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.

4175 resources

The Week: The New Playbook for Climate Mobilization

  • The Week

The Week is a climate mobilization tool that anyone can pick up and use, for free, to create courageous conversations about climate breakdown, and what we as a society can ...


Creation of a Pollinator Garden at Farmingdale State College

  • State University of New York at Farmingdale (NY)

In the Spring of 2023 Farmingdale State College's Office for Sustainability partnered with the college's Horticulture department to design an on-campus pollinator garden. The site is currently a ...


Franklin University Switzerland’s ACT Program: A Case Study in Stakeholder Carbon Markets for College Campuses

  • Franklin University Switzerland (Ticino)

At Franklin University Switzerland, Academic Travel (“AT”) has historically been the university-funded activity that generates the greatest amount of carbon emissions by the Franklin community each year. In order to ...


CSU Channel Islands Teaches About Sustainable Land Management During Earth Month

  • California State University, Channel Islands (CA)

CSU Channel Islands kicked off Earth Month celebrations with an event focused on targeted grazing and its use as a sustainable land management strategy. The event included a presentation from ...


Arbor Day & Earth Month Tree Planting at CSU Channel Islands

  • California State University, Channel Islands (CA)

Students, staff, faculty, and community members came together to plant 20 trees on the CSU Channel Islands campus to celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Month 2023.


USC Office of Sustainability tabling

  • University of Southern California (CA)

Staff from the USC Office of Sustainability table at an Earth Month event on campus.


Building an Embedded Sustainability Approach

  • TAFE Queensland Robina Campus (QLD)

The TAFE Queensland Robina Campus has been purpose-built to lead the way as a sustainable vocational education and training (VET) provider across Australia. The campus was designed from the ground ...


WashU Earth Day Festival

  • Washington University in St. Louis (MO)

WashU School of Medicine held the 2023 Earth Day Festival, which included a free bike tune up for all employees and students, a farmers market, and sustainable vendor showcase. The ...


U of Washington Earth Day Fair

  • University of Washington, Seattle (WA)

The 2023 Earth Day Exhibitor Fair at the University of Washington.


U of Washington Earth Day Fair

  • University of Washington, Seattle (WA)

Kort Maeda of the University of Washington's Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) tables at a UW 2023 Earth Day Fair.


Earth Day Summit at Franklin University Switzerland

  • Franklin University Switzerland (Ticino)

The Green Office Sustainability Programs at Franklin University Switzerland hosted an Earth Day Summit showcasing multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability. By bringing together a wide diversity of academic and ...


Rider University Earth Day Event

  • Rider University (NJ)

Eco-Reps that work for the Office of Sustainability that also conduct plant research in our campus greenhouse grew pollinator friendly plants to sell at our Earth Day event. With a ...


Rice University Earth Day Festival 2023

  • Rice University (TX)

The Administrative Center for Sustainability & Energy Management (ACSEM) hosted in partnership with the Betty & Jacob Friedman Holistic Garden, the Rice Climate Alliance, and the BIOS 322 class an ...


Enhancing Students’ Environmental Skills Through A Solid Waste Sustainability Hub

  • University of South Alabama (AL)

The objective of this project is to establish a solid waste sustainability hub that promotes environmental stewardship and education by focusing on waste reduction, recycling, reuse, and rethinking. A team ...


Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  • University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)

UNL celebrated Arbor Day with two tree plantings on both city and east campuses. UNL has a strong history of sustainable tree management and was one of the first universities ...


Earthstock Block Party at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  • University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)

UNL's Association of Students of the University of Nebraska (ASUN) student government hosted the ninth annual Earthstock celebration throughout the month of April. Earthstock is a month-long celebration of ...


Northwestern Bird Watching Walk

  • Northwestern University (IL)

The campus community was invited to join in experiencing the birds that call our campus home as well as those migrating through. An introduction to bird watching and some tips ...


Climate in the Classroom: Bell Tower Takeover

  • Temple University (PA)

Climate in the Classroom: Bell Tower Takeover was a special Earth Month event hosted by the Temple University Office of Sustainability, the Office of the Provost and select student and ...


2023 Iowa State University Earth Day Celebration

  • Iowa State University (IA)

Iowa State University celebrated the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day with the theme of, “The Opportunity is NOW! The Urgency is NOW!” This year, more than 400 students, faculty, staff ...


Endicott College's Environmental Justice Working Group

  • Endicott College (MA)

The Environmental Justice Working Group at Endicott College was established in 2023 by Sophia Gosselin-Smoske, a student at Endicott College and a Fellow in the Office of Sustainability. The group ...

  • Posted April 27, 2023
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Waste Diversion at University of Florida- Case of a student organization

  • University of Florida (FL)

I am Ashpreet Kaur, final year PhD student at University of Florida. I got a chance to become a member of a student organization at University of Florida who does ...

  • Posted April 27, 2023
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Stan State Eco Challenge 2023

  • California State University, Stanislaus (CA)

During Earth Month, Stan State University's Capital Projects & Facilities Management (CPFM) part-takes annually in Eco Challenge! Here is our stat during Earth Day! As a team we practice ...

  • Posted April 24, 2023
  • Photographs
  • View more

Waste Diversion at Creighton Softball Game

  • Creighton University (NE)

Hattie Ames and Gabby Otero are helping Creighton fans divert their waste from the landfill.

  • Posted April 21, 2023
  • Photographs
  • View more

2018-22 Progress Report on the Pitt Sustainability Plan

  • University of Pittsburgh (PA)

The University of Pittsburgh’s sustainability journey dates back to 1990, with commitments, activities, and engagement deepening and increasing over the past three decades. In 2018, the Pitt Sustainability Plan ...

  • Posted April 18, 2023
  • Publications
  • View more

Adopt-a-Plant sponsored by ArtCenter College of Design Community Food Garden

  • ArtCenter College of Design (CA)

The ArtCenter College of Design Community Garden remained active throughout the Pandemic through the tremendous care of two Photography Department staff. With students, staff, and faculty back on campus, we ...

  • Posted April 18, 2023
  • Photographs
  • View more

ReWear It Marquette

  • Marquette University (WI)

Student-led monthly clothing swap organization on Marquette University's campus.

  • Posted April 18, 2023
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The Interdisciplinary Turn: A New Model for Climate Crisis Awareness and Action in Higher Education

  • Santa Clara University (CA)
  • AASHE (PA)

This webinar takes participants through the process of designing a successful, effective climate crisis awareness and action week at their own institutions, schools, or groups, using the tUrn partners + headliners ...

  • Posted April 18, 2023
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Students leading students: a qualitative study exploring a student-led model for engagement with the sustainable development goals

  • University of Calgary (AB)

Purpose Higher education institutions (HEI) play a critical role in developing student leaders equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to mobilize societal changes that the United Nations Sustainable Development ...

  • Posted April 13, 2023
  • Publications
  • View more

Implementing Sustainability in Library Instruction: The Journey to Creating a Crowdsourced Mission Statement Informed by Positionalities and Core Values

  • New Mexico State University (NM)

This chapter shares the process and rationale behind a library workshop with the Reference and Research Services Department and Archives and Special Collections Department at the New Mexico State University ...

  • Posted April 13, 2023
  • Publications
  • View more

Shifting Instruction for Sustainability: Lessons from COVID

  • New Mexico State University (NM)

The COVID-19 pandemic irrevocably changed the ways that libraries function. Libraries had to shift and our skills as librarians and educators were put to the test in new ways. As ...

  • Posted April 13, 2023
  • Publications
  • View more

Fullerton Arboretum Fights Food Insecurity While Helping the Environment

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

Fullerton Arboretum, a 26-acre botanical garden located at Cal State Fullerton, is making a difference in the campus and environment…and it all starts with fruit.

The Arboretum grows an ...

  • Posted April 13, 2023
  • Photographs
  • View more

Building a Circular Campus: Scope 3 Emissions, Community Resilience, & Justice

  • Barnard College (NY)
  • AASHE (PA)

As Barnard College defines a pathway to net zero emissions, we are paying particular attention to our Scope 3 emissions and using the principles of circularity to address them. Measuring ...

  • Posted March 9, 2023
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Obstacles to Environmental Progress: A US Perspective

  • Austin College (TX)

Open-access (free) book from University College London Press. The primary intended audiences are undergraduate and graduate students in environmental studies, sustainability, and related fields. The book focuses on predictable, practical ...

  • Posted March 6, 2023
  • Publications
  • View more

Integrating Sustainability Plans and Capital Campaigns

  • Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
  • AASHE (PA)

Taking sustainability to the next level, for many higher education institutions, requires a strategic, long-range, and comprehensive sustainability plan. The process by which you develop content, engage the campus community ...

  • Posted March 1, 2023
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Environmental Justice in Higher Education: From Intent to Sustainable Action

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
  • Princeton University (NJ)
  • AASHE (PA)

This webinar will trace shifts in the traditional framing of sustainability in higher education and how it is implemented, following the recent racial reckoning in the wake of the killing ...

  • Posted Feb. 16, 2023
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Eddy at New Paltz: Centering Racial Equity as we Co-create a Sustainable Culture

  • State University of New York at New Paltz (NY)
  • AASHE (PA)

Sustainability has expanded to include issues of racial equity in a way that also embraces the interdisciplinarity of academic study. This webinar will introduce Eddy at New Paltz, a co-creative ...

  • Posted Feb. 8, 2023
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Directory of Programs that Save Leftover Food After Events

  • University of California, Merced (CA)

There has been increasing interest in programs which address leftover food at events. As the coordinator of one such program, No Food Left Behind, I receive regular inquiries from other ...


Imagining the Future of Campus Food Service and Measuring Success

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • Texas Woman's University (TX)
  • AASHE (PA)

Food does not loom large enough in university sustainability metrics given its outsized role in achieving the SDGs. With increasing recognition that transforming food systems is critical for climate resiliency ...

  • Posted Feb. 2, 2023
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Bucknell 10-Years Sustainability Plan

  • Bucknell University (PA)

January 18th 2023, President John Bravman formally announced the release of the 10-year Sustainability Plan for Bucknell University. According to President Brvaman,

"Caring for the environment and reducing waste remains ...


Fullerton Arboretum Achieves Reaccreditation at Highest Level

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

In October 2017, Fullerton Arboretum received its first accreditation as a Level IV arboretum. This is the highest level awarded by ArbNet, an organization that recognizes arboreta from around the ...


Sustainable Move Out Donation Program

  • Bentley University (MA)

Give ‘N Go Move Out Program at Bentley University Fall 2022 Update

Summary: Give ‘N Go is the Bentley program to support students during move out with the opportunity to ...


Webinar #3: Inner Development Goals: A Three-part Exploration

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
  • AASHE (PA)

Many of us are familiar with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This three-part Community of Practice (Nov. 15, Nov. 29, Dec. 13) will allow us to space to explore the ...

  • Posted Dec. 14, 2022
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Native American Heritage Month Celebrates Empowerment Through Education

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month at Cal State Fullerton means learning about the communities, histories and traditions that have shaped today’s landscape.

Beyond empowering the Native American and Indigenous ...


Solving Climate Change Problems: CSUF Presents Energy and Sustainability Summit

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

More than 100 people packed the room at Cal State Fullerton’s first Energy and Sustainability Summit, held Oct. 26.

The summit, sponsored by Edison International, featured three panels of ...


Sustainability Policies and Plans in Higher Education: Recommendations for Florida State University

  • Florida State University (FL)

This capstone project examines how higher education institutions (HEIs) use policies and plans to institutionalize their commitments to sustainability and the key success factors that influence their implementation. A systematic ...

  • Posted Nov. 10, 2022
  • Publications
  • View more

Webinar: Assessing Sustainability Literacy & Culture: Innovations & Lessons Learned by Multiple Institutions

  • Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ)
  • University of Southern California (CA)
  • Weber State University (UT)
  • Williams College (MA)
  • AASHE (PA)

This interactive panel discussion will feature four presenters from different geographic regions (eastern and western United States) and institutional contexts (private and public, and from small liberal arts colleges to ...

  • Posted Oct. 4, 2022
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Webinar: Innovations in Teaching Sustainable Consumption in Higher Education

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • AASHE (PA)
  • Wageningen University
  • University of Leeds (West Yorkshire)
  • University of East Anglia
  • University of Geneva

The goal of sustainability will not be achievable without changes in our consumption. In consumption, sustainability challenges appear like in a burning glass; here, it can be exemplarily shown how ...

  • Posted Sept. 22, 2022
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Food Justice Fellowships - Rooted in Community

  • Saint Mary's College of California (CA)

Food insecurity is defined as the state of being without reliable access to sufficient affordable and nutritious food. Food insecurity in the San Francisco Bay Area (and our state, country ...

  • Posted Sept. 20, 2022
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Driving Change: Understanding Climate Impacts on Campus Transportation

  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County (MD)
  • AASHE (PA)

The continental United States is experiencing an increase in the frequency and intensity of precipitation events which often lead to flooding. In the state of Maryland, between 2006 and 2020 ...

  • Posted Sept. 1, 2022
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

TRU Campus Tree Program: What We Learned From Year One

  • Thompson Rivers University (BC)

The TRU Sustainability Office started the new TRU Campus Tree Program in September 2021 as a one year pilot. The program was designed to allow members of the TRU community ...

  • Posted Sept. 1, 2022
  • Case Studies
  • 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

EN 2: Student Orientation

EN 3: Student Life

EN 4: Student Life

EN 5: Student Life

EN 6: Assessing Sustainability Culture

EN 7: Employee Educators Program

EN 8: Employee Orientation

EN 9: Staff Professional Development & Training

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Campus Engagement Partners