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
Addressing the Challenge of Faculty/Staff Participation in Living Lab Campus Projects
- Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (Hong Kong)
Living lab projects rightly focus on student participation. However, campuses are places where everyone - from members of the cleaning staff to the most seasoned faculty member - can learn and participate ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Using Complexity Leadership Theory to Achieve Sustainability Goals
- Chapman University (CA)
This proposal explores how utilizing complexity leadership theory, which is a combination of adaptive, enabling, and administrative leadership, to further campus sustainability goals and initiatives. This presentation will focus on ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Sustainable Institutions and Campus Success Metrics: Useful Narratives for Appealing to Stakeholders
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
The relationships between investment in campus sustainability and success metrics that are not typically associated with sustainability is poorly understood. We are interested in exploring the relationship between institutions with ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Students and Staff: The Mutual Benefits of Connecting Student Groups and Sustainability Offices
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
Student groups often are the driving force behind changes for sustainability on campus. Energized and empowered students can gain the attention of administrators and advocate for change which can be ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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"Greening with Lean": Institutionalizing Sustainability Across Campus Through Lean Principles
- Miami University (OH)
Lean principles and techniques were designed to eliminate waste, discover avenues of improvement, and foster innovation. At Miami University, we have historically used Lean methods to increase revenue, improve productivity ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Advancing Sustainability in Conservative Climates: Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches
- Sul Ross State University (TX)
- Wingate University (NC)
This panel will examine the approach to sustainability in higher education at two campuses, one public and one private, situated within challenging political and socio-economic contexts: Sul Ross State University ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Reinvigorating Your University's Sustainability Commitment
- Southern New Hampshire University (NH)
While some universities have established sustainability offices, others may have a structure in place, but greater support is needed from faculty, students, and administrators. This presentation will describe the efforts ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Power of Partnerships: Sharing Successes and Lessons Learned
- Duke University (NC)
- Elon University (NC)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
- University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)
In order to effectively reach the campus community, sustainability offices often strive to partner with other offices/departments to engage a broader audience in sustainability efforts. This typically leads to ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Cutting Through the Noise: Developing a Comprehensive Communications Structure
- Medical University of South Carolina (SC)
- State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Many sustainability offices or green funds at large educational institutions are 'buried' within the organizations. One quick look at where sustainability lies on an institutional website gives a glimpse into ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Cultivating Student Leaders
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Using Bruce Tuckman's theory of team development, sustainability professionals from UC Berkeley will share their successes and challenges in creating a robust student centered program. This session will dive ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Building a Culture of Sustainability Through New Student Orientation
- Lehigh University (PA)
- State University of New York at Oswego (NY)
This presentation will describe the process that we went through here at SUNY Oswego for First-Year Students. This process allowed us to educate new students on Sustainability and how it ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Creating A Sustainability Magazine: A Diverse, Digital Experience
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
Everyone wants to find creative ways to tell their campus sustainability story. With so many different options, it can be challenging to identify the best route to take. Further complicating ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Available for Download: Leveraging Generation Z's Impact on the Wellbeing Economy
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The goal of this presentation is to discuss the application of generational theory, specifically Generation Z, to principles of a wellbeing economy within a higher education setting. Generation Z students ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Mobilizing higher education to respond to the climate crisis - Part 1
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- University of Hawaii System Office (HI)
This special, experiential session is for faculty, staff, and students who are ready to call on higher education to face the realities of climate disruption and to prepare our communities ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Building From the Ground Up: Developing a Sustainable Campus From Scratch
- University of Central Oklahoma (OK)
This session focuses on providing tips and tools for students and faculty who wish to develop a sustainability group or initiative, or grow one that is already initiated, at an ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Creating and Maintaining Public Archives: Green Fund Website Redesign
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
With help from our Student Union Marketing Team, The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) at UC Berkeley has entirely rebuilt its website on a new platform, creating a public archive of ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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STARS as a Meaningful Student Learning Opportunity
- Weber State University (UT)
- Westminster College - Utah (UT)
- Williams College (MA)
Engaging students in the STARS process can provide valuable student learning and ease the data collection burden on sustainability staff. This interactive panel discussion offers examples and lessons learned from ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Maximizing Campus Sustainability through Student/Staff-Driven Energy Efficiency and Engagement
- Colorado School of Mines (CO)
- McKinstry (WA)
Learn about driving behavioral/engagement strategies to increase campus sustainability from two universities leveraging energy-saving programs to accomplish this. These campuses are utilizing social science-based behavioral principles to break down ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Equity Drafting Table & Living Community Challenge: Tools for Engaging the Campus Community
- Williams College (MA)
- International Living Future Institute (WA)
Higher Education Campuses have been leaders in the creation of Living Buildings. Now they are becoming leaders in the creation of Living Campuses. By optimizing lessons learned from the Living ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Residence Hall Kitchens: A Behavioral Design Approach to Sustainable Learning
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
While programs such as LEED and WELL have provided clear architectural strategies for confronting issues of sustainability, this clarity has occluded the need for more comprehensive strategies that can address ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Going Carbon Neutral - Giving Everyone a Voice, With Students Leading the Charge
- University of Victoria (BC)
Dr. Simon Pek and Dr. Rick Cotton will take you on Gustavson School of Business' journey to carbon neutrality. In sharing the story of this success their aim is to ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Carbon and Nitrogen 'Footprinting' 101: Tools for Sustainability Education, Advocacy, and Planning
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
It's well-established that calculating the campus carbon and nitrogen footprint provides important quantitative information to assess, track, and improve campus sustainability, yet the majority of colleges and universities across ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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2019 AASHE Conference & Expo Opening Ceremony
- Gonzaga University (WA)
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- AASHE (PA)
- Center for Economic Democracy (MA)
Shevanthi Daniel-Rabkin from The Democracy at Work Institute, Aaron Tanaka from the Center for Economic Democracy, and Marcus Renner from the University of California, Davis, were the opening keynote speakers ...
- Posted Nov. 26, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Carver and DeLaney Sustainability Endowment
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)
The Carver and DeLaney Family Environmental Studies Endowment seeks to encourage and support student sustainability projects on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges and/or the local community ...
- Posted Nov. 26, 2019
- Green Funds
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Sustainable tea and tea bags
- Ohio University (OH)
Ohio University's Office of Sustainability partnered with Ohio University's Environmental Affairs Commission on student senate to host a sustainable tea and tea bag event. This event used loose ...
- Posted Nov. 7, 2019
- Photographs
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Sustainability Month at Stanislaus State
- California State University, Stanislaus (CA)
Sustainability Month activities during Warrior Wednesdays in the quad!
- Posted Nov. 7, 2019
- Photographs
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Towson University Campus Sustainability Week
- Towson University (MD)
Towson University Campus Sustianability Week contained fun and educational experiences for our students. We had tabling events for composting at home, being more sustainable with our water consumption, pollinator garden ...
- Posted Nov. 7, 2019
- Photographs
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Managing Behavior Change: Moving Past Barriers
- AASHE (PA)
- GreenerU (MA)
Many of us set goals for ourselves. Some goals—such as losing weight, getting more exercise, or being more sustainable—are set with the best of intentions, but the reality ...
- Posted Oct. 10, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Montclair University's Green Team tackles Styrofoam Recycling
- Montclair State University (NJ)
- Foam Cycle LLC (NJ)
This summer, Foam Cycle and the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA) were awarded a Green Team from Montclair State University (MSU) to study a foam packaging (aka Styrofoam) recycling ...
- Posted Sept. 30, 2019
- Tools
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University of Vermont Eco-Reps Points of Intervention Campaign Case Study
- University of Vermont (VT)
Every Spring semester, the UVM Eco-Reps carry out a campaign related to the main theme of Earth Week. This year, that theme was ‘Points of Intervention’ (POI). Points of Intervention ...
- Posted Sept. 24, 2019
- Case Studies
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University of Vermont Eco-Reps Food Campaign Case Study
- University of Vermont (VT)
The 2018-2019 professional development offering for the UVM Eco-Reps was a symposium centered around food concerns entitled Taking Root Student Symposium. Having been introduced to a wide variety of food-related ...
- Posted Sept. 24, 2019
- Case Studies
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Webinar: Sustainability Master Planning from All Perspectives
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
- AASHE (PA)
Using Texas A&M University as a case study, staff will introduce integrated sustainability master planning from all perspectives: social, environmental, and economic. Both a campus level and department level plan ...
- Posted Sept. 20, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Celebrating Diversity is not Enough: Teaching Social Justice
- University of Michigan (MI)
- AASHE (PA)
Social justice and equity are a prominent dimensions of sustainability that can be overlooked or under-taught across the curriculum. Well-meaning instructors may focus on “celebrating diversity” or exception individuals rather ...
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Webinar: Student Power to Fund Renewable Energy: A New Take on the Solar PPA
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
- AASHE (PA)
As campuses look to expand on site renewable energy generation, one of the greatest barriers to implementation is often initial project funding. Over the last year and a half, students ...
- Posted Aug. 29, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Campus Composting Best Practices
- Appalachian State University (NC)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- University of Louisville (KY)
- College & University Recycling Coalition (DC)
Campus Composting Best Practices: Strategies for student engagement & food waste and compostable serveware diversion
Program originally took place May 9, 2019
Presenters:
Jen Maxwell, Sustainability Programs Manager Appalachian State ...
- Posted Aug. 22, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Preparing for Campus Sustainability Month 2019
- Kentucky Community and Technical College System Office (KY)
- Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ)
- AASHE (PA)
October is Campus Sustainability Month! Join this webinar to gain ideas and inspiration for how you can leverage #CampusSustainabilityMonth to engage and inspire incoming students and other campus stakeholders to ...
- Posted Aug. 22, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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STARS Incorporation into Capability-Based Gen Ed Curriculum
- Eureka College (IL)
- AASHE (PA)
This session will cover incorporating STARS data collection AND report segments into an introductory sustainability course that fulfills a capability-based general education requirement (Sustainable Practices and Environmental Conscience). We will ...
- Posted Aug. 8, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Sustainability Capstone PISA
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (Pichincha)
Through the Innovation and Sustainability Office, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) in Ecuador has developed a capstone course called Social and Environmental Project (PISA is the acronym in Spanish ...
- Posted Aug. 5, 2019
- Photographs
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Campus-based Climate Resiliency Field Study Program
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Office of Sustainability collaborated with academic and operational partners to create a field study program that focused on campus climate resiliency. The experiential learning program ...
- Posted Aug. 5, 2019
- Photographs
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People of Color Sustainability Collective
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
People of Color Sustainability Collective
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
- Photographs
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Ohio State Energy Partners Hosts Smart Campus Challenge
- The Ohio State University (OH)
The first Smart Campus Challenge, presented by Ohio State Energy Partners ENGIE and Axium Infrastructure, concluded with all six finalists winning $144,000 dollars, combined, for their project proposals to ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2019
- Photographs
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Luther College CSA Reimbursement Program
- Luther College (IA)
Participants in Luther College's CSA Reimbursement Program enjoy a summer workshop about seasonal vegetables.
- Posted Aug. 1, 2019
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Climate Change Garden at Cornell University
- Cornell University (NY)
The Climate Change Garden at Cornell University, a permanent campus installation that demonstrates the impact of climate change on plant growth in New York state. Planning for the climate change ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2019
- Photographs
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Understanding Sustainability Through Transdisciplinary Narratives
- University of Michigan (MI)
- AASHE (PA)
The concepts of “more” and “better” drive social narratives about they kind of world we’re creating: a future of more stuff and strife, or one based on a better ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Research & Innovation to Improve Small Wind Turbines
- Clarkson University (NY)
Ducted Wind Turbine Research - A Clarkson University aeronautical engineering professor, Ken Visser, received assistance from students and the entire campus community to develop and commercialize a ducted wind turbine. The ...
- Posted July 30, 2019
- Photographs
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EPA Game Day Challenge
- Bowdoin College (ME)
Bowdoin's Green Athletics club provided education about waste reduction and composting during Bowdoin's EPA Game Day Challenge event.
- Posted July 30, 2019
- Photographs
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Roux Center Tour Guides
- Bowdoin College (ME)
During the busy opening weekend of Bowdoin's first LEED Platinum Building, The Roux Center for the Environment, sustainability tours were provided by Bowdoin EcoReps, identifiable by their green sash.
- Posted July 30, 2019
- Photographs
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Bowdoin College Give and Go Moveout
- Bowdoin College (ME)
Sustainable Bowdoin student employees help gather unwanted items from residence halls at the end of the school year, with much of the material being donated to Goodwill of northern new ...
- Posted July 30, 2019
- Photographs
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Bowdoin College Carbon Foodprint Dinner
- Bowdoin College (ME)
Bowdoin's student EcoReps worked with Bowdoin Dining on an educational dinner about the carbon footprint of the meal as part of International Polar Bear Day (Bowdoin's mascot is ...
- Posted July 30, 2019
- Photographs
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Tapping Campus Trees & Making Syrup
- University of Louisville (KY)
Each winter in the early spring semester, University of Louisville students, faculty, staff, and community partners participate in tapping trees on campus to make syrup and learn about the process ...
- Posted July 29, 2019
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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. Additional content and advanced benchmarking tools will be added to this tab over time.
Programs and Initiatives
The following links connect to specific Content Displays on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
- Central campus sustainability websites
- Co-curricular programs and initiatives
- Active student groups focused on sustainability
- Gardens, farms and co-curricular programs where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems
- Student-run enterprises that include sustainability
- Sustainable investment funds and initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills
- Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience
- Wilderness or outdoors programs for sudents that follow Leave No Trace principles
- Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences
- Programs through which students learn sustainable life skills
- Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities
- Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions
- Student orientation activities that feature sustainability
- Employee orientation activities that feature sustainability
- Sustainability trainings and professional development opportunities available to staff
Scores
The following link connects to the Score Display on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
Campus Engagement Partners
ACPA - College Student Educators International
Washington, DCBound International
San Antonio, TXBusiness Affiliate
Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association
Bloomington, INCouncil for Christian Colleges and Universities
Washington, DCDot Cup
Evanston, ILBusiness Affiliate
EcoChallenge.org
Portland, ORBusiness Affiliate
Fair Labor Association
Washington, DCBusiness Affiliate
Fairware Promotional Products Ltd
Vancouver, BCBusiness Affiliate
GreenerU
Waltham, MABusiness Affiliate
Herbicide Free Campus
San Francisco, CABusiness Affiliate
Korean Association for Green Campus Initiative
Seoul, SeoulBusiness Affiliate
NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation
Corvallis, ORPost-Landfill Action Network
Dover, NHBusiness Affiliate
Rivanna Natural Designs
Richmond, VABusiness Affiliate
RRS
Ann Arbor, MIBusiness Affiliate
Strategic Energy Innovations
San Rafael, CABusiness Affiliate
Sunbolt
Willow Grove, PABusiness Affiliate
The Campus Kitchens Project
Washington, DCBusiness Affiliate
The GREEN Program
Philadelphia, PABusiness Affiliate