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
Is your staff engaged with your sustainability practices?
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
At Carnegie Mellon University there are numerous sustainable practices on campus. Our presentation is to share the ways we engage the faculty, staff and students to raise awareness about green ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Involving the Greek Community in Sustainability
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- Washington State University, Pullman (WA)
Greek communities nationwide have large impacts on college campuses. Currently, close to one million undergraduate students are associated with Greek organizations. Influential and prominent, involving the greek community in sustainability ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Break out of a Social Media Slump: How to Create a Strategy, Build Community & Engage Your Audience
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
- University of Florida (FL)
By 2021, it's estimated that there will be more than 3 billion social media users around the world. If universities and colleges are going to be leaders in addressing ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) Networking Session
- Rice University (TX)
- Texas A&M University (TX)
This is a networking meeting for Texans and other parties interested in the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) to connect and discuss campus sustainability topics unique to the ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student Engagement through Research Experience: The U-Challenge at Texas A&M
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Johnson Controls, Inc (WI)
In the spring semester of 2017, the Department of Residence Life and Utility & Energy Services at Texas A&M partnered to host their first annual Utilities Challenge (dubbed the 'U-Challenge ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability-themed Living and Learning Communities
- Boston University (MA)
- Colgate University (NY)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
As residential living and learning communities become more commonplace across higher education, a great opportunity for sustainability emerges. Join representatives from Boston University, Colgate University and Virginia Commonwealth University to ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Students, Sustainability, and Social Media: Tools for Content and Collaboration
- American University (DC)
- New York University (NY)
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
Communicating sustainability efforts across social media platforms is an important but often challenging part of our work. As social media trends emerge and change, how can we convey our messaging ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Peer-to-Peer Educator Programs: Examining Four Common Styles
- Northern Michigan University (MI)
- Pomona College (CA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- University of Vermont (VT)
Based on overwhelmingly positive feedback on the EcoReps Networking Session last year, a team of sustainability staff members from four institutions has come together to provide another opportunity for further ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Introducing the Campus Community to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- University at Albany (NY)
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
Presentation covers opportunities to introduce the campus community to the UN SDGs through special events, professional development, integration into strategic plan, funding and outreach materials. Covers alignment with academics and ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Addressing Sustainable Development Goals: Non-profit, Campus and Community Collaborations
- Portland Community College (OR)
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
With a theme of 'Global Goals: Rising to the Challenge,' this year's conference examines the role of higher education in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This workshop ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Green Gurus Unite! Discussing the Promise and Perils of Becoming Your School's Moral Compass
- University of Louisville (KY)
- Aramark (PA)
We were flooded with requests to set something up to continue the conversation at the conclusion of our lively, well-attended 30-minute 'High Priests of Sustainability?!' presentation at AASHE 2017. This ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
From 'Fix it Fest' to Fix it First: Nurturing a Campus Culture of Reuse
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
Student accessibility to sustainable living resources is an absolute priority at any university. We want students to not only recycle, but also reduce and reuse what they have in order ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Partnering Student Green Advisors With Staff Advocates: Swarthmore's Innovative Eco-Reps Model
- Swarthmore College (PA)
This session will showcase an innovative Eco-Reps model at Swarthmore College that partners a paid, student internship program (the Green Advisors) with a voluntary staff program (the Sustainability Advocates). I ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
CU Boulder Tests Behavior-Tracking Platform's Effect on Student Engagement in Sustainability
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- PIPS Education Fund (NY)
What if a more engaged student was also a more successful student?' Research in fact bears this out. And 'what if there were an App that helped to deepen engagement ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
How to Podcast Your Way to a More Environmentally Sustainable and Socially Just Future
- Portland Community College (OR)
In this session we'll be looking at the journey of starting a Higher Education Sustainability Podcast and how it can be something that could benefit nearly every college or ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Campus Sustainability: A Motivational Analysis for Change
- Chatham University (PA)
Current business practices are a leading source of environmental degradation, especially employee actions in the workplace that generate excessive waste to landfill, resource depletion, and other negative impacts. The UN ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Fair Trade Chocolates: Raising the Challenge with Sweets
- University of North Carolina, Wilmington (NC)
UNCW is one of over 46 universities nationally that have embarked on a campaign to achieve Fair Trade (FT) Status by ingraining FT practices, principles, and policy into their campus ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
WCUPA Student Brandywine Project
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
The Student Brandywine Project was a student led half-day workshop to engage West Chester University students in helping design, implement, evaluate, and improve the various environmental, social, and economic sustainability ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Four Steps for Leading Impactful Environmental Change On-Campus
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
How can students effectively foster an environmentally conscious and sustainable community within their university? You can have the best and brightest ideas, but if their implementation is not strategic, they ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Advocacy for the Global Goals
- United Nations Foundation (NY)
Be an advocate for the UN and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in your community! Learn advocacy strategies from the United Nations Association-USA (UNA-USA) to creatively engage with community partners ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
United Nations Association Campus Network
- United Nations Foundation (NY)
Advance the UN's Sustainable Development Goals on your campus through the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA-USA) campus network. Learn about how to bring innovative SDG programming ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building and Supporting Social Movements for Institutional Change and Beyond
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Even as the campus sustainability movement has grown, the issues in our food system have continued to deepen. The average age of farmers in the U.S. is over 65 ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Becoming a 'spokes' person for campus sustainability: The smoothie bike & other outreach efforts.
- Ohio University (OH)
Ohio University, like many universities nationally, has been affected by budget and staffing streamlining. Campus services and departments, like the Office of Sustainability, were profoundly affected. However, presidential strategies and ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Back to Basics
- Ohio University (OH)
Eco-Reps is turning over a new leaf at Ohio University. This year we will focus on being a community-service based sustainability student group. Through community clean-ups, we will be actively ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Activism or Silence as a Sustainability Office?
- New York University (NY)
We live in a time when activism has become a regular part of our lives and addresses a multitude of issues. As Sustainability Officers, our passions and worldviews are often ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building a Consistent Sustainability Brand
- Lehigh University (PA)
In order to reap the full benefits of consistently communicating the values and messages that are core to your sustainability brand, it is important to design brand guidelines the define ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Bridging the gap: Community Engagement Programs, Sustainability, and the SDGs
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
During this session participants will gain an understanding of how alternative breaks can support and collaborate with sustainability initiatives towards the SDGs. How do sustainability and community engagement offices engage ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Mobilizing Colleges with Earth Integrity Training
- City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (NY)
- Environmental Education Fund (NJ)
Earth Integrity Training (EIT) is a program for colleges to mobilize their communities about urgent environmental issues. It provides creative and multimedia content for a 2-3 hour seminar that colleges ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Communication Strategies to Reach Beyond the Choir
- Colgate University (NY)
- University of Denver (CO)
- University of Virginia (VA)
Often times, sustainability professionals and communicators can reach a plateau when working to reach new audiences. Our institutions can often be so siloed that it is challenging to draw in ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Develop Your Toolkit for Sustainability Communications
- Colgate University (NY)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Communications play an increasingly important role as we rise to the challenge to reach the global Sustainable Development Goals. However, many sustainability professionals may find their toolkit a bit empty ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Academic Libraries Fostering Resilient Communities
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
- University of Utah (UT)
Every institution of higher education already has an academic library that can be a partner in campus sustainability. This program offers specific ideas for how faculty, sustainability staff and administrators ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Reel Sustainability: Connecting to Audiences Through Video Storytelling
- Princeton University (NJ)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
- University of Montana (MT)
- Emory University (GA)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Central New Mexico Community College (NM)
From television commercials to YouTube, Snapchat, and even Facebook Live, it's no secret that video has become a staple of our everyday lives. Video provides an easy and efficient ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Advancing Organizational Change for Sustainable Development Goals Through Neuropsychology
- University of Southern California (CA)
What role does neuropsychology play as a determinant for successful organizational change toward Sustainable Development Goals? This session explores the inter-related notions of reflective practice, metacognition, cultural norms, and critical ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Intersectionality of the Arts and Environmental Activism
- University of Denver (CO)
At the University of Denver, the Center for Sustainability has established a Zero Waste Program at all sports games, and the average diversion rate of waste from landfill is approximately ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Community-Driven Reuse Initiatives
- Flower City Pickers (NY)
This session will explore examples where waste, whether that is food, electronics, clothing, and more are recovered and either resold or redistributed by creating and leveraging purpose-driven communities. It explores ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Evaluating and improving the UDC student's knowledge on the campus sustainability projects
- University of the District of Columbia (DC)
Abstract: This research examines the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) student's knowledge on the campus sustainability projects and evaluates three intervention techniques to enhance the student's ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Ideas into Actions: The ECOllective Fund and Student-led Sustainability Initiatives at CofC
- College of Charleston (SC)
Each semester at the College of Charleston, students pay a 'Green Fee,' established in the fall of 2009 of $10 that is put into a fund that we call the ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Paying for Sustainability: Creating a Relationship With Institutional Advancement
- Bentley University (MA)
- Babson College (MA)
Over the years, the percentage of alumni giving to their alma maters has been declining. Lower alumni giving not only means less income; it also lowers an institution's standing ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student Oriented Sustainability Projects on a Small Educational Campus
- State University of New York at Canton (NY)
In learning about sustainability practices, students acquire more knowledge through an active process of engagement, by constructing new ideas and working on projects, rather than traditional teaching practices such as ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student Funded Initiatives & the Intersections of Social Justice & Sustainability
- Portland Community College (OR)
This is going to address clear and tangible ways students can have agency and autonomy over some of their Student Activity Fees in order to create more than just a ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Synergies in Sustainable Food Systems for Students, by Students
- College of Charleston (SC)
In 2017, students, faculty, and staff at the College of Charleston were compelled by Charleston YOUth Count's data administered by the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Urban green spaces connecting people and place
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The following concept is a new project designed for the Arizona State University Polytechnic campus; the development and implementation of an urban green space titled The Lot @ ASU, that serves ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Campus Kitchens Project: Connecting the Campus and the Community
- The Campus Kitchens Project (DC)
For more than 15 years The Campus Kitchens Project has been empowering students around the country to recover and transform would-be-wasted food into meals to feed members of their community ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Fighting Food Waste on College Campuses
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Aramark (PA)
BACKGROUND: An estimated 40% of food produced in the US goes uneaten, yet 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger. And that number may be even higher on college campuses ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Grassroots: Connecting Diverse Louisville Communities Through Sustainable Initiatives
- University of Louisville (KY)
The environmental threat of food waste looms over the United States alongside the imminent threat of hunger. Watching food on campus being thrown away or composted, Erin and Henny believed ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies Green Team Internship Program
- Montclair State University (NJ)
The Green Teams program is a one-of-a-kind multi-institutional internship program targeted to upper level undergraduates from any discipline who are interested in Sustainability. Green Teams are transdisciplinary teams of students ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Shorter showers? There's an App for that!
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (MA)
- NORESCO (NC)
Over the past 6 years, UMass Dartmouth has been tracking student's shower times. This has ranged from self-reported times, to specifically supported timed studies to now the development of ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Local to Global - 5 Strategies for Leaders to Win Change Now and After Graduation
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win' - Gandhi This dynamic, interactive workshop will hone your public leadership skills and teach ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Countdown to Nowruz 2018
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
The development of sustainability-focused homes on the campuses of college and universities has the potential to have significant and profound impacts on the teaching, research, and service missions of these ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Women Empowerment - Sustainable Development Goal 5
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
Women are challenged by social norms and systems that limit their potential and stifle their development. Too often we view these challenges as problems to be solved with policies, laws ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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.