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
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
EcoHouse at SUNY Geneseo: Creating Connections and Opportunities
- State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
The purpose of this poster is to share with conference participants the history of SUNY Geneseo’s EcoHouse, and how this residential community has been able to engage students in sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
UAF Sustainability App Challenge
- University of Alaska Fairbanks (AK)
In the Fall of 2013 the UAF Office of Sustainability received a grant from Verizon to develop a mobile phone app that encourages sustainability among its users. We chose to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Accomplish More, Work Less
- University of Denver (CO)
The University of Denver Undergraduate Student Government Sustainability Committee (SUSCOM) has evolved into an efficient and well-organized platform for organizing and implementing student-led sustainability initiatives. This, however, was not always …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Green Room Certifications
- University of Denver (CO)
We are spearheading a project called the Green Room Certification program. The Green Room Certification program provides students with the opportunity to be rewarded for implementing sustainable practices in their …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A Hut Trend: Student to student engagement enabling sustainability
- University of Florida (FL)
Are you tired of people walking away at the sound of the word “sustainability”? Sustainability interns at the University of Florida have developed a solution to this problem: The Sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Empowering Students with Knowledge and Knowhow on Sustainability
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
University is a place where students not only gain knowledge, but also get the opportunity to acquire the vision and leadership insight needed for leading their future communities. Moreover, students …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Leveraging Student Fees to Facilitate Student Led Initiatives
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
In 2007, the University of North Carolina at Asheville instituted a $20/semester student green fee to create a sustainability fund, and created the Student Environmental Center (SEC), a student-led organization …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Growing Sustainable Student Leaders
- University of South Carolina (SC)
Employability is becoming the standard by which we measure the value of a college degree. It is up to higher education professionals to incorporate opportunities for professional development into the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building Communities and Community Gardens on Campus
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
Project Grow - Growing Community and a Garden at Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University (WKU) is building its first Community Garden on campus, a research-based project that includes four …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Green Energy Fee Grant Program: Making campus more sustainable - one project at a time
- Western Washington University (WA)
The Green Energy Fee Grant Program is a Western Washington University grant program that enables the campus community to apply for funding to implement sustainable initiatives on campus. The Green …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability, Diversity, and Identity in First Year Orientation
- Williams College (MA)
“Root” is a new first year orientation program at Williams College focused on social justice, identity, and sustainability. While many other institutions offer orientation programs related to one of those …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building the Institution through Campus Sustainability Surveys
- York University
York University is Canada’s third largest university, with a population of students, faculty and staff numbering approximately 60,000. Many research and teaching programs situated across the university’s 11 faculties incorporate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Diversity as the Guiding Principle: Sustainable Social Innovations
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
Today institutions are cultivating a diversity of innovations to promote sustainability education, practice and development. Residence life may have a sustainability-themed living-learning community and student activities may have an environmental …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Practice! Applied Yoga for a Just and Sustainable World
- Evergreen State College, The (WA)
Learning about the dire conditions of the world through sustainability studies can be an overwhelming and painful process for college students. For the past several years, I have been experimenting …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Carpe YOUR Campus: Considerations for Course Correcting Programs
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
An underrated concept for many students: progress is a process. The same goes for creating the right program for your campus, your office, and your student body. This session will …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
AASHE Panel Discussion: Behavior Catalyzing Sustainable Change
- Kimberly-Clark Professional (GA)
Furthering sustainability on campus and across the globe requires a team effort at shaking up the process, perceptions and habits to consider a new, more sustainable path. This panel will …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Working on Waste at the Kwantlen Student Association
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University (BC)
The Kwantlen Student Association completed a student led waste audit of our student owned and run GrassRoots Cafe and main offices in early 2014. After the waste audit we have …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Integrating Sustainability Into the Greek System
- Lehigh University (PA)
This presentation will cover the integration of sustainability into the Greek system starting in 2010 with a student initiative focused on the addition of sustainability into Greek accreditation through the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Levers For Change: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Organizational Change
- Linfield College (OR)
Often times sustainability is relegated to the pigeonhole of environmentalism. At Linfield College, an interdisciplinary partnership between two sociology courses and a business course found common ground in sustainability through …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Telling Tales and Turning Heads: Communication Strategies that Work on Campus
- Luther College (IA)
In Sustainability, there is no lack for ideas to reduce campus waste and energy use. Environmental studies and sustainability programs at institutions across the country are abuzz with new ways …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The EcoChallenge: Bridging the Say-Do Gap, together
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
In this program we will present a free on line tool and in person program (the EcoChallenge) available for students, faculty, and staff to engage in positive behavior change that …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Learning at Home: Building Living Learning Laboratories for Sustainability
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
The pursuit of sustainability is ongoing effort with diverse implications and opportunities in the development of new solutions and the advancement of collective human consciousness. A powerful aspect of this …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Science, Collaboration, and Sustainable Change
- Portland State University (OR)
Take Back the Tap is a national campaign spearheaded by nonprofit Food and Water Watch but run by students on college campuses across the nation. Portland State administration continues to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Green Citizen Campaign
- Seneca Polytechnic (ON)
In 2011, Seneca College, a Canadian leader in post-secondary environmental programming, laid the groundwork for a multi-faceted initiative intended to take the college’s environmental focus to the next level. Green …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Collaboration and Communication Across the Administrative Divide
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
Colleges and Universities often struggle with change and innovation. In a fiscal climate of decreasing funding, changes requiring large capital investments are frequently met with skepticism at best and may …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Effectiveness of a Student-led Sustainability Advocacy Coalition
- Stephen F. Austin State University (TX)
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA), located in East Texas, formed a Sustainability and Energy Management Committee, made up of mid-high level administrative and academic staff. Their primary function was …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student sustainability grants for campus projects at Ohio State
- The Ohio State University (OH)
All across America, institutions struggle to expand programming and to provide meaningful learning opportunities to their students during times of shrinking budgets, increasing costs and reduction of state support. Oftentimes, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Graduating Global Stewards: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Analysis
- The Ohio State University (OH)
For my research, I am arguing that institutions of higher learning are important sites for sustainability, as they can propel the overall national and international agenda towards renewable energy and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Train to Sustain: Creating Effective Professional Development
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Are you responsible for teaching professional or student staffs about sustainability? Whether it is the coworkers in your office, your institution’s Resident Assistants, or professional development sessions open to anyone …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student Activism to Catalyze Campus Sustainability
- University of Hawaii at Hilo (HI)
Students hold a tremendous amount of power on both their campuses and their greater communities. When students make their voices heard through nonviolent actions, collaboration, and activism, social and sustainable …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Rock Chalk Recycle: Athletics Recycling at The University of Kansas
- University of Kansas (KS)
In 2013, the University of Kansas (KU) Recycling Program Launched the Rock Chalk Recycle initiative. Rock Chalk Recycle is a partnership between KU Recycling and KU Athletics that set out …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Rock Chalk Recycle: From 0-Zero
- University of Kansas (KS)
What is the first thing you think of when I say, "The University of Kansas?" Perhaps it’s the invention of basketball, the four national championships, or the 10 straight Big …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Real Food Campus Commitment: Sustainable Food Purchasing and Student Decision Making at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
The Real Food Campus Commitment is a pledge for colleges and universities stating that they will buy at least 20% Real Food by 2020. Signing onto the commitment can be …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
We’re gonna get hydrated! Shrinking bottled water use (without a ban)
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
While students on some campuses work to ban (or to fight bans on) bottled water, positive partnerships at the University of Minnesota Duluth provided infrastructure, education, and social-norming around the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Pack & Give Back: A Sustainable Move Out Program for On and Off Campus
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Pack & Give Back is a household waste diversion effort at the end of each semester for students moving out of on-campus residential hosing and in neighborhoods adjacent to campus. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Campus Sustainability Tours: Seeing is Teaching
- University of North Texas (TX)
The University of North Texas offers special sustainability tours year round to primary, secondary and college level students. The tours also engage the off campus community to include sustainability professionals …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
EcoRep Program Advisors Meet Up
- University of South Carolina (SC)
This will be a chance for the advisors of EcoReps or similar peer-leadership programs to meet and discuss the challenges, successes, and structure of their programs.
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Green Events: Engaging Students in Sustainability via Event Planning
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Planning and attending events is a key facet of undergraduate student life. Planning these events allows student leaders to develop important life skills including: teamwork, logistics, prioritization, outreach and time …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Fostering Sustainability Through Place-based Ecological Design
- University of Vermont (VT)
This presentation will feature the activities and philosophy of the Ecological Design Collaboratory recently established at UVM’s GreenHouse Residential Learning Community. The Collaboratory has become the hub of design-build activities …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability & Wellness Month: A replicable outreach campaign to encourage healthy, sustainable behaviors on campus.
- University of Virginia (VA)
The University of Virginia’s Hoo’s Well wellness team partnered with the Office for Sustainability to develop an outreach campaign to encourage behavior changes that benefit people and the planet. By …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Libraries as Partners In Creating and Supporting Campus Green Teams
- University of Utah (UT)
Getting green teams started on campus can seem an impossible challenge. Campus libraries by their very nature are set up to interact and connect with colleges, departments, centers, divisions and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Forging Alliances: Adaptive Methodologies for Engaging Students
- California State University, Long Beach (CA)
Initiatives on campus require lasting and adaptive student engagement to remain sustainable themselves. This case study analyses the successes and challenges of student engagement methodologies employed via two related sustainability-based …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Shared Story, Shared Learning, Shared Action: Curricular and Co-Curricular Tools for Engaging the Social Dimensions of Change
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
Although it is widely agreed that sustainability education should encompass much more than mere knowledge acquisition, educators and sustainability officers often lack the time, energy, and expertise needed to more …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sharing your Sustainability Story: the Role of Communications
- Middlebury College (VT)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- Northwestern University (IL)
- Oberlin College (OH)
- Tufts University (MA)
Understanding the importance of generating environmental awareness on campus, many sustainability offices have begun creating positions with an emphasis on communications, marketing, and outreach. After all, it is vital to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Scrap It and Start Over: Reshaping Your Eco-Reps Program from the Ground Up
- Northwestern University (IL)
- University of South Carolina (SC)
Many sustainability staff members have experienced a moment when they had to decide whether they wanted to continue an existing sustainability program in the same way it had been run …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Furman University's Sustainability Living Learning Communities
- Furman University (SC)
Furman University has had a long standing commitment to promoting engaged learning through the development of academic learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting. As part of Furman’s ongoing commitment …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Crafting a Comprehensive Student Internship Program
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Our Office would like to share strategies used, successes and challenges faced, and lessons learned during our efforts to build and stabilize a Sustainability Student Intern Program. Established in the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Cultivating Sustainability Scholars
- George Mason University (VA)
George Mason University committed to greatly expanding opportunities for undergraduate scholarship through a Quality Enhancement Program associated with the university’s re-accreditation in 2009. Core faculty from Mason’s Environmental and Sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student to Student: Best Practices and Lessons Learned with Student Engagement
- Alliance to Save Energy (CA)
This session will provide an overview of a student internship program that empowers college students to be tomorrow’s energy efficiency leaders. Currently on 23 universities and colleges and employing over …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
SELFsustain
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- University of Minnesota System Office (MN)
This panel will provide a glimpse into multiple approaches universities can apply to nurture resilient communities. Large public land grant institutions are especially rich with opportunity to apply interdisciplinary perspectives …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
EN 1: Student Educators Program
- Percent of students served by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program
- Description of the student educators program (1st program)
- Description of the student educators program (2nd program)
- Brief description of the student educators program (3rd program)
- Hours worked annually by trained student sustainability educators per students served
- Website URL - Student sustainability educators programs
EN 2: Student Orientation
- Percent of entering students that have an opportunity to participate in sustainability-inclusive orientation activities and programming
- Description of how sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation
- Website URL - Information about sustainability in student orientation
EN 3: Student Life
- Description of the active student groups focused on sustainability
- Description of student gardens, farms, CSAs, fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects
- Description of the student-run enterprises
- Description of student sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives
- Description of sustainability-focused conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events for students
- Description of sustainability-focused cultural arts events, installations, or performances
- Description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles
- Description of sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences
- Description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills
- Description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution
- Description of graduation pledge(s)
- Description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives
EN 4: Student Life
- Website URL - Central sustainability website
- Description of sustainability newsletter or social media platform(s)
- Description of the signage that highlights campus sustainability features
- Description of the sustainability walking map or tour
- Description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience
- Description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications
EN 5: Student Life
- Description of the first sustainability outreach campaign
- Description of the second sustainability outreach campaign
- Description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns
EN 6: Assessing Sustainability Culture
- Description of how and when the cultural assessment(s) were developed and/or adopted
- Copy or sample of the questions related to sustainability culture (upload)
- Copy or sample of the questions related to sustainability culture (description)
- Website URL - Assessment of sustainability culture
EN 7: Employee Educators Program
- Percent of employees served by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program
- Description of the employee educators program (1st program)
- Description of the employee educators program (2nd program)
- Hours worked annually by trained employee sustainability educators per employees served
- Website URL - Employee sustainability educators programs
EN 8: Employee Orientation
- Percent of new employees that have an opportunity to participate in sustainability-inclusive orientation activities and programming
- Description of how sustainability is included prominently in new employee orientation
- Website URL - Information about sustainability in employee orientation
EN 9: Staff Professional Development & Training
- Estimated percentage of regular, non-academic staff that participates annually in sustainability professional development and training
- Description of any internal sustainability professional development and training opportunities
- Description of any external professional development and training opportunities in sustainability that are supported by the institution
- Estimated percentage of staff for which sustainability is included in performance reviews
- Description of how sustainability is included in staff performance reviews
- Website URL - Information about staff professional development and training in sustainability
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.