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
Institution Nitrogen Footprints in SIMAP: Updated Results and New Insights
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- University of Virginia (VA)
Seven campuses that participated in the development of the nitrogen footprint tool (NFT) published findings from their initial nitrogen footprint calculations in the April 2017 special issue of Sustainability: The ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process to Perform a Materiality Study on the SDGs
- Villanova University (PA)
To effectively 'ignite change' in regards to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a university must first determine which of them are applicable and material to the organization. This process ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Organizational Transitions and Continuity in a University Setting
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
Turnover is the cardinal issue that plagues collegiate organizations because of the ever changing minds of the student population as well as the traditional four year system of undergraduate education ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
How to Overcome Challenges at Large, Urban Campuses
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
This will provide a space for large urban campuses to discuss challenges and accomplishments of working on sustainability on Urban campuses. AASHE has lacked the spaces for these types of ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Design Thinking Process: User-Centered Solutions to Complex and Confounding Problems
- University of Denver (CO)
Coming out of Stanford's Institute of Design, the Design Thinking (DT) framework has taken the Architecture, and now the business world, by storm. However, this solution- and user-focused design ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
How a Team of Student Ambassadors Can Amplify and Accelerate Wins for a Small Sustainability Staff
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
Facing the Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals of campus sustainability work with small offices can feel impossible; however, despite having a small staff, college and university sustainability offices can effect real ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Top Down and Bottom-Up: The Pitt Sustainability Planning Process
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
- SmithGroup (MI)
In 2017 Pitt embarked on their first comprehensive sustainability plan which launched early this year. This session outlines the top-down approaches to connect with leadership and link this planning effort ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
International Networking Meeting
- Portland Community College (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
Members of the international community who are attending the AASHE conference and those who are interested in international issues are invited to join in a networking meeting to share resources ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
How to Design an Annual Report People Actually Read
- Pomona College (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
Have you struggled with keeping up with annual reporting for your sustainability program? Are you somebody who's on top of their annual reporting but feel like nobody reads your ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
ISSP Networking Session: Do You Have All It Takes to Be an Effective Sustainability Professional?
- Auburn University (AL)
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of Richmond (VA)
- International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) (OR)
Calling all active and aspiring sustainability professionals: come learn about the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) community and earning ISSP's sustainability credentials. Meet with ISSP members and hear ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Latin Flavor in AASHE: Contributions to Sustainability Offices
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
- Universidad EAN
- Dallas College (TX)
In many institutions of higher education and universities around the world, there are offices that manage the issue of sustainability for years. AASHE is a multicultural space where many of ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals: An Insiders' Account of change in a UK University
- De Montfort University
Higher Education institutions have a crucial role to play in catalysing action to address the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The call to action that the Goals represent can ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Extending Sustainability Practices to Tenant Spaces: Green Leasing at Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
Portland State University (PSU) is home to approximately 60 commercial tenants. Tenants range from food service and retail, to offices, banks, ATMs, and advertising. To encourage sustainability practices and behaviors ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
How Do Sustainability and Resilience Work Together in Practice?
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
Resilience and sustainability have had a confusing relationship over the past decade. While resilience has long been an important element of sustainability, for example going back to the work of ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Resilience Bootcamp - Turning Threats into Opportunities
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
- St. Lawrence University (NY)
- Second Nature (MA)
Resilience is a hot topic for those who work within the campus operational and built environment. But what does it really mean for a campus community and how does it ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Leading and Integrating Sustainability 2.0: A Discussion About Deep Organizational Change
- University of Vermont (VT)
Many institutions are entering a 'Sustainability 2.0' phase, where offices have been established for up to ten years and topics such as recycling, composting, Eco-Reps, and active transportation plans ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Interactive and Captivating: How to Create a Successful Workshop
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Texas A&M University has found the most effective way to communicate the importance of sustainability with our campus community is through interactive and engaging content. Our most successful approach has ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Smith College House Sustainability Challenge
- Smith College (MA)
As part of Smith College's efforts to integrate environmentally sustainable practices into institutional operations and student life, a diverse group of campus stakeholders launched the House Sustainability Challenge in ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
From Awareness to Action: Behavior Design for Campus Sustainability
- Root Solutions (CA)
This workshop will provide participants with an overview of Root Solutions' proven human-centered design approach to environmental behavior change. You will learn how to strategically select which behavior(s) to ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability Perspectives: A Video Showcase
- Princeton University (NJ)
This session will showcase a diverse collection of videos from institutions across the country, all with different production quality, intended audiences, content, theme, and impact. Start off your morning with ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability Student Engagement Through the use of Online Platforms
- Colorado State University (CO)
This 30-minute presentation will cover two successful student engagement campaigns run at Colorado State University that primarily relies on custom online platforms. These engagement campaigns have been run for multiple ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Graduate Students Implement Sustainability During a Short Academic Window: Case Study Eden Hall
- Chatham University (PA)
Eden Hall Campus at Chatham University was built to be a living learning lab for sustainable initiatives in the Falk School of Sustainability. Although the focus of the university is ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Bees as a Bridge From Local Experiential Learning to Collaborative Global Education
- Champlain College (VT)
The Champlain College Apiary was established in 2013 in order to provide experiential learning opportunities for students and community members and to support the college's commitment to sustainability. This ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Is your staff engaged with your sustainability practices?
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
At Carnegie Mellon University there are numerous sustainable practices on campus. Our presentation is to share the ways we engage the faculty, staff and students to raise awareness about green ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Involving the Greek Community in Sustainability
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- Washington State University, Pullman (WA)
Greek communities nationwide have large impacts on college campuses. Currently, close to one million undergraduate students are associated with Greek organizations. Influential and prominent, involving the greek community in sustainability ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Break out of a Social Media Slump: How to Create a Strategy, Build Community & Engage Your Audience
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
- University of Florida (FL)
By 2021, it's estimated that there will be more than 3 billion social media users around the world. If universities and colleges are going to be leaders in addressing ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) Networking Session
- Rice University (TX)
- Texas A&M University (TX)
This is a networking meeting for Texans and other parties interested in the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) to connect and discuss campus sustainability topics unique to the ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student Engagement through Research Experience: The U-Challenge at Texas A&M
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Johnson Controls, Inc (WI)
In the spring semester of 2017, the Department of Residence Life and Utility & Energy Services at Texas A&M partnered to host their first annual Utilities Challenge (dubbed the 'U-Challenge ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability-themed Living and Learning Communities
- Boston University (MA)
- Colgate University (NY)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
As residential living and learning communities become more commonplace across higher education, a great opportunity for sustainability emerges. Join representatives from Boston University, Colgate University and Virginia Commonwealth University to ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Students, Sustainability, and Social Media: Tools for Content and Collaboration
- American University (DC)
- New York University (NY)
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
Communicating sustainability efforts across social media platforms is an important but often challenging part of our work. As social media trends emerge and change, how can we convey our messaging ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Peer-to-Peer Educator Programs: Examining Four Common Styles
- Northern Michigan University (MI)
- Pomona College (CA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- University of Vermont (VT)
Based on overwhelmingly positive feedback on the EcoReps Networking Session last year, a team of sustainability staff members from four institutions has come together to provide another opportunity for further ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Introducing the Campus Community to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- University at Albany (NY)
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
Presentation covers opportunities to introduce the campus community to the UN SDGs through special events, professional development, integration into strategic plan, funding and outreach materials. Covers alignment with academics and ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Addressing Sustainable Development Goals: Non-profit, Campus and Community Collaborations
- Portland Community College (OR)
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
With a theme of 'Global Goals: Rising to the Challenge,' this year's conference examines the role of higher education in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This workshop ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Green Gurus Unite! Discussing the Promise and Perils of Becoming Your School's Moral Compass
- University of Louisville (KY)
- Aramark (PA)
We were flooded with requests to set something up to continue the conversation at the conclusion of our lively, well-attended 30-minute 'High Priests of Sustainability?!' presentation at AASHE 2017. This ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
From 'Fix it Fest' to Fix it First: Nurturing a Campus Culture of Reuse
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
Student accessibility to sustainable living resources is an absolute priority at any university. We want students to not only recycle, but also reduce and reuse what they have in order ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Partnering Student Green Advisors With Staff Advocates: Swarthmore's Innovative Eco-Reps Model
- Swarthmore College (PA)
This session will showcase an innovative Eco-Reps model at Swarthmore College that partners a paid, student internship program (the Green Advisors) with a voluntary staff program (the Sustainability Advocates). I ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
CU Boulder Tests Behavior-Tracking Platform's Effect on Student Engagement in Sustainability
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- PIPS Education Fund (NY)
What if a more engaged student was also a more successful student?' Research in fact bears this out. And 'what if there were an App that helped to deepen engagement ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
How to Podcast Your Way to a More Environmentally Sustainable and Socially Just Future
- Portland Community College (OR)
In this session we'll be looking at the journey of starting a Higher Education Sustainability Podcast and how it can be something that could benefit nearly every college or ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Campus Sustainability: A Motivational Analysis for Change
- Chatham University (PA)
Current business practices are a leading source of environmental degradation, especially employee actions in the workplace that generate excessive waste to landfill, resource depletion, and other negative impacts. The UN ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Fair Trade Chocolates: Raising the Challenge with Sweets
- University of North Carolina, Wilmington (NC)
UNCW is one of over 46 universities nationally that have embarked on a campaign to achieve Fair Trade (FT) Status by ingraining FT practices, principles, and policy into their campus ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
WCUPA Student Brandywine Project
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
The Student Brandywine Project was a student led half-day workshop to engage West Chester University students in helping design, implement, evaluate, and improve the various environmental, social, and economic sustainability ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Four Steps for Leading Impactful Environmental Change On-Campus
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
How can students effectively foster an environmentally conscious and sustainable community within their university? You can have the best and brightest ideas, but if their implementation is not strategic, they ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Advocacy for the Global Goals
- United Nations Foundation (NY)
Be an advocate for the UN and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in your community! Learn advocacy strategies from the United Nations Association-USA (UNA-USA) to creatively engage with community partners ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
United Nations Association Campus Network
- United Nations Foundation (NY)
Advance the UN's Sustainable Development Goals on your campus through the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA-USA) campus network. Learn about how to bring innovative SDG programming ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building and Supporting Social Movements for Institutional Change and Beyond
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Even as the campus sustainability movement has grown, the issues in our food system have continued to deepen. The average age of farmers in the U.S. is over 65 ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Becoming a 'spokes' person for campus sustainability: The smoothie bike & other outreach efforts.
- Ohio University (OH)
Ohio University, like many universities nationally, has been affected by budget and staffing streamlining. Campus services and departments, like the Office of Sustainability, were profoundly affected. However, presidential strategies and ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Back to Basics
- Ohio University (OH)
Eco-Reps is turning over a new leaf at Ohio University. This year we will focus on being a community-service based sustainability student group. Through community clean-ups, we will be actively ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Activism or Silence as a Sustainability Office?
- New York University (NY)
We live in a time when activism has become a regular part of our lives and addresses a multitude of issues. As Sustainability Officers, our passions and worldviews are often ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building a Consistent Sustainability Brand
- Lehigh University (PA)
In order to reap the full benefits of consistently communicating the values and messages that are core to your sustainability brand, it is important to design brand guidelines the define ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Bridging the gap: Community Engagement Programs, Sustainability, and the SDGs
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
During this session participants will gain an understanding of how alternative breaks can support and collaborate with sustainability initiatives towards the SDGs. How do sustainability and community engagement offices engage ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- 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.