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
GreenTopics: How we Tackled Reaching Environmental Skeptics
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
Engaging students with an environmental interest is easy, but the question remains 'How can we reach the environmental skeptics?' How can we inform the students who will never step foot ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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From Sustainable Development Goals to Campus Sustainability Plan
- Villanova University (PA)
The U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were announced in 2015 as the standard for future development of all nations. As such, Villanova University decided to use the SDGs as ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Motivating Students to Achieve 20% Electricity and Hot Water Savings in Campus Apartments
- Clarkson University (NY)
Through Clarkson University's Smart Housing Project, we've shown 20% savings in daily electricity and hot water use for students receiving utility use interventions compared to students not receiving ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Examining the Efficacy of an Award-Winning Bicycle-Earning Program in Altering Student and Staff Transportation Modes
- University of Louisville (KY)
This study will involve the examination and reevaluation of the Earn-A-Bike Program at the University of Louisville. This is a program that rewards student who turn over their eligibility to ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Student Governments and the Power Purchase Agreement: A Tool for Financial Sustainability
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
Students at Southern Oregon University are exploring the potential for their student government to invest in solar panels and sell the resulting electricity back to the university, cutting the university ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Catch the Wave: A Recycling Success Story from Concept to Today
- University of Kansas Medical Center (KS)
Starting up a recycling program at a medical/research educational facility has several challenges from 'How do we start?' to 'What can we recycle?'. This poster presentation will demonstrate the ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability without Boundaries: Leveraging Green Initiatives to Bridge Campus, Community, and City
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
We're all in this together! Sustainability initiatives provide an excellent opportunity to empower the full spectrum of campus stakeholders to get involved in the work of building a better ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Presidential Power: Examining the Language of Executive Campus Commitments
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
Over the course of the past decade, hundreds of college and university presidents have committed to an array of sustainability goals through platforms like Second Nature's Climate Commitment, the ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Beyond BikeShare: Sustainable Transportation in Six Months of Winter
- State University of New York at Oswego (NY)
Late summer and early fall in Oswego New York are breathtaking, ideal for our BikeShare program. But when winter comes to our campus, it stays. This presentation will explore the ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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SFU's Zero Waste Initiative
- Simon Fraser University (BC)
In January 2014, SFU launched its Zero Waste Initiative, with the aim of diverting 70% of waste from landfill, while doubling the amount recycled or composted. This goal was adopted ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Engineering Sustainable Community Relationships
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
What can engineering students offer sustainability? What will they gain from sustainability? Providing engineering students sustainability experience is a priceless investment. By learning to take a triple bottom line approach ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Tweeting @Sustainability: The #447challenge as an Active Teaching Tool
- University at Buffalo (NY)
Growing up, we are 'challenged' to be sustainable: turn off lights, stop cold water when brushing teeth, and unplug idle chargers. Reality proves that, while well-conceived, the environmental benefit of ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Campus Gardens and Farms: Creatively Addressing Food Insecurity
- Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus (OR)
This session is for staff, students and faculty working on campus gardens and farms that want to share or learn about creative programming to address food insecurity. Come to share ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A Campus Move Out Sale: The Journey From Inception to Year Six.
- Colorado State University (CO)
Six years ago CSU's Housing and Surplus Departments decided to partner and pilot an additional step into the move out process, a sale with proceeds benefiting the Eco Leaders ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Green Bikes at UNC Greensboro
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)
Learn how a public-private partnership resulted in the first free-flow dockless bike share system in North America. Presentation will highlight the planning process, program launch, and ongoing operations at the ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Dismantling the Economic Walls Within: Why Solidarity is Necessary for Living Wage Policies in Higher Education
- Saint Joseph's University (PA)
Will the different insecurities on American campuses in 2017 pull people apart in narrow self-interest, or bring us together in common cause? While some forms of insecurity are external, others ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Infusing a culture of active living via the five E's of bicycling
- Black Hills State University (SD)
Bike Spearfish! is a unique collaboration between Black Hills State University (BHSU) and Hills Horizon (a local non-profit) designed to infuse a culture of active living via advancing bicycle transportation ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Creating a Campus Culture for Sustainability by knowing how to do more with less.
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
In this session we'll look at how properly implementing campus initiatives, understanding your constituents and their needs, and enhanced marketing approaches are all necessary to move sustainability on a ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability skills - what are they? And how do we know students have them...
- Macquarie University (NSW)
Sustainability in the curriculum. Everyone is talking about it and wondering how you do it! Especially when you are a professional staff member entering into the world of faculty. Three ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Using the SDGs to progress sustainability
- Macquarie University (NSW)
The Sustainable Development Goals are the talk of the decade. Every nation state on the planet has signed up to achieve them - but what does this mean for tertiary education ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Conservatives who conserve: How to talk about sustainability outside of politics
- Michigan State University (MI)
Climate change and environmentalism have both become seemingly inseparable from political ideology. We should attempt, if possible, to keep sustainability from falling into the same partisan divide. While combating climate ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Liberal Arts Institutions Networking Meeting
- Willamette University (OR)
A networking opportunity for sustainability officers and anyone affiliated with Liberal Arts Institutions to discuss sustainability related activities, challenges, and successes. It is a great time to meet new people ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustunes! How to Plan Your own Sustainability Concert on Campus
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
As interdisciplinary as the field of sustainability is, more often than not, we see representation of the scientific, architectural and policy fields. Although these fields are important, music and art ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Bridging the Gap Between Economic Viability and Environmental Sustainability with Solar on University Campuses
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Over the past two years, University of Minnesota students, staff, and faculty have collaborated with solar and financial consultants to encourage the University of Minnesota to invest in solar energy ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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The ReUseIt Room: Shifting the Way the Campus Thinks About Waste
- Harper College (IL)
As a non-residential community college, Harper College wanted to find a program equivalent to university move out waste reduction programs. Move out waste programs have great potential to save money ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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From Divestment to Reinvestment?
- Warren Wilson College (NC)
At Warren-Wilson College, a three year student-led campaign to divest the endowment from the Carbon Underground 200 was successful. An environmental-social-governance investment policy and guiding committee, at the Trustee level ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Using the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to Assess Student Involvement
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
The reasoning behind becoming involved in topics of sustainability often vary from person to person. We've done a little thinking and found that, like most movements, the Diffusion of ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Achieving Campus Waste Goals by Leveraging Diverse Stakeholders on and off Campus
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
- Casella (VT)
UMass Lowell recently underwent a competitive bid process and the university was able to bring a diverse set of stakeholders to the table to ensure we were able to achieve ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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New game, new rules: Organising for Sustainability post-Trump and Brexit
- National Union of Students
- Power Shift Network (DC)
Following the Brexit vote, and the election of President Donald Trump, there is widespread concern amongst young people and students around the world on the stance our political leaders are ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Short, Sweet, and Powerful: Student Engagement through Campus Tabling Campaigns
- Texas A&M University (TX)
An important part of creating a culture of sustainability on a college campus is successful campus engagement. Attaining this can be difficult for many reasons, such as lack of student ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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The Road to Gold: Sustainability Success REALLY IS Written in the STARS
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) has become a vital tool for Texas A&M University. Over time, we have learned how to better leverage STARS to improve sustainability ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Dollars are Flying out of Your Green Fund! Does That Equal Success?
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Actively managing a campus green fund in its social, environmental, and economic aspects is an essential component to producing intentional results and optimizing its impact. Since its inception in 2011 ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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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 Dec. 1, 2017
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The Zero Waste Challenge: Utilizing Athletic Events to Pave the Way
- Eastern Washington University (WA)
- University of Denver (CO)
Zero Waste is not only an attainable goal but it is also an environmental and social responsibility of institutions of higher education. Utilizing studies in Zero Waste operations from two ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Empowering Community Engagement Through Event Organization: Connecticut Campus Sustainability Week
- Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
- Yale University (CT)
Encompassing all parts of university life, sustainability can be a unifying force on college campuses. Since 2015, Connecticut universities have collaborated on Campus Sustainability Week, a week-long celebration held in ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Bridging the Gap: Strategies for Sustainability-Athletics Partnerships
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- Green Sports Alliance (OR)
Expanding sustainability goals and programming to include collegiate athletics provides opportunities for unique engagements across the campus community. Doing so requires building relationships and coordinating cross-pollination between campus sustainability professionals ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Protest Meets Policy Change: Practical, Local Politics As Key to Building Community Solidarity and Sustainability
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
This dynamic workshop challenges participants to engage in politics in ways that build community solidarity and sustainability. In times of great division at the national level, practical projects and local ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Students in the Food Movement: A Vision Deeper than the Problem
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Even as the campus sustainability movement has grown, the issues in our food system have continued to deepen. Federal policy is failing to protect small farmers, while family fishermen are ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Joining Forces to Restore Urban Woodland and Reconnect Students with Nature: A Model for Campus-Community-Commerce Collaboration
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
The Bloomington Urban Woodlands Project brings campus, community, and business together to achieve on-the-ground conservation results, enhanced awareness of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and behavioral change that supports sustainability. Working ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Facilitation for Organizational Change
- GreenerU (MA)
One of the most important, yet often understated skills of any profession is the ability to be a strong group meeting facilitator. Whether it is a small internal meeting with ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Greeks Going Green: How and Why to Foster a Lasting Green Greek Life
- College of Charleston (SC)
- GreeniPhi (VA)
Greek life has a legacy of producing the change makers, leaders, and power brokers of the future. Consequently, educating Greeks about sustainability, and leading them to adopt sustainability measures as ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Social Justice Coffee Hour
- College of Charleston (SC)
Social justice coffee hour is a forum for educated and informal dialogue about different social justice issues by presenting students and attendees with different viewpoints and voices on a certain ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Campus Energy Savings S.P.A.R.K. a Student-Led Recycling Revolution
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- NORESCO (NC)
Over the past decade, Kutztown University in Pennsylvania has continually worked to retrofit and upgrade campus buildings and services to make them more energy efficient with the help of NORESCO ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Campus as Classroom at Smith College
- Smith College (MA)
This poster is a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with students who are actively using 'Campus as Classroom' methods for their respective research projects. Campus as Classroom is an ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Energizing Campuses & Communities Through More Meaningful and Applied Learning
- Skyline College (CA)
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
This networking meeting is open to all campus stakeholders interested in the Energize Colleges program. Current and potential future campus partners are invited to discuss year one successes and challenges ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Ten Years of Including Wellness in the Sustainability Model
- Bemidji State University (MN)
Bemidji State University's Sustainability Office created a unique model for sustainability that includes a wellness component. The mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health of every person matters. Reducing anxiety ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Climatepedia: A Climate Action Network for the Nation
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
Climatepedia was founded by undergraduate students in 2011 by UCLA students. It is now an emerging 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with chapters at UC Irvine, UCLA, and Yale University ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Environmental Arts: How Sustainability and Art Can Create Meaningful Community Relationships
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Art in the environment is a constant evolving idea that challenges the notion of how we approach sustainable practices. Using fine arts practices like painting and drawing express creativity that ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Developing Community Solidarity Through Beekeeping
- Central Community College (NE)
This presentation will cover how a college beekeeping course resulted in an informed community of concerned honey bee supporters. Central Community College started a beekeeping course that drew participants from ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Implementing an Environmental Sustainability Badge Program: Best Practices for Co-Curricular Learning and Community Engagement
- Central Community College (NE)
Integrating environmental sustainability across a community college's curriculum requires more than interest from administration and faculty. Integration needs employees across the entire college capable of communicating, implementing, maintaining and ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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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.