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
Why a majority of students don't live their 'sustainability values' and what to do about it
- GreeniPhi (VA)
While the average college student claims to value sustainability, their commitment to environmental conservation often fails to translate into action. This session uses insights from psychology and business to explore ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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By Impacting Hearts and Minds, Emergent Leadership Transforms Brick and Mortar Projects Into Much More
- The EMERGE Leadership Project (WA)
If conventional leadership was all that was needed to create a truly sustainable built environment - one that generates choices equitably -- we would be there already. This presentation offers the opportunity ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Strategic Planning for Campus Sustainability Management
- Mohawk College (ON)
Mohawk College's Environmental Management Plan is the blueprint and leading policy document for making the College a more environmentally, socially and financially resilient institution. By addressing key operational areas ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Emphasizing Diversity and Equity in Your Sustainability Narrative
- Chemeketa Community College (OR)
As practitioners of sustainability, too often we take an approach that applies the dominant cultural sustainability paradigm (personal sustainability efforts and outdoor activities) and excludes social inequity (human and environmental ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Fix It Friday
- Illinois State University (IL)
Fix It Friday is a program at Illinois State University in which students majoring in the Fashion Design and Merchandising program set up sewing machines in various locations around campus ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Lean Green Financing at MSIs
- Huston-Tillotson University (TX)
In the rapidly evolving field of sustainability, both new technology and financing mechanisms are opening possibilities for green projects on campuses previously perceived as unattainable. Over the past three years ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Doing More With Less
- Santa Clara University (CA)
In a world where information of many current events is so readily available, there seem to be countless opportunities to utilize the content for educating about sustainability. However, taking advantage ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainable Entrepreneurship into the Universidad EAN (Colombia)
- Universidad EAN
This proposal arises from the need to study the new entrepreneurship in the modern world and the factors for to obtain the sustainability as an attribute into the educational process ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Why a Social Justice Framework Is the Only Way to Collective Climate Justice and Deep Sustainability
- Hackman Consulting Group
This poster session lays out the rationale for the absolute need for a social justice framework when doing climate justice and sustainability work by making three essential points: 1. How ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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In Serving Solidarity, Let's Talk about Privilege: Critical Conversations About 'Unsustainable' Race, Class & Gender Privilege
- Hackman Consulting Group
While attention to the ways dynamics of racism, classism and gender oppression target people of color and native people, poor and working class people, and cisgender women and trans* folks ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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To Come Together, We Must Transform What's Divided Us: Utilizing a Social Justice Lens for Collective Campus Sustainability Work
- Hackman Consulting Group
As evidenced over the last 24 months, a lack of critical understanding of social justice issues makes collaborative work across multiple lines of identity near impossible, while thoughtful attention to ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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An Introduction to the Role of Race, Class and Gender Issues On Campus Sustainability Work
- Hackman Consulting Group
This introductory session explores the powerfully important ways that dynamics of race, class and gender (RCG) impact the efficacy of our campus sustainability work, and then suggests how a racial ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Street Harassment Assessment at the College of Charleston
- College of Charleston (SC)
Colleges and universities in urban areas are made up of many different types of environments. The nonprofit organization Stop Street Harassment, defines street harassment as 'unwanted whistling, leering, sexist, homophobic ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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How Learning Interdependently in Outdoor Settings can Induce a Paradigm Shift & Foster a Yearn to Protect the Natural World
- College of Charleston (SC)
As a vice president of the College of Charleston's Outdoors Club and long-time outdoor enthusiast, I have found that exposing people to the natural world has been one of ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability Abroad: Best Practices in Iceland
- University of South Carolina (SC)
The aim of this poster is to give insight on how to create sustainable communities by providing examples of the best practices in the world's most sustainable country, Iceland ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Social Justice Through a Sustainability Lens
- University of South Carolina (SC)
In this interactive session, participants will develop their knowledge of social justice and will be able to recognize the intersectionality of these issues with the pillars of sustainability. Participants will ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sparking Conversation and Collaboration Through Campus Conferences
- Knox College (IL)
The campus community is a place of thought, innovation, and action, and these skills shouldn't stop at the campus boundaries; they are applicable to national and international issues. One ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Diversion Drama: A Waste Study in Residence Halls
- Skidmore College (NY)
This spring the Skidmore Sustainability Office launched a waste study for four residence halls, which house a fourth of the on-campus student population. Preliminary waste assessments indicated that 50-60% of ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sub-Metering and Energy Dashboard Networking
- Macalester College (MN)
This networking session will allow individuals already engaged in a collaborative discussion about dashboards and energy metering to touch base. Any individuals wishing to learn more and become involved or ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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RightCycle: Comprehensive Recycling System at Arizona State University
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Although many products are potentially eligible for recycling, a countless number of recyclable products is being thrown away in trash bins in which ends up in landfills. There are abundant ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Art for Science Community Challenge 2018: Climate Disruption
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The 2017 March for Science was an unprecedented event of scientists and science advocates stepping out of the laboratories and into the avenues. Pennsylvania Avenue to be exact was the ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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How to Streamline and Scale your Sustainability Certification Program
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Do you have green certifications to encourage and reward sustainability efforts on campus?? Do you manually send the results or certifications? Do you get live data for analysis that shows ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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The Intersection Between Sustainability and Human Health
- University of Arizona (AZ)
The Environmental Health Committee is part of the University of Arizona's Students for Sustainability organization. It consists of thirteen students who work together to implement projects involving sustainability and ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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The Beginnings of Zero Waste - Approaches and challenges to new waste diversion campaigns and initiatives.
- Harvey Mudd College (CA)
While zero waste and broader waste reduction initiatives are common in institutions of higher education, there are substantial challenges to launching those initiatives. As many sustainability professionals can attest, timing ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Developing a Green Office Program at your Institution
- Harvey Mudd College (CA)
Much of our work as sustainability officers is to encourage the campus community to embrace and live an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, While oftentimes initiatives will target students, eco-conscious purchasing and ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Using Internet of Things to Track and Curb Energy Use in Dorms at Harvard University
- Harvard University (MA)
How can we use data to inform and accelerate energy savings in undergraduate dorms? A Harvard student-led project called Networked Energy-saving Temperature Sensors (NETS) sought to answer this question by ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Successful Sustainability in Trumplandia: None of This New Reality is New to Me
- Baylor University (TX)
This presentation will seek to demonstrate the ways in which a sustainability program at a mid-sized private faith based university in Texas has not only sustained, but grown successfully, its ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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STARS Scoring as Metrics for a University Strategic Plan
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The Appalachian Experience: Envisioning a Just and Sustainable Future, provides direction for the Appalachian State University campus over the course of the next five years. The authors of the plan ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability and Agricultural Science - A Practical and Combined Effort to Engage and Educate
- Central Community College (NE)
Agriculture is the foundation of all sustainability efforts, many don't understand the true connection to our food and fiber systems and how sustainable agriculture production systems are. Being an ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) Networking Session
- Central College (IA)
Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) Networking Session
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Campus and Community Partnership: The Results of a Feasibility Study on a Nature Prescription Network
- James Madison University (VA)
Emerging research continues to support the notion that exposure to or interaction with nature enhances creativity and vitality, attention and focus, and an overall sense of well being. Nisbet, Zelenski ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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The Psychology of Sustainability and Social Movement: Student Ecological Citizenship Through a Study Abroad to Malta
- James Madison University (VA)
For the past three years, a multidisciplinary group of first and second year honors students have participated in a month-long Psychology of Sustainability trip to Malta. The pre-departure curriculum includes ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sonified Sustainability: Building Deeper Green Coalitions
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
A key to creating truly sustainable institutions is engaging with stakeholders across disciplines and organizations. Some groups - utility services, natural sciences, and environmentally conscious student organizations to name a few ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Ecotourism as an Economic Development Driver
- Dallas College (TX)
All college and university campuses are imbedded in a local community. All communities have the potential to offer ecotourism opportunities to residents and visitors. Ecotourism is now defined as 'responsible ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A Year of Devotion, Thought and Photographs: A Recycling Blog
- Brigham Young University (UT)
This poster seeks to engage attendees in the whys of recycling, the motivations behind sustainability efforts, and the internal and external results of a devotion to stewardship. Utilizing posts on ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Building Community through Intergroup Dialogue
- Lewis & Clark College (OR)
Intergroup dialogue (IGD) is a facilitated discussion between two or more identity groups that explores conflict and tension around issues of social justice, power, privilege, and bias. IGD is designed ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Defining Sustainability: An Innovative, Employee Online Training to Reach Beyond the Choir
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
Universities and organizations across the world are integrating sustainability into their services and operations and see sustainability literacy across their workforce as a key step in the integration process. Penn ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Student Intern Program Managers
- Colgate University (NY)
People who manage student intern programs can come together to share challenges, successes and best practices. Attendees will discuss management and communication tools and techniques to ensure a successful and ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Leading High-Functioning and Resilient Sustainability Offices - Making a difference via practical and effective leadership
- Stanford University (CA)
This workshop will focus on one of the key leadership and professional development skills - building/leading the most effective and resilient sustainability organization possible. This workshop will cover the best ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Motivating and Quantifying the Impacts of Behavior Change
- Stanford University (CA)
In today's increasingly technological and personalized world, how do sustainability professionals provide opportunities to engage their audience in a way that is relevant to them? Stanford has taken the ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Readdressing Environmental Thinking in Residence Hall Design
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
This presentation will examine the role of architectural design in promoting an ecological citizenship. By comparing traditional residence hall designs with contemporary residence halls as well as a LEED certified ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Green Lab and Green Office Programs at the University of Washington
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
The Green Office and Green Lab programs at the University of Washington are an integral part of reaching our campus sustainability goals. These posters showcase offices and labs environmental impact ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Campus Connections
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
This poster highlights campus connections at the University of Washington and showcases where linkages occur between departments. These connections are useful for information sharing among students and departments, data collection ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A Working Model: The Synergy Between UW Sustainability and Student-led Campus Sustainability Fund
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
Green fee funds are managed in different ways on college campuses. For this panel, we will be sharing the ways that University of Washington, Seattle Sustainability department and the Campus ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Campus All-STARS: a model for streamlining reporting, improving performance, and creating synergies to advance sustainability
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
The University of Washington is a globally recognized leader in sustainability. That leadership is only possible through the dedication and work of our many and diverse campus partners ranging from ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Towards a Broader Conceptualization of Education for Sustainability
- Teachers College, Columbia University (NY)
Formal teaching and learning devoted to sustainability is referred to as Education for Sustainability (EfS). EfS is the study of humans' relationship with the resources that support life on this ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Integrating Sustainability Learning Outcomes Into a University Curriculum - A Case Study of Institutional Dynamics
- University of Vermont (VT)
The University of Vermont (UVM) adopted a learning-outcomes-based general education sustainability requirement in Fall 2015. The requirement is unique because sustainability is a non-traditional general education theme, and general education ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Creating a Multi-Institution Food Task Force
- University of Utah (UT)
In 2016 I co-created a 'Higher Education Food Task Force' with the seven major institutions along what is known as the Wasatch Front in Utah, which is the major population ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Arkansas Tech University Campus Master Plan: Embedding Resiliency in the Design Process
- Perkins+Will (NY)
For campuses looking to take a strategic long-term view of their future, strengthen stewardship of their facilities, and reinforce community integrity, resiliency is more than just a question of preparing ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Solar PV and Interactive Education
- North Central College (IL)
Solar PV technology is decreasing in cost and increasing in popularity worldwide. However, there are still many individuals who do not understand this technology, even on college campuses. Education plays ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
EN 1: Student Educators Program
- Percent of students served by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program
- Description of the student educators program (1st program)
- Description of the student educators program (2nd program)
- Brief description of the student educators program (3rd program)
- Hours worked annually by trained student sustainability educators per students served
- Website URL - Student sustainability educators programs
EN 2: Student Orientation
- Percent of entering students that have an opportunity to participate in sustainability-inclusive orientation activities and programming
- Description of how sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation
- Website URL - Information about sustainability in student orientation
EN 3: Student Life
- Description of the active student groups focused on sustainability
- Description of student gardens, farms, CSAs, fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects
- Description of the student-run enterprises
- Description of student sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives
- Description of sustainability-focused conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events for students
- Description of sustainability-focused cultural arts events, installations, or performances
- Description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles
- Description of sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences
- Description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills
- Description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution
- Description of graduation pledge(s)
- Description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives
EN 4: Student Life
- Website URL - Central sustainability website
- Description of sustainability newsletter or social media platform(s)
- Description of the signage that highlights campus sustainability features
- Description of the sustainability walking map or tour
- Description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience
- Description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications
EN 5: Student Life
- Description of the first sustainability outreach campaign
- Description of the second sustainability outreach campaign
- Description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns
EN 6: Assessing Sustainability Culture
- Description of how and when the cultural assessment(s) were developed and/or adopted
- Copy or sample of the questions related to sustainability culture (upload)
- Copy or sample of the questions related to sustainability culture (description)
- Website URL - Assessment of sustainability culture
EN 7: Employee Educators Program
- Percent of employees served by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program
- Description of the employee educators program (1st program)
- Description of the employee educators program (2nd program)
- Hours worked annually by trained employee sustainability educators per employees served
- Website URL - Employee sustainability educators programs
EN 8: Employee Orientation
- Percent of new employees that have an opportunity to participate in sustainability-inclusive orientation activities and programming
- Description of how sustainability is included prominently in new employee orientation
- Website URL - Information about sustainability in employee orientation
EN 9: Staff Professional Development & Training
- Estimated percentage of regular, non-academic staff that participates annually in sustainability professional development and training
- Description of any internal sustainability professional development and training opportunities
- Description of any external professional development and training opportunities in sustainability that are supported by the institution
- Estimated percentage of staff for which sustainability is included in performance reviews
- Description of how sustainability is included in staff performance reviews
- Website URL - Information about staff professional development and training in sustainability
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.