Campus Engagement
Introduction
Engaging in sustainability issues through co-curricular activities allows students to deepen and apply their understandings of sustainability principles. Institution-sponsored co-curricular sustainability offerings, often coordinated by student affairs offices, help integrate sustainability into the campus culture and set a positive tone for the institution. Faculty and staff members’ daily decisions impact an institution’s sustainability performance. Equipping faculty and staff with the tools, knowledge, and motivation to adopt behavior changes that promote sustainability is an essential activity of a sustainable campus.
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Learning about Sustainability—What Influences Students’ Self-Perceived Sustainability Actions after Undergraduate Education?
- Gävle University College
Changing societies’ minds about sustainability requires knowledge about the situation, awareness of what needs to be done and actions to change today’s unsustainable behaviors. Universities are challenged to develop students’ …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
- Publications
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Fossil fuel divestment in US higher education: student-led organising for climate justice
- Pitzer College (CA)
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
Based on over one year of participant observation within the student-led fossil fuel divestment (FFD) movement, this article contextualises the origins, successes, challenges, and inner workings of the FFD movement …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
- Publications
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Evaluating the engagement of universities in capacity building for sustainable development in local communities
- Bournemouth University (Dorset)
- Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
- University of Beira Interior
- University of Passo Fundo
Universities have the potential to play a leading role in enabling communities to develop more sustainable ways of living and working however, sustainable communities may only emerge with facilitation, community …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
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Adoption of sustainable development reporting by universities: An analysis of French first-time reporters
- National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts
The purpose of this paper is to study the issuance of sustainable development reports by French universities, based on two dimensions proposed by Ansari et al. (2010): extensiveness and fidelity.Three …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
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Radically different learning’: implementing sustainability pedagogy in a university peer mentor program
- Portland State University (OR)
Sustainability education is a growing field within higher education that fosters personal and intellectual engagement with the interconnected tensions of pressing social, ecological, economic, and political issues. Sustainability education aims …
- Posted Dec. 13, 2017
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Modeling Factors with Influence on Sustainable University Management
- University of Trento (Trentino)
- Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
The main objective of this paper is to present the factors with influence on the sustainable university management and the relationships between them. In the scientific approach we begin from …
- Posted Dec. 13, 2017
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Environmental sustainability in higher education: What do academics think?
- Deakin University
The slow uptake of Education for Sustainability (EfS) curricula in universities has, partly, been attributed to academics’ perceptions that EfS has little relevance within some disciplines. Understanding teaching academics’ attitudes, …
- Posted Dec. 12, 2017
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Ecoversity: the potential for sustainable development to reshape university culture and action
- Bradford University (West Yorkshire)
This paper describes an institutional strategy (Ecoversity) to embed sustainable development across the full range of university activities and services and reflects on two different phases of Ecoversity providing illustrations …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2017
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What does a sustainability manager do? Sustainable development at the University of Leeds
- University of Leeds (West Yorkshire)
Abstract This paper discusses a large UK university's sustainable development programme and provides a framework for replication in other educational organisations. The development and implementation of its environmental management system …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2017
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Beyond Campus: Engaging Students in Sustainability, Resilience and Climate Policymaking
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- AASHE (MA)
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
In the aftermath of President Trump’s decision to abandon the Paris Agreement, universities, cities, states, and companies have stepped up to lead. A coalition representing fully half the U.S. population …
- Posted Dec. 7, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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New App Leverages Power of Rewards Currency, Smart Tech and Games to Drive Purposeful Engagement Among Students
- PIPS Education Fund (NY)
Calls by the new U.S. President to roll back environmental, health and justice protections has left many students feeling insecure and concerned for their futures. Interestingly, a campus' overall commitment …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Occupant Engagement Leads to Substantial Energy Savings for Plug Loads
- Keewi Inc. (CA)
Plug loads, defined as devices plugged into the wall outlet, comprise about 33% of a commercial building's total energy expenditure. Existing management technologies have overlooked the effects of building occupants …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Student Summit Opening Keynote Speaker: Lydia D. Avila
- Power Shift Network (DC)
Lydia D. Avila is the Executive Director of the Power Shift Network - a diverse, national network of youth-led and youth-focused climate justice organizations. Lydia is originally from a working …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Student and Staff Sustainability Surveys - expectations being met? An Australian example.
- University of Tasmania (TAS)
Traditional approaches to teaching sustainability have been through including the topic in geography and science curriculums. More recently, we have seen an expansion of Education for Sustainability across discipline areas …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Student-Driven Climate Outcomes: A Liberal Arts College's Journey in Energy/Sustainabiity
- Entegrity (AR)
This poster tells a story about students that were the drivers of bringing a focused engagement to their campus to achieve climate goals. The students researched initiatives at other campuses …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Finding Your Voice: Understanding Otherness in Sustainability Education
- Texas A&M University (TX)
This presentation aims to examine the relationship between the pillars of sustainability, and the power based relationships that are created when a dominant culture subjects others to accept the status …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Green the Greeks at Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
An in depth guide to creating and implementing a sustainability program focused on Greek organization involvement in a public university. Topics will include establishment, data recording, participation, roadblocks, collaborating with …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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In Their Own Words and by the Numbers: A Mixed -Methods Study of the Advancement of Sustainability in American Higher Education
- Florida Atlantic University (FL)
A call for the urgent implication due to the increasingly hostile environment is pressing. All social sectors should respond to the change with active participation. Notably, 'higher education institutions are …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The Internet of Things (IoT) and the Student Experience: Sustainability by Design
- The Sextant Group (PA)
Every day we hear of a new technology that is Internet-connected, enabled, enhanced! If they can afford it, college students are eager first adopters of these gadgets and their applications. …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Empowering Student Leadership in Tough Times
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
Our greatest legacy as campus sustainability changemakers may be the leaders we develop. National news can sometimes discourage students, yet can also be profound motivation for a life of leadership …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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How to Build Strategic Power -- Seven Secrets for Leaders to Win Change On & Beyond Campus
- 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 …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change film screening
- Bullfrog Films (PA)
A 127-minute feature documentary. Filmmaker Josh Fox continues in his deeply personal style, investigating climate change in 12 countries, acknowledging that it may be too late to stop some of …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond Offsetting: Onsetting Scope 3 Emissions and Supporting Innovative Local Projects
- Earth Deeds (MA)
Universities struggle to find meaningful ways to address their Scope 3 emissions, especially with regard to staff travel and study abroad. This session will explain carbon onsetting as a positive …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Materials Health and Transparency: The Social, Physical, and Environmental Impacts
- Bruner/Cott Architects (MA)
Material health and transparency are not only issues of sustainable building, but also social justice and public health. Building construction has both upstream and downstream consequences to people and communities. …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Activities on campus sustainability for solidarity in Japan - A Case Study: The Green Program in Fukushima -
- Fukushima College
Involvement of many people is a key to establish sustainable campus as well as taking advantage of advanced technology. However, it is very difficult for us today to unite for …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Why a majority of students don't live their 'sustainability values' and what to do about it
- GreeniPhi (VA)
While the average college student claims to value sustainability, their commitment to environmental conservation often fails to translate into action. This session uses insights from psychology and business to explore …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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By Impacting Hearts and Minds, Emergent Leadership Transforms Brick and Mortar Projects Into Much More
- The EMERGE Leadership Project (WA)
If conventional leadership was all that was needed to create a truly sustainable built environment - one that generates choices equitably -- we would be there already. This presentation offers …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Strategic Planning for Campus Sustainability Management
- Mohawk College (ON)
Mohawk College's Environmental Management Plan is the blueprint and leading policy document for making the College a more environmentally, socially and financially resilient institution. By addressing key operational areas and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Emphasizing Diversity and Equity in Your Sustainability Narrative
- Chemeketa Community College (OR)
As practitioners of sustainability, too often we take an approach that applies the dominant cultural sustainability paradigm (personal sustainability efforts and outdoor activities) and excludes social inequity (human and environmental …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Fix It Friday
- Illinois State University (IL)
Fix It Friday is a program at Illinois State University in which students majoring in the Fashion Design and Merchandising program set up sewing machines in various locations around campus …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Lean Green Financing at MSIs
- Huston-Tillotson University (TX)
In the rapidly evolving field of sustainability, both new technology and financing mechanisms are opening possibilities for green projects on campuses previously perceived as unattainable. Over the past three years, …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Doing More With Less
- Santa Clara University (CA)
In a world where information of many current events is so readily available, there seem to be countless opportunities to utilize the content for educating about sustainability. However, taking advantage …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainable Entrepreneurship into the Universidad EAN (Colombia)
- Universidad EAN
This proposal arises from the need to study the new entrepreneurship in the modern world and the factors for to obtain the sustainability as an attribute into the educational process …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Why a Social Justice Framework Is the Only Way to Collective Climate Justice and Deep Sustainability
- Hackman Consulting Group
This poster session lays out the rationale for the absolute need for a social justice framework when doing climate justice and sustainability work by making three essential points: 1. How …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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In Serving Solidarity, Let's Talk about Privilege: Critical Conversations About 'Unsustainable' Race, Class & Gender Privilege
- Hackman Consulting Group
While attention to the ways dynamics of racism, classism and gender oppression target people of color and native people, poor and working class people, and cisgender women and trans* folks …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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To Come Together, We Must Transform What's Divided Us: Utilizing a Social Justice Lens for Collective Campus Sustainability Work
- Hackman Consulting Group
As evidenced over the last 24 months, a lack of critical understanding of social justice issues makes collaborative work across multiple lines of identity near impossible, while thoughtful attention to …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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An Introduction to the Role of Race, Class and Gender Issues On Campus Sustainability Work
- Hackman Consulting Group
This introductory session explores the powerfully important ways that dynamics of race, class and gender (RCG) impact the efficacy of our campus sustainability work, and then suggests how a racial …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Street Harassment Assessment at the College of Charleston
- College of Charleston (SC)
Colleges and universities in urban areas are made up of many different types of environments. The nonprofit organization Stop Street Harassment, defines street harassment as 'unwanted whistling, leering, sexist, homophobic …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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How Learning Interdependently in Outdoor Settings can Induce a Paradigm Shift & Foster a Yearn to Protect the Natural World
- College of Charleston (SC)
As a vice president of the College of Charleston's Outdoors Club and long-time outdoor enthusiast, I have found that exposing people to the natural world has been one of the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Abroad: Best Practices in Iceland
- University of South Carolina (SC)
The aim of this poster is to give insight on how to create sustainable communities by providing examples of the best practices in the world's most sustainable country, Iceland. The …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Social Justice Through a Sustainability Lens
- University of South Carolina (SC)
In this interactive session, participants will develop their knowledge of social justice and will be able to recognize the intersectionality of these issues with the pillars of sustainability. Participants will …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sparking Conversation and Collaboration Through Campus Conferences
- Knox College (IL)
The campus community is a place of thought, innovation, and action, and these skills shouldn't stop at the campus boundaries; they are applicable to national and international issues. One solution …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Diversion Drama: A Waste Study in Residence Halls
- Skidmore College (NY)
This spring the Skidmore Sustainability Office launched a waste study for four residence halls, which house a fourth of the on-campus student population. Preliminary waste assessments indicated that 50-60% of …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sub-Metering and Energy Dashboard Networking
- Macalester College (MN)
This networking session will allow individuals already engaged in a collaborative discussion about dashboards and energy metering to touch base. Any individuals wishing to learn more and become involved or …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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RightCycle: Comprehensive Recycling System at Arizona State University
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Although many products are potentially eligible for recycling, a countless number of recyclable products is being thrown away in trash bins in which ends up in landfills. There are abundant …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Art for Science Community Challenge 2018: Climate Disruption
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The 2017 March for Science was an unprecedented event of scientists and science advocates stepping out of the laboratories and into the avenues. Pennsylvania Avenue to be exact was the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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How to Streamline and Scale your Sustainability Certification Program
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Do you have green certifications to encourage and reward sustainability efforts on campus?? Do you manually send the results or certifications? Do you get live data for analysis that shows …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The Intersection Between Sustainability and Human Health
- University of Arizona (AZ)
The Environmental Health Committee is part of the University of Arizona's Students for Sustainability organization. It consists of thirteen students who work together to implement projects involving sustainability and the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The Beginnings of Zero Waste - Approaches and challenges to new waste diversion campaigns and initiatives.
- Harvey Mudd College (CA)
While zero waste and broader waste reduction initiatives are common in institutions of higher education, there are substantial challenges to launching those initiatives. As many sustainability professionals can attest, timing, …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Developing a Green Office Program at your Institution
- Harvey Mudd College (CA)
Much of our work as sustainability officers is to encourage the campus community to embrace and live an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, While oftentimes initiatives will target students, eco-conscious purchasing and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- 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.
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.