Campus Engagement
Introduction
Engaging in sustainability issues through co-curricular activities allows students to deepen and apply their understandings of sustainability principles. Institution-sponsored co-curricular sustainability offerings, often coordinated by student affairs offices, help integrate sustainability into the campus culture and set a positive tone for the institution. Faculty and staff members’ daily decisions impact an institution’s sustainability performance. Equipping faculty and staff with the tools, knowledge, and motivation to adopt behavior changes that promote sustainability is an essential activity of a sustainable campus.
Featured Resources
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Fullerton Arboretum Achieves Reaccreditation at Highest Level
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
In October 2017, Fullerton Arboretum received its first accreditation as a Level IV arboretum. This is the highest level awarded by ArbNet, an organization that recognizes arboreta from around the …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2023
- Photographs
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Sustainable Move Out Donation Program
- Bentley University (MA)
Give ‘N Go Move Out Program at Bentley University Fall 2022 Update
Summary: Give ‘N Go is the Bentley program to support students during move out with the opportunity to …
- Posted Jan. 3, 2023
- Publications
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Webinar #3: Inner Development Goals: A Three-part Exploration
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
Many of us are familiar with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This three-part Community of Practice (Nov. 15, Nov. 29, Dec. 13) will allow us to space to explore the …
- Posted Dec. 14, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Native American Heritage Month Celebrates Empowerment Through Education
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month at Cal State Fullerton means learning about the communities, histories and traditions that have shaped today’s landscape.
Beyond empowering the Native American and Indigenous community, …
- Posted Nov. 29, 2022
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Solving Climate Change Problems: CSUF Presents Energy and Sustainability Summit
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
More than 100 people packed the room at Cal State Fullerton’s first Energy and Sustainability Summit, held Oct. 26.
The summit, sponsored by Edison International, featured three panels of industry …
- Posted Nov. 21, 2022
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Sustainability Policies and Plans in Higher Education: Recommendations for Florida State University
- Florida State University (FL)
This capstone project examines how higher education institutions (HEIs) use policies and plans to institutionalize their commitments to sustainability and the key success factors that influence their implementation. A systematic …
- Posted Nov. 10, 2022
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Webinar: Assessing Sustainability Literacy & Culture: Innovations & Lessons Learned by Multiple Institutions
- Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ)
- University of Southern California (CA)
- Weber State University (UT)
- Williams College (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
This interactive panel discussion will feature four presenters from different geographic regions (eastern and western United States) and institutional contexts (private and public, and from small liberal arts colleges to …
- Posted Oct. 4, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Webinar: Innovations in Teaching Sustainable Consumption in Higher Education
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- AASHE (MA)
- Wageningen University
- University of Leeds (West Yorkshire)
- University of East Anglia
- University of Geneva
The goal of sustainability will not be achievable without changes in our consumption. In consumption, sustainability challenges appear like in a burning glass; here, it can be exemplarily shown how …
- Posted Sept. 22, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Food Justice Fellowships - Rooted in Community
- Saint Mary's College of California (CA)
Food insecurity is defined as the state of being without reliable access to sufficient affordable and nutritious food. Food insecurity in the San Francisco Bay Area (and our state, country …
- Posted Sept. 20, 2022
- Case Studies
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Driving Change: Understanding Climate Impacts on Campus Transportation
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (MD)
- AASHE (MA)
The continental United States is experiencing an increase in the frequency and intensity of precipitation events which often lead to flooding. In the state of Maryland, between 2006 and 2020, …
- Posted Sept. 1, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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TRU Campus Tree Program: What We Learned From Year One
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
The TRU Sustainability Office started the new TRU Campus Tree Program in September 2021 as a one year pilot. The program was designed to allow members of the TRU community …
- Posted Sept. 1, 2022
- Case Studies
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University and Community Open Forum
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
This picture is of an event, E2S Climate Hub: Paths toward Sustainable and Just Engagement open forum at Green Era Campus on April 8th with community partners and University of …
- Posted Aug. 26, 2022
- Photographs
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2022 EarthFest at the University of Maryland, College Park
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
Sustainability-minded students at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) hosted an Earth Day festival in 2022. EarthFest 2022 invited student sustainability leaders and volunteers from more than twenty groups …
- Posted Aug. 15, 2022
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Ariel view of students forming the state of California
- University of California, Merced (CA)
Ariel view of students forming California State
- Posted Aug. 4, 2022
- Photographs
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Climate Action Exhibition
- American University of Sharjah
As part of developing AUS' Climate Action Plan (CAP) an exhibition was held to engage the entire AUS community. The exhibition explained the main focal points of the CAP, which …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2022
- Photographs
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Fullerton Arboretum
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Mission: The mission of Fullerton Arboretum is to support the academic mission of CSUF with a world class living and historical collection and to provide learning opportunities for every stage …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2022
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Mercedes Dorame: Ancestors Leading the Stars ‘Eyoohiinkem He’uuk Shishyoota
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
RECEPTION | Saturday, September 18, 2021 12:00 – 4:00 PM (Public reception)
Ancestors Leading the Stars - ‘Eyoohiinkem He’uuk Shishyoota is an installation by artist Mercedes Dorame and it explores …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2022
- Photographs
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Kim Abeles: Smog Collectors, 1987–2020
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION Kim Abeles: Smog Collectors, 1987-2020, at the Begovich Gallery will be the first time this seminal series is shown in its entirety. The exhibition features thirty years …
- Posted Aug. 3, 2022
- Photographs
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Tuffy's Basic Needs Services
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Tuffy’s Basic Needs Services Center identifies and serves students who are experiencing an unforeseen hardship, emergency, crisis, or catastrophic life event.
The resources offered by this comprehensive endeavor are designed …
- Posted Aug. 3, 2022
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UCI Images for SCI
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
Image options for UCI's feature in the SCI.
- Posted Aug. 2, 2022
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UMN Morris student recycling cardboard at campus recycling center
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
UMN Morris students staff the Recycling Center. The picture shows a UMN Morris student breaking down boxes before they are compressed and stored for future recycling.
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
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Electric bike collaboration between UMN Morris and Regional Fitness Center
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
UMN Morris student (August Bushy) and Regional Fitness Center staff member (Clare Sorensen) show the two electric bikes available for college students and community members to ride.
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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University of New Hampshire: B Impact Clinic
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
B Impact Clinic - Launched in 2019 by the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute, the B Impact Clinic gathers teams of undergraduate students from different areas of study to …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
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University of Sydney technology spin-off Gelion delivers smart solar benches on campus
- University of Sydney (NSW)
SCI 2022
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
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Cascadia Cornucopia Food Forest
- Cascadia College (WA)
The main sign and welcome space for the campus food forest. The Cascadia Cornucopia Food Forest is an open foraging and growing spot for the campus community to learn about …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Grow with Eco Reps
- Furman University (SC)
Eco Reps are student volunteers who engage in peer-to-peer sustainability education through monthly programming around campus and in residence halls. In February, Eco Reps hosted “Grow With Eco Reps” – …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
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Arbor Day and Tree Campus USA Tree Planting at Furman
- Furman University (SC)
Arbor Day / Tree Campus USA Tree Planting at Furman
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
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Furman Bee Club
- Furman University (SC)
Bee club hive inspections
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Brainstorming Session: Reducing Waste During Campus Move-Outs (pt 2) & Move-Ins
- AASHE (MA)
Join this brainstorming session and meet with peers to discuss everything from community partners to communications to student helpers and more. Come prepared to share, listen, or both.
The first …
- Posted July 28, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Carnegie Mellon University students learn about the Sustainable Development Goals at an exhibit in the Cohon University Center
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
Three students read up on global implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at an exhibit organized by Carnegie Mellon University's Sustainability Initiative team in February 2020
- Posted July 27, 2022
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Butler University Social Justice and Vocational Fellowship
- Butler University (IN)
Social Justice and Diversity Vocational Fellowship - The Social Justice and Diversity (SJD) Vocation Fellowship at Butler University is a collaboration between the Center for Faith and Vocation, the Social …
- Posted July 27, 2022
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JCCC Hosts Regional Climate Action Kansas City Summit
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
As a pathway toward institutional accreditation through the US Higher Learning Commission, Johnson County Community College developed and completed an Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP) focused on institution-wide sustainability in …
- Posted July 25, 2022
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JCCC Students Work to Complete Tiny House Project
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
As a pathway toward institutional accreditation through the US Higher Learning Commission, Johnson County Community College developed and completed an Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP) focused on institution-wide sustainability in …
- Posted July 25, 2022
- Photographs
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Leveraging Strategic Partnerships to Advance Sustainability Education
- The University of British Columbia (BC)
- AASHE (MA)
What do we need to do to take sustainability education to the next level? How do we make sustainability learning ubiquitous in a university student’s learning journey while increasing an …
- Posted July 18, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Campus Garden to Bring New Opportunities for Self-Sustainability
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Cal State Fullerton recently broke ground on a new campus garden that will serve as a tool for hands-on student learning. The ceremony was part of Cal State Fullerton’s 12th …
- Posted July 18, 2022
- Photographs
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Principia College celebrates Earth Day 2022
- Principia College (IL)
The Principia College solar car is a fan favorite at our Earth Day Festival every year. Innovative, student-led engineering is a hallmark of this long-standing experiential learning program.
- Posted June 27, 2022
- Photographs
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Principia College celebrates Earth Day 2022
- Principia College (IL)
Students show their planet love by personalizing canvas reusable shopping bags, purchased from Earth Hero. Our College Store has banned single-use plastic bags, so these totes are particularly handy!
- Posted June 27, 2022
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Brainstorming Session: Reducing Waste During Campus Move-Outs
- University of Virginia (VA)
- AASHE (MA)
Join this brainstorming session and meet with peers to discuss everything from community partners to communications to student helpers and more. Come prepared to share, listen, or both.
- Posted June 24, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Trees on campus are rooted in history
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Seven serve as a memorial to lives needlessly taken. One received the blessing of the Dalai Lama. Others pay homage to local history. But symbolism and aesthetics aside, each of …
- Posted May 31, 2022
- Photographs
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Engaging Hearts, Minds and Hands: Tracking Sustainability Drivers in Your Institutional Culture
- Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ)
- AASHE (MA)
- Awake (Victoria)
This presentation outlines the implementation of a standardized survey tool for measuring and tracking the extent to which sustainability is embedded in the culture of a higher education institution.
In …
- Posted May 31, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Campus as a Living Laboratory: The Built Environment
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
This book chapter focuses on Florida Gulf Coast University using its campus as a living lab to teach sustainability to students and the way that this type of learning affects …
- Posted May 25, 2022
- Publications
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WMGIC: Expanding Student Involvement in Sustainable Development
- College of William & Mary (VA)
The Global Innovation Challenge at William and Mary (WMGIC) encourages and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and applied learning opportunities among students, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers by bringing innovative and sustainable perspectives …
- Posted May 23, 2022
- Case Studies
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We Feed Aggie Animals
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Chartwells Higher Education (NY)
Texas A&M Aggie Dining launched a new "We Feed Aggie Animals" food waste initiative to enhance goals of eliminating food waste while supporting the campus community. Starting in January 2022, …
- Posted May 23, 2022
- Case Studies
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Root: Centering Social Identity and Environmental Justice in First-Year Orientation
- Williams College (MA)
Root is one of 6 topical opt-in first-year orientation programs, called EphVentures, offered by Williams College. It runs for four days at the beginning of new student orientation and introduces …
- Posted May 23, 2022
- Case Studies
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Arbor Day at Nova Southeastern University
- Nova Southeastern University (FL)
In celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day, students, staff, faculty, and the University's President came together to celebrate the environment with a tree planting ceremony and educational table fair. …
- Posted May 23, 2022
- Photographs
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Building capacity for socio-ecological change through the campus farm: a mixed-methods study
- Butler University (IN)
- Indiana University System Administration (IN)
- Indiana University Indianapolis (IN)
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (MD)
Given the ongoing socio-ecological crises, higher education institutions need curricular interventions to support students in developing the knowledge, skills, and perspectives needed to create a sustainable future. Campus farms are …
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Publications
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Mapping Concordia’s Sustainability Ecosystem, a system mapping experiment
- Concordia University (QC)
Tristan Harris, the founder of the Center for humane Technology, once said: "Our ability to meet the world's challenges depends on us making sense & coordinating together." It means that …
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Case Studies
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Improving Laboratory Water and Energy Efficiency at Tufts University
- Tufts University (MA)
The Biomedical Engineering (BME) and Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) Departments at Tufts University installed a small autoclave (a laboratory sanitation machine) to reduce energy and water consumption in our …
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Case Studies
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EchoWorks: An Electronics Recycling College-Community Partnership
- Western Dakota Technical College (SD)
There are more than a thousand toxic substances associated with electronic waste (e-waste), and improper disposal can lead to soil, water, food, and air contamination. E-waste is the fastest growing …
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Case Studies
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CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and Resilience
- California Polytechnic State University (CA)
- California State University, Chico (CA)
- California State University, Monterey Bay (CA)
- California State University, San Marcos (CA)
- California State University, Stanislaus (CA)
- Cal Poly Humboldt (CA)
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
In the Spring of 2022, 62 faculty from six different California State University campuses representing over 30 disciplines participated in the CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and …
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Case Studies
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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.