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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There’s No Place Like A Sustainable Home: Greening Off-Campus Housing
- University of Arizona (AZ)
In the summer of 2013, the University of Arizona launched the Undergraduate Off-Campus Housing Sustainability Coordinator (OCHSC) position designed to bring sustainability into the homes of students living off-campus. The …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Sustainability Survey : From Data, Dialogue, and Action
- Western Michigan University (MI)
A redesigned 2014 Western Michigan University Student Sustainability Survey asked students to rank their campus sustainability priorities (e.g., renewable energy infrastructure, sustainable food systems, curriculum/program development, green buildings). Previous annual …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Innovative Water Collection and Filtration of Garage Contaminants
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Students for Sustainability’s (SfS) Water Committee, a program of Associated Students of the University of Arizona, focuses on water conservation and education on water related issues at the University of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Bleed Orange, Act Green: Developing Student Leaders with Athletics
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Students are an essential component of sustainability initiatives within the University of Texas at Austin’s Athletics department. This team of students, the Sustainability Squad, work to create a culture of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building a Living Learning Community: Big Problems and Big Success
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
’A sustainability-themed living/learning community is a bad idea. This sort of thing has been tried before. It was a failure then, and this will be no different.’ This was the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fostering Social Change through Action and Recognition Programs
- Western Washington University (WA)
Sustainability is often approached from economic and environmental viewpoints which, while exceptionally valid, can be restrictive when approaching a project with limited quantitative data. Through the Residents’ Resource Awareness Program, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Workers Building Sustainable Communities
- Evergreen State College, The (WA)
The Evergreen State College has a unique student worker program in its residence halls since its founding in 1971. Students work with professional staff to perform the custodial and maintenance …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fostering Sustainable Behavior: Energy and Water Reduction Competitions
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
- Atrius (CA)
Excited about the idea of running an energy and/or water reduction competition on your campus, but not sure where to start? If so, this interactive workshop is for you! Campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Beyond Eco-Reps: Deepening Engagement through an Effective Residential Life Partnership
- University at Albany (NY)
UAlbany’s Office of Environmental Sustainability has partnered with Residential Life to provide a communication and training channel to students as well as robust peer-to-peer education program in resident housing. Several …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Learning for Sustainability Scotland
- Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) (Gloucestershire)
There is an undeniable need for a world that is sustainable: where people and communities value and are engaged with the natural environment; societies are inclusive and equitable; and a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Energy Hog in the House: Bringing Energy Efficiency to Life
- Alliance to Save Energy (CA)
The Energy Hog program is an entertaining and extremely effective outreach tool for college students to engage interested audiences from their community on topics related to energy. For many people …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Learning by Living: The Berea College Deep Green Student Residence Experience
- Berea College (KY)
- Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects (MO)
The Berea College LEED Platinum Deep Green Residence Hall, also seeking Living Building Challenge Petal Recognition, will have over a full year of occupancy by October 2014. Residential life, facilities, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Can you Hear me Now? Metrics for Sustainability Communications
- American University (DC)
- College of Charleston (SC)
- Duke University (NC)
- Northwestern University (IL)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- Princeton University (NJ)
Whether you are marketing an event, campaign, or simply advertising a service your office offers, tracking your communications success is essential to growing your audience and engaging your community. Every …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Implementing a Student-Led Move-Out Waste Program: UMass Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
For the last year, UMass Amherst has been partnering with a newly-formed nonprofit organization, The Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN), to launch a student-led move-out waste collection and resale program. PLAN’s …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Designing and Assessing Learning Outcomes in Co-curricular Sustainability Programs
- Portland State University (OR)
In recent years, co-curricular sustainability programs have been established at many higher education institutions. However, few such programs have developed learning outcomes (LOs) or assessment processes to measure the types …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Growing Community, Education, and Action through UC Berkeley’s Student Environmental Resource Center
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
The Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) at UC Berkeley cultivates a collaborative space for strengthening the collective effectiveness of the sustainability community, and provides resources for students to actualize their …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Integrating Sustainability into Greek Life: Empowering Students and Creating a Sustainable Campus Culture
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
For hundreds of years Greek organizations across the country have instilled in students the distinct values of tradition, scholarship and positive social influence through leadership. Due to the high diversity …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using a contemporary art gallery to communicate sustainability
- University of Plymouth (Devon)
There is the potential for universities to be beacons of good practice in sustainability through the ‘greening’ of estates, operations and curricula. However, greening is often invisible, resulting in missed …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Knowing is not Enough: Linking Behavior to Knowledge and Other Factors
- The Ohio State University (OH)
Efforts to promote sustainability literacy come naturally to many colleges and universities, as imparting knowledge is part of the core mission of higher education. But “sustainability across the curriculum,” sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Online Training as a Gateway to Stakeholder Engagement
- University of Michigan (MI)
No campus can reach their sustainability goals without deep engagement of students, faculty and staff. A key struggle for many campuses is how to initiate and maintain this engagement across …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Effects of Behavioral Signage on Dormitory Recycling Rates
- Boston University (MA)
Data shows that pairing recycling and trash containers leads to higher recycling rates. However, many older buildings do not have space for more than a trash container, especially in residential …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaging Residential Students in Energy Saving via Behavior Change
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (MA)
- NORESCO (NC)
This case study will feature results at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, which began its partnership with the Energy Service Company NORESCO in 2011. While many Energy Service Contracts only …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Applying Innovative Web-based Tools to Enhance Behavior Change Programs
- American University (DC)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Three leading Universities have piloted and implemented the innovative web-based tools, Practically Green and One Million Acts of Green, building upon their experience with simple checklists to broaden the community …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Social Marketing: A Sustainable Trend
- University of Arizona (AZ)
We live in a digital age when social structure and norms are being altered rapidly by new communication platforms. Information is no longer dispersed via newspaper, telegraph, a phone call, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Give & Go Move-Out Donation Program: Multifaceted Student Outreach Campaign
- Stanford University (CA)
Stanford’s newly revamped and rebranded Give & Go Move Out donation program in R&DE Student Housing has dramatically reduced the waste stream sent to landfills at the end of the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Amplify Your Message: Advice from Communications Professionals
- Lewis & Clark College (OR)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- Santa Clara University (CA)
The basic tenets of marketing communications—defining an audience and explaining how the benefits of a product or service suit that audience’s needs—are important tools for sustainability professionals to have, but …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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On The Team: Millions of Campus Sports Fans Engaged in Sustainability?
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- Natural Resources Defense Council (DC)
In just the last 5 years, over 200 US campuses have kicked off some level of sustainability efforts in their collegiate athletics and recreation programs. Some have achieved high level …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Build Your Own Shareable Campus
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
- CoFED (NM)
- Shareable (CA)
In this half-day workshop, participants will dive head first into the sharing economy: Part campus sustainability, part new economics, part DIY, and part open education. With support from key leaders …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Step away from the soap box!!!
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
- University of Georgia (GA)
We all know the world is falling apart around us and we are scrambling just to keep up. We have a sense of urgency that burns within us and drives …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Dust the Camera Off
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
- University of Georgia (GA)
Video provides a great medium for the presentation of policies, initiatives, and opportunities. The range of cinematic styles can be explored and used to communicate seemingly mundane messaging in a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Students & Climate Change Intervention: Investment Office Insights
- University of British Columbia (BC)
- Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (NY)
Focused on campuses with the intention of mobilizing student activists, late in 2012 a "divest from fossil fuel" campaign was begun. Most faith and values-driven institutional investors were attentive to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Relationships to Build Change
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
All social change begins with relationships. Potential student supporters, volunteers and decision-makers alike are more likely to actively support projects led by people that they know and trust. In this …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building an EcoReps Community through a Regional Conference
- American University (DC)
- University of South Carolina (SC)
Professional sustainability staff frequently convene at events and conferences such as AASHE to share best practices, network, and elevate the collective knowledge base of sustainability in higher education. On many …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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UR vs. VCU: A Campus ConseRVAtion Nationals Cross-Town Competition
- American University (DC)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
In 2013, the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University partnered in a cross-town energy competition, Campus Conservation Nationals. The schools wanted to capitalize on an existing basketball rivalry and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Aha- Yes We Can! Engaging Diverse Student Groups at Community Colleges
- Moraine Valley Community College (IL)
Aha- Yes We Can! Engaging Diverse Student Groups at Community Colleges Practiced and Proven. It is widely understood that engaging students in sustainability within a community college is incredibly and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cultivating community and sustainability at the Learning Gardens Lab
- Portland State University (OR)
Learning gardens serve as rich sustainability learning sites due to their ecological and sociocultural benefits, and provide a hands-on way for learners of all ages to engage in interconnected issues …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Connect curriculum & co-curriculum to assess engagement campus-wide
- Portland State University (OR)
Student learning occurs in a variety of ways and in a variety of places on campus. However, most measurements of student learning and engagement around sustainability are assessed separately for …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Mission Sustainable Challenge: A Platform for Collaboration!
- Santa Clara University (CA)
The Mission Sustainable Challenge was the fruit of collaboration among Santa Clara University staff, faculty and students that culminated in 176 members of the university community taking a daily sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Co-creative Leadership: A Mindset for Change Agents
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Co-creative Leadership is an approach to leadership that values a wholesome balance and produces an expectation of justice. Through the use of contemplative practices (e.g. observation, reflection, storytelling, group dialogue, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creativity, Movement, & New Leadership: A Model for Collaboration
- Portland State University (OR)
Imagine a campus where leaders felt supported in their leadership, and where new ideas were not challenged but encouraged. By building a coalition of student leaders from across the campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Managing Campus Politics to Build a Sustainability Coalition
- DePauw University (IN)
On many campuses, energy and initiative for sustainability efforts begins with faculty and students. The path forward from that initial enthusiasm inevitably requires collaboration with senior administration and, given the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using Attitude & Behavior Surveys to Advance Sustainability on Campus
- Elon University (NC)
Surveys (or assessments) are often used to assess attitudes and behaviors related to sustainability on campuses. Such surveys are generally different from sustainability literacy assessments, which assess sustainability knowledge. Sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Collaborative Intersections for creating campus change
- Evergreen State College, The (WA)
The Evergreen State College has a long history of actively pursuing cross-divisional collaborations and integration of student projects with campus operations. Past collaborations resulted in the formation of the campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cross-Disciplinary, Student-led Sustainability Projects that Build Engagement and Realize Core Learning Outcomes
- Portland Community College (OR)
This presentation will share highlights from projects which seek to support instructors in the development and implementation of sustainability curriculum thereby increasing student engagement and improving their knowledge, skills and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Portland State University - Cultural Sustainability Walking Tour Map
- Portland State University (OR)
Portland State University is situated on a large urban campus in downtown Portland, Oregon. Disseminating information about cultural and resource centers as well as other services on campus to the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Speed dating for scientists: Converting research to action
- Portland State University (OR)
University research is fostering innovation that can fuel the emerging sustainable economy and inform progress on thorny community problems, but the world of academia is too often disconnected from community …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Collaboration & Compromise: Alternatives to a Bottled Water Ban
- Portland State University (OR)
The call to ban bottled water sales on college and university campuses is growing stronger across the country, with 24 institutions listed by AASHE as having a ban in place. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Harnessing student enthusiasm through a Waste Reduction Task Force
- Portland State University (OR)
Portland State University’s Waste Reduction Task Force is a student-led initiative that seeks to redefine the way PSU’s campus community looks at trash. Through partnering with strategic departments and organizations …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaging Faculty in Sustainability
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)
To achieve a truly sustainable campus, expertise from all corners of campus needs to be brought together, while providing learning opportunities for students. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Composting
- Southwestern University (TX)
Southwestern University students led a composting initiative in Fall 2011 which has evolved into a campus wide program which has made a significant impact on the community and University. The …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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.