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
AU's Energy Team Partners with DOEE to educate the community
- American University (DC)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
In efforts to promote American University’s Annual Campus Beautification Day, the Energy and Engineering Team at AU partnered with the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to locate ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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Ohio State University Student Sustainability Fair 2017
- The Ohio State University (OH)
The Student Sustainability Fair has become a fun tradition at Ohio State, educating students on the many organizations on campus they can join, as well as the community, government and ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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Ohio State University Earth Day Give-Away: Reusable Lunch Bags for students
- The Ohio State University (OH)
The Ohio State Office of Energy and Environment celebrates Earth Day by providing items to students that helps them be more sustainable. In 2017, students were given reusable lunch bags ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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Concordia University - 2017 Earth Day
- Concordia University (QC)
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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Not Business as Usual: Fostering Civic Engagement on Climate Change
- The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)
Attendees will engage in a discussion of what it means to them to civically engage through building consensus, seeking common ground, and moving towards climate solutions in a non-partisan way ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Successful Sustainability Efforts, Action from Constructive Communication
- University of North Texas (TX)
- Understand the field and the reach of technical communication in relation to how it affects campus sustainability efforts, specifically, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) report and in ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Integrating Education for Sustainable Development through Tree Campus USA
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
- Participants will be able to identify the advantages of including credit-based learning in the project versus hiring consultants
- Participants will be able to extrapolate and apply a plan for implementation ...
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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It's All About the People! Let's Talk About Social Sustainability
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Value social sustainability as a necessity for advancing campus sustainability.
- Identify strategies for including social sustainability on your campus.
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Recycle Bikes
- Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TX)
Attendees to this presentation will learn: 1. Who key stakeholders are on campus 2. How to set up the program 3. Where to find bikes 4. How to attract students ...
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Earth Day 2017
- Indiana State University (IN)
These pictures capture the wonderful turnout that our department managed to create for our largest, and favorite, event of the year.
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Photographs
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"Staffulty”: When Sustainability Staff Take on Faculty Roles
- Rice University (TX)
- Attendees will develop a rich understanding of the “staffulty” position.
- Attendees will learn the variety of ways that sustainability staff can engage with what is traditionally the faculty realm, including ...
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Honored Members of the Sustainability Community
- Indiana State University (IN)
Our student, faculty, and staff award winners! From left to right: Ivy Coble, Dara Middleton, Dr. Joy O'Keefe, and Dr. Jim Speer
These four people have worked so diligently ...
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Day Fair 2017 at Lehigh University
- Lehigh University (PA)
Lehigh University celebrated its annual Earth Day Fair on Friday, April 21 from 11am-130pm on the UC Front Lawn. There were 30-40 interactive booths, 4 electric cars on display, an ...
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Photographs
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James Madison University's Center for Faculty Innovation FLASHPOINT: Earth Day 2017. Protecting Scientific Knowledge, Protecting the Environment.
- James Madison University (VA)
The Earth Day 2017 Flashpoint brings together faculty experts in environmental science, law, policy, conservation, and renewable energy on the occasion of the 2017 Earth Day and the Scientists’ March ...
- Posted April 24, 2017
- Photographs
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Permaculture on Campus
- Hiram College (OH)
Students help sheet mulch and add edible landscaping on Hiram College's campus this Earth Day.
- Posted April 24, 2017
- Photographs
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Suffolk County Community College - Earth Week!
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
Suffolk County Community College Earth Week Events!
- Posted April 21, 2017
- Photographs
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Suffolk County Community College Earth Week!
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
Earth Week Events at Suffolk County Community College
- Posted April 21, 2017
- Photographs
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Feeding the Flames: A Report on Student Hunger at UIC
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
This report represents the results of a yearlong study of student food insecurity at UIC conducted by students and faculty in the School of Public Health, Division of Environmental and ...
- Posted April 21, 2017
- Publications
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Leveraging Sub-Meter Data as Feedback to Engage Community Members and Save Energy on Shoestring Staffing and Funding
- Macalester College (MN)
- AASHE (MA)
Macalester College has leveraged no-cost and open-source solutions to provide feedback to community members while, simultaneously, informing facilities about energy-saving opportunities to further advance its sub-metering initiatives. Whether you find ...
- Posted April 20, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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LED Light Bulbs at Yukon College
- Yukon University (YT)
inCharge exists to put some power back in your hands. Yukon’s two electrical utilities have come together to create the territory-wide inCharge program, offering electricity-saving rebates and incentives, Yukon-based ...
- Posted April 20, 2017
- Photographs
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ConnecTable Team AASHE Earth Day Photo
- Sunbolt (PA)
The ConnecTable team with their new solar charging station model the Hub in front of headquarters in Willow Grove, PA.
- Posted April 17, 2017
- Photographs
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Empowering the New Energy Workforce: Best Practices for Campus Energy Education & Internships
- AASHE (MA)
- California State University, Bakersfield (CA)
- University of California, Merced (CA)
- Skyline College (CA)
- College of the Desert (CA)
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
Hear first-hand from a diverse set of California colleges that are creating student internships and work-based learning opportunities to support energy and sustainability career pathways. This webinar highlights campus outcomes ...
- Posted April 17, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Universities and the Sustainable Development Future: Evaluating Higher-Education Contributions to the 2030 Agenda
Since the mid-1970s, a series of international declarations that link environment and sustainable development to all aspects of higher learning have been endorsed and signed by universities around the world ...
- Posted April 17, 2017
- Publications
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Emory Earth Festival
- Emory University (GA)
Emory's annual Earth Festival kicks off Earth Month. The Festival runs in conjunction with Emory's weekly Farmers Market and brings together Atlanta based non-profits, government agencies, and businesses ...
- Posted April 17, 2017
- Photographs
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Opening up the Pandora's box of sustainability league tables of universities: a Kafkaesque perspective
The aim of this paper is to explore the institutional impact of sustainability league tables on current university agendas. It focuses on a narrative critique of one such league table ...
- Posted April 12, 2017
- Publications
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Fredonia lights the campus green
- State University of New York at Fredonia (NY)
In celebration of Earth Month fredonia uses green lamps to light the campus, including the Landford House (the President's Residence)
- Posted April 11, 2017
- Photographs
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David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes present Fredonia Earth Month Keynote Address
- State University of New York at Fredonia (NY)
National Geographic underwater photographers and married couple David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes presented the Earth Month keynote address at The State University of New York at Fredonia on April 3rd.
- Posted April 11, 2017
- Photographs
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Sustainable AUC - Earth Week April 19 , 23
- American University in Cairo (Cairo)
This year’s festivities will focus on cleaner and greener ways to live on a day-to-day basis, while simultaneously celebrating the Earth’s natural beauty. The theme for the week ...
- Posted April 11, 2017
- Photographs
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SFA Dining Waste Audit
- Stephen F. Austin State University (TX)
- Aramark (PA)
We conducted a waste audit in our Dining Halls to see how much food we waste!
- Posted April 11, 2017
- Photographs
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SFA Dining Earth Month Kick Off
- Stephen F. Austin State University (TX)
- Aramark (PA)
We kicked off Earth Month by participating in our campus Earth Month Celebration & Plant Sale and by encouraging plant-based eating at a station takeover in our Dining Hall.
- Posted April 11, 2017
- Photographs
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Xiuhtezcatl Martinez; 16-year-old indigenous Climate Activist
- Georgia College & State University (GA)
Georgia College's Sustainability Fee Program will be hosting Xiuhtezcatl Martinez at the 2017 Sustainability Fee Program Symposium on April 20, 2017 at 5pm on Front Campus.
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is ...
- Posted April 11, 2017
- Photographs
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Villanova Earth Day Celebration
- Villanova University (PA)
Villanova Earth Day Celebration.
- Posted April 11, 2017
- Photographs
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How to Reduce Your School's Carbon Footprint – For Free!
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
- AASHE (MA)
- TerraPass (CA)
UCapture offsets users’ carbon footprint, for free, when they shop with 2000+ partners. Their platform harnesses the power of consumers to build the “cost of carbon” into every transaction – and ...
- Posted April 3, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Quantity and Electricity Consumption of Plug Load Equipment on a University Campus
- Stanford University (CA)
The percent of energy consumed by plug load equipment in commercial buildings is on the rise. Research conducted in the past has included surveying plug load equipment, measuring plug load ...
- Posted April 3, 2017
- Publications
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The Glocal Curriculum: A Practical Guide to Teaching and Learning in an Interconnected World
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
In the 21st century, higher education faces a number of substantial challenges. We need to educate a rapidly increasing number of students, as college and other degrees become a requirement ...
- Posted March 21, 2017
- Publications
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Developing High Impact Applied Learning for Sustainability Programs
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
This webinar explores leading examples of applied learning in sustainability programs that are designed create exceptional student experiences and a lasting impact on the sustainability goals pursued by the community ...
- Posted March 15, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Texas A&M gets ‘gold’ rating for campus sustainability
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- AASHE (MA)
- Posted March 14, 2017
- Publications
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Menus of Change Principles of Healthy, Sustainable Menus
- The Culinary Institute of America (NY)
These principles are part of the Menus of Change initiative by The Culinary Institute of America and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.
- Posted March 13, 2017
- Tools
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SAVE Sustainable Actions Visible Effects
- Pomona College (CA)
Project Overview Pomona-College is excited to present their innovative partnership with MelRok, “The Streaming Energy Innovator”. This partnership is the foundation of Pomona’s SAVE, Sustainable Actions Visible Effects initiative ...
- Posted March 9, 2017
- Case Studies
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High school experiences and climate change beliefs of first year college students in the United States
- Purdue University (IN)
- University of Virginia (VA)
- Oklahoma State University (OK)
- University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)
- Virginia Tech (VA)
- Florida International University (FL)
Climate change has not been well understood by high school students in the US and the topic is often connected to misconceptions, which is especially damaging since accurate understandings of ...
- Posted March 7, 2017
- Publications
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Assessing the impact of a program designed to develop sustainability leadership amongst staff members in higher education institutes: a case study from a community of practice perspective
This study focuses on the impact of a sustainability leadership development program (SLDP) designed to develop staff members as leaders who encourage sustainability practices within institutions of higher education (IHE ...
- Posted March 7, 2017
- Publications
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Preparing for Campus Sustainability Month 2016
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- University of North Florida (FL)
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
- AASHE (MA)
October is Campus Sustainability Month (CSM)! Watch this webinar to gain ideas and inspiration for how you can take advantage of CSM to engage and inspire incoming students and other ...
- Posted March 7, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Future Leaders Survey 2006/7
This report presents the results of a survey distributed to UK residents aged 21 and under who applied to universities and colleges in 2006. Key findings include:
- 46% say that ...
- Posted March 6, 2017
- Publications
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Campus as a Living Laboratory for Sustainability Resources
- Princeton University (NJ)
Google doc with links to general resources, scholarly works, STARS data, and campus' websites for case studies on Campus as (Living, Learning) Lab for sustainability. Please feel free to suggest ...
- Posted March 2, 2017
- Tools
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Impact of a participatory analysis of a campus sustainability social network: A case study of Emory University
- Emory University (GA)
Social network analysis makes visible the invisible connections and flows that underlie complex social relationships. Applied organizational researchers have used social network analysis to assess and improve organizational and leadership ...
- Posted March 2, 2017
- Publications
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar - Using a Design Competition to Expand Bee Habitat On and Off-Campus
- University of Manitoba (MB)
- AASHE (MA)
BEE / HOUSE / LAB was an international design competition at the University of Manitoba that resulted in innovative bee houses built, installed around campus and used for research. The reasons for ...
- Posted March 2, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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A Behavioral Approach to the Development of a Campus-Wide Recycling System
- Western Michigan University (MI)
This article describes efforts to establish a more effective campus-wide recycling system at Western Michigan University. A study was designed as a continuation of an established line of behavioral recycling ...
- Posted March 1, 2017
- Publications
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Sustainability as competitive advantage in higher education in the UK
- University of Leeds (West Yorkshire)
This paper draws on a series of five ESRC-funded seminars held between 2006 and 2008 on 'Sustainability as competitive advantage in higher education in the UK'. We sketch the background ...
- Posted March 1, 2017
- Publications
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Waste Audit Training Materials
- Lehigh University (PA)
Here are the training materials that we use for waste audits at Lehigh.
1) Blood Borne Pathogen Video Presentation - put together by our EH&S department 2) Waste Audit Logistics Powerpoint ...
- Posted March 1, 2017
- Tools
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Plans and Living Practices for the Green Campus of Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
This study aims to comprehend Portland State University (PSU)’s green campus strategies, and students’ level of knowledge and living practices relating to green campus. PSU’s sustainable campus plan ...
- Posted Feb. 21, 2017
- Publications
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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.