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
Engaging Campus Constituents: Using Partnerships to Increase Behavior Modification Awareness & Action
- University of Southern Mississippi (MS)
The Office of Sustainability and University Libraries formed a partnership on the main campus of The University of Southern Mississippi dedicated to increasing awareness of sustainable practices through a phased …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Wholly Frijoles! Teaching Sustainability Through Interactive Systems Thinking Education
- University of Arizona (AZ)
This presentation will be highly interactive and begin with participants playing and discussing “Wholly Frijoles” for about 40 minutes. The “Wholly Frijoles” simulation focuses on the use (and abuse) of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Designing an Energy-Saving Campaign
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Our myPower campaign envisions a future where all campus stakeholders take action to save energy. The initiative combines campus commitment, coordination with a larger energy effort, communications strategies based on …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability Officer and Faculty Members Collaborations on Advancing Sustainability Across the Curriculum
- Empire State College (NY)
“Sustainability officer” is a fairly recent position at campuses across the nation. Although this position has a variety of titles and is housed in different departments at different campuses, it …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Theoretical Underpinning For Campus Sustainability Initiatives
- University of Vermont (VT)
Behavior and environment applies insights of behavioral sciences to problems at the interface between people and environment. Many sustainability initiatives on college campuses do not seem to be grounded in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
What is Old is New Again: Readapt Strategies to Engage Students in Leadership, Social Justice, and Sustainability
- Clemson University (SC)
In our work with students, it is important to be able to articulate what we value on a daily basis. Within University Housing and Dining Services at Clemson University, Residential …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Adapting Eco-Rep Training to Optimize Student Experience
- Elon University (NC)
- University of South Carolina (SC)
Eco-Rep training materials and training sessions are vital to laying the ground work for a fun and beneficial student experience, establishing accountability and ultimately contributing to Eco-Rep retention. With time, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Beyond Excuses: Banning Bottled Water on Your Campus (2013)
- Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
This paper examines case studies of over 40 universities across the US and Canada, all of whom have enacted a policy of responsible water management in their purchasing. They have …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Developing Resilient Communities through Community-University Partnerships
- Luther College (IA)
One of the key strategies for dealing with global climate change is campus–community collaboration (M’Gonigle & Starke) to develop resilient, sustainable communities (Ausubel); as demonstrated at two small liberal arts …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Developing and Fostering Community Specific Sustainability Campaigns
- Cornell University (NY)
Cornell University is tackling the behavior change issue with a new approach. Instead of creating a campus-wide behavior change campaign for a very de-centralized university, the Energy and Sustainability department …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Frozen Faithful: Understanding and Responding to Evangelical Climate Denial
- Houghton College (NY)
Climate change represents a contentious issue within religious circles today, with advocates and antagonists pleading their cases before the believing masses. Nowhere is this more evident than within evangelical circles, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Give and Go: Best Practice Lessons for Move Out Collections
- Keep America Beautiful (CT)
This presentation will brief conference attendees on the results of the “Give and Go: Move Out 2013” collection program taking place on five college campuses in May 2013. Produced through …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Green Book: A Written and Visual Arts Publication Celebrating Sustainability Through Creative Action
- Delta College (MI)
Utilizing the campus and the community environment can create an engaging experience for teaching and learning and can serve as an invitation for partnership and participation. A unique, grant-funded venture …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Green Captains - Student Leadership in Dining Services
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Aramark (PA)
The Green Captain Program promotes student education and development and food waste reduction in Higher Education dining locations. The program empowers student employees and managers from each of the campus’s …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Greening the Athletic Enterprise: A Journey
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Intercollegiate athletics are a large part of many institutions’ physical footprints, a core part of institutional identity, and among the most prominent interactions higher education institutions have with the general …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Lessons Learned from an Interdisciplinary Programming Model with a Sustainability Focus
- James Madison University (VA)
This case study features lessons learned from JMuse Café (http://sites.jmu.edu/jmuse/), an interdisciplinary programming series developed by the University Libraries, with the Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability as a partner …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Not Just Another Student Project
- Babson College (MA)
Sustainability project management is never easy, especially as a student Eco Rep coordinator. As a student coordinator, you quickly discover that you cannot be successful if you try to operate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Knowing the Full Story: Creating a Blueprint for Effective Program Evaluation
- Brown University (RI)
- GreenerU (MA)
There is so much talk about the value of sustainability outreach programs, yet there is little data which proves their value. In order to make sure the hard work many …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Environmental Literacy: A Lifelong Learning Approach
- University of Cincinnati (OH)
As higher education institutions endeavor to prepare students for the future, environmental literacy is increasingly important. In addition to educating students, universities play a significant role in engaging the broader …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Residential Energy Competitions: Adapting for Success
- Elon University (NC)
Residential energy competitions are a common student engagement strategy to educate, motivate and empower students to conserve energy and become more environmentally aware. They also provide unique professional development opportunities …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student and Community Outreach on Rental Energy
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI)
The $CORE (Student and Community Outreach on Rental Efficiency) Program was created by the Energy Program at the University of Colorado- Boulder Environmental Center and was adapted by the Student …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Blackout (A Night Out With the Lights Out): University Sustainability as a Social, Carbon-Saving Activity for Students and Staff
- University of Southampton
On one evening in April 2012, 255 students and staff at the University of Southampton completed the first campus-wide equipment energy audit and switch-off event. The aims were to deliver …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability by the Numbers
- Babson College (MA)
Sustainability professionals are consistently challenged to prove the success and impact of sustainability programs – especially ones that target behavior change. This is not always easy, as many of the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Establishing and Managing Successful Sustainability Internship Programs
- Connecticut College (CT)
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
Sustainability Internship Programs (SIPs) foster unique opportunities to integrate rigorous academic experiences in campus operations, engage operational staff in the academic mission, enhance the capacity of campus sustainability staff, and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainable Communications: Tools for Your Outreach Toolbox
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
- University of Georgia (GA)
You have the content knowledge…do you know how to make that knowledge accessible to your audiences? What is your brand and how do you manage it? Communication strategies are a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Social Life of Smartphones
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Our institution has taken a unique approach to education and outreach initiatives by deliberately highlighting the social aspects of sustainability, fostering the power of storytelling to elicit emotional responses in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Transparency and Efficiency in Sustainability Implementation
- Ohio University (OH)
Since your institution has adopted a sustainability and/or climate action plan, have you felt you spend more time on data collection and reporting than on actual implementation and outreach? The …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Designing for Sustainability: Project-based Seminar Series
- Daemen University (NY)
As we encourage students to address sustainability-related issues, we need to have an effective strategy for empowering them to be creative and successful. We have structured our curriculum to include …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Create Leadership for Sustainability In Student Affairs
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
- Florida State University (FL)
- Portland State University (OR)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
- Willamette University (OR)
Student Affairs divisions can play a critical role in the higher education sustainability movement through their efforts to recruit students, cultivate significant learning experiences outside the classroom, shape campus culture, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Playing Like A Team: Advancing Campus Sustainability By Greening Sports
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- Green Sports Alliance (OR)
- Natural Resources Defense Council (DC)
With help from organizations such as AASHE and the U.S. EPA, colleges and universities across the nation are implementing campus-wide sustainability programs to enhance their environmental performance. Many of these …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Divestment: Successful Case Studies
- College of the Atlantic (ME)
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
With active campaigns on over 250 college campuses, divestment from fossil fuels has shifted the sustainability conversation significantly over the past year, pushing the “operational boundary” for campus sustainability, and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Living Buildings that Engage Students (and their Institution) in Sustainability
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
- Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects (MO)
There is a growing trend in education and architecture to create green ‘buildings that teach’, facilities that further occupant’s understanding and engagement in sustainability. Currently, the most progressive green buildings …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Practicing Behavior Interventions: Understanding and Implementing Sustainable Behavior Change on Your Campus
- Stanford University (CA)
- GreenerU (MA)
Behavior change is a buzzword in sustainability work – mostly because our job on campuses, among many other responsibilities, is to change people’s behaviors to ones that are more sustainable. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building an Inclusive Climate Justice Movement on Campus across Race, Class, and Gender Lines
- Second Nature (MA)
- United Negro College Fund (GA)
The climate isn’t just for the 1%. How can students ensure their climate planning and action are gender, race, and economically inclusive? The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Adopting Real Collegiate Zero Waste Principles: Change Management's Finest Hour
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Florida (FL)
Zero waste represents a new means of elevating sustainability operations and student leadership at colleges and universities.
However, the term "zero waste" is often misunderstood and increasingly used without clear …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
All Projects are Personal: Making Change by Building Relationships
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- CoFED (NM)
Those of us inspired by campus sustainability have ideas for how to make change but often lack the knack for moving an initiative forward with others. People respond to ideas …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Students: The Face of Food Auditing
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Nation-wide, University dining services are actively seeking ways to assess the sustainability of their on-campus food system. The Real Food Challenge provides such a tool for sustainability assessment in dining …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Beyond the Classroom: Experiential Learning and Students as Agents of Change within Local Communities
- Hillsborough Community College (FL)
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
Through innovative partnerships, students at Hillsborough Community College (HCC) are extending their education beyond the classroom by providing community-wide leadership in the field of sustainability. In 2012-2013, examples of student-led …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Creating and Maintaining a Sustainability Student Network
- Macalester College (MN)
This session will focus on the successes and challenges faced by Macalester College in creating and supporting a Sustainability Student Worker Network. Macalester’s network is now in it’s fifth year …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Embedding Ecological Footprinting into Curriculum as a Tool to Engage Students
- Macquarie University (NSW)
The Department of Environment and Geography and the Sustainability Unit at Macquarie University, Sydney, collaborated to develop and investigate the effectiveness of environmental education pedagogy. A central sustainability goal in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Film as a Medium to Engage a Broader Audience
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
This session will showcase a collection of short films highlighting a variety of initiatives at Northern Arizona University using various cinematic styles. The films are aimed at a wide audience …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building a Strategy for Changing Behavior at Your Institution
- Oberlin College (OH)
Academic institutions cannot achieve climate neutrality through technology alone; members of the institution must also be engaged in creating a culture of sustainability. Our research project employed a community-based social …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Environmental Justice: Inspiring Action Through Words
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
As the University of Colorado Assembly for Sustainability and Equity, we aim to spread awareness about environmental justice issues, as well as empower individuals with solutions to these issues. Ultimately …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Five Years of an Integrated Approach to Campus Sustainability: Linking Academics, Operations and Student Life
- Dalhousie University (NS)
At the 2008 AASHE Conference, [X] University presented two ambitious campus sustainability initiatives, one academic and one operational, and an overarching sustainability framework. The university has since put these initiatives …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Teaching Sustainability & Fostering Change at Vanderbilt University
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
Sustainability is the most pressing educational issue of the twenty-first century. In a crisis prone world of limited resources and rapid change, colleges and universities play a vital role in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Drinking Sunlight: Maple Syrup from Your Dorm’s Backyard
- Calvin University (MI)
As students at a small liberal arts school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, opportunities to get involved in the world of sustainable living are endless. Western Michigan is known for producing …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustain U: Centralizing the University Community Around Sustainability
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
Sustainability has always had a presence on the Carnegie Mellon campus, but not one widely acknowledged. Students and staff often pass by the Solar Decathlon house or the recycling room, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability, A Living Experience
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
At Carnegie Mellon University sustainability has been stripped to “green.” Despite the greater on-campus attention of recycling and composting initiatives, six green roofs, zero-waste events, a community garden, and student …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Creating Cross-Campus Collaborations: Transforming Curriculum, Empowering Students
- Central College (IA)
Cool things can happen when campus silos are breached and faculty members get to know and start collaborating with directors of facilities, grounds, and food service to empower students. This …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Imagining a Sustainable Future: Studying Sustainability through Interdisciplinary Lenses and Experiential Learning in the First-Year Seminar
- Chapman University (CA)
This presentation will focus on a freshman foundations course that introduces students to sustainability as an interdisciplinary concern, using various analytical perspectives to critically explore sustainability through the disciplinary lenses …
- 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.