campus community virtually, when it is not possible to conduct on campus ...
- Posted Sept. 16, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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UC Berkeley Student Engagement and Community
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Students at the Iconic UC Berkeley Sather Gate
- Posted Sept. 10, 2021
- Photographs
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UC Berkeley Staff Focusing on Wellbeing and Health in the Workplace
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Staff wellbeing practices during COVID.
- Posted Sept. 10, 2021
- Photographs
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UC Berkeley Student Engagement and Community
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
A variety of photos showing student life.
- Posted Sept. 8, 2021
- Photographs
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University of Queensland Wellbeing at work
- University of Queensland (QLD)
UQ yoga class on campus
- Posted Sept. 8, 2021
- Photographs
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Bates College students install solar on their coastal research facility.
- Bates College (ME)
Bates College students install solar on their coastal research facility. This facility is now 100% solar thanks to the work of the students.
- Posted Sept. 8, 2021
- Photographs
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Bates College students working in the organic, no-till student garden.
- Bates College (ME)
Bates College students working in the organic, no-till student garden.
- Posted Sept. 8, 2021
- Photographs
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Grand Valley State University Surplus Store
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
Artwork on the window of the GVSU Surplus Store
- Posted Sept. 8, 2021
- Photographs
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Equipping Students for Lives of Impact
- Davidson College (NC)
- AASHE (MA)
- Trust (MA)
As a community of practice, sustainability professionals sometimes forget the driving mission of higher education institutions. By helping students to develop skills of change agency and to discern their own ...
- Posted Sept. 3, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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PCC Student Leader with Climate Rally Sign
- Portland Community College (OR)
A student leader at Portland Community College's Cascade campus shows off the sign they made for the youth climate rally during PCC's annual Eco-social Justice Day event. This ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
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PCC Students Visit Portlandia Farmstandia
- Portland Community College (OR)
Students shop for fresh veggies and honey harvested on campus while visiting Portland Community College's farm stand, also referred to as Portlandia Farmstandia. This photo was taken prior to ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
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Sterling College Break Free from Plastic Pledge
- Sterling College (VT) (VT)
Sterling College proudly displays their signed #BreakFreeFromPlastic Campus pledge, which guides colleges and universities towards single-use plastic elimination and waste elimination. Sterling College, a federally designated Work College in Vermont ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
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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.