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
Students Leading the Campus Climate Movement: Tackling Challenges and Engaging Possibilities
- Second Nature (MA)
Students aren't just organizing events or acting as sustainability interns in the campus sustainability movement - they are leading the climate leadership revolution through regional organizing, collaboration with faculty, staff ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Students and Food Security in the North: UNBC's Dome Greenhouse
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
Northern climates present major food security challenges, but students at the University of Northern British Columbia are eager to overcome these barriers in creative and effective ways. UNBC, "Canada's ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating an Interactive Campus Sustainability Map
- University of California, Davis (CA)
Most campuses look for ways to communicate what they are doing to make their campuses more sustainable. This abstract argues that a key piece of a sustainability communications strategy is ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Utilizing Student Engagement for a Startup Composting Program
- University of South Carolina (SC)
Over the course of the 2011-2012 academic year, the University of South Carolina has engaged its students in a campus-wide composting project which has become a proven example of student ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Developing an Authentic Undergraduate Sustainability Experience: Connecting Curriculum and Campus
- Portland State University (OR)
While initiatives to "green" campuses have increased within campus operations, curricular innovations for sustainability have lagged behind. [University] has made integration of sustainability across its academic programs an institutional priority ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Advantages and Challenges of Incorporating Greek Life into an Eco-Rep Program
- Lehigh University (PA)
Lehigh University's Greek Eco-Rep Program was established in Fall 2011, after the incorporation of sustainability into Greek accreditation requirements, and alongside an expanded Residential Eco-Rep Program which began Fall ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Empowering Ecoliteracy: A Transformative Art & Design Education Bridges Academics, Operations, and Facilities
- The New School (NY)
Parsons The New School for Design in New York City has approached sustainability holistically to engage students - shaping how they work, study, and participate in the material world - while also ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Chandler Gilbert Community College Environmental Technology Center: An Authentic Model for Sustainability Education
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College (AZ)
This paper will reflect on a transformational vision of sustainability that was implemented at community college in the Southwest. The transformational process involved the development of an interdisciplinary academic certificate ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Facilitating Sustainability Conversations on Campus: Challenges and Successes of a Sustainability and Civic Engagement Book Group
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
During the fall 2011 semester, thirty university faculty, staff and students gathered to share ideas about sustainability on campus. Discussions were structured by the book The Sustainable Learning Community: One ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Free Bikes For Students: UAF Green Bikes
- University of Alaska Fairbanks (AK)
Ever biked at -40ºF? Students in Alaska do! UAF Green Bikes program strives to make UAF a more enjoyable place to study, work and live by increasing sustainable transportation, student ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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First-Year Students as Agents of Campus Change
- Hartwick College (NY)
In academia, sustainability offers structured and spontaneous opportunities for the curriculum to infiltrate campus operations, student life, and the regional community. Since 2008, I have been teaching a first-year seminar ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Honors Society for Sustainability: Student Initiative Catalyzing Sustainable Change
- Arizona State University (AZ)
A group of high-achieving sustainability students at ASU recognized the need for an outlet to discuss their ideas and connect with other like-minded individuals in order to achieve sustainable change ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Student-Governed Sustainability Project Fund at The University of British Columbia: Increasing Engagement on Sustainability
- University of British Columbia (BC)
In September 2011 a team of students and university administration members at a large institution began allocating over $100,000 annually to student sustainability projects. This fund was founded and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Keeping the Drive Alive: Avoiding Early Burnout and Navigating Roadblocks
- Babson College (MA)
College students are filled with boundless ideas and more than willing to coalesce around a cause they care for. Why is it then, that so many of these student-driven initiatives ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Lights Off. Game On. Experience with the Kukui Cup: A Next Generation Residence Hall Energy Competition
- Hawaii Pacific University (HI)
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
The Kukui Cup Project explores novel ways to utilize concepts from information technology, community-based social marketing, serious games, and educational pedagogy to support positive change in sustainability-related behaviors. In 2012 ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Automation and Student Engagement
- Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
Building Automation and dashboard displays are becoming increasingly popular within educational institutions. Not only do they provide a visual window into the energy use of a building, but they can ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Lights Out!: Training Building Occupants to Change Energy-Consuming Behaviors
- University of Kansas (KS)
- Energy Solutions Professionals, LLC (KS)
Lights Out! was a 3-month friendly competition at the University of Kansas that pitted faculty and staff in three buildings against one another in an effort to see who could ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Under the Truffula Trees: Creating Institutional Change Beginning with Students
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)
In Spring 2008, I taught an Introduction to Sociology class that took me down a path I had not anticipated taking. I required students in the class to submit a ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student-Faculty Synergy & Institutional Transformation: A Story of Sustainability
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)
This presentation will discuss the evolving, ongoing professional relationship between a student and a sociology professor that has led to both personal transformation and action, and which, over the course ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Improving Collections Efficiencies through Departmental Collaboration
- Appalachian State University (NC)
During these challenging economic times, it is important that colleges and universities find ways in which they can operate more efficiency, often with less resource availability. Appalachian State University has ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Achieving Energy Reductions Through Behavior: Competition Best Practices and Case Study
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
This presentation would present an overview of 1) the potential for competitions and behavior change to help achieve significant energy reductions on college campuses; 2) an overview of best practices ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Driving Sustainability at Luther: A Rideshare Website Demonstration
- Luther College (IA)
The Luther College Rideshare website is an open source project undertaken to streamline student engagement in sustainable activities, specifically carpooling. The concept of a rideshare board has been in existence ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Storytelling and Storymaking: A New Paradigm for Sustainability Management
- University of the District of Columbia (DC)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
Complying with commitments (climate and otherwise) is necessary but not sufficient for realizing a vision of a sustainable society. Moving colleagues, senior leaders, and students to creative action requires something ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Visioning Sustainability: a powerful student-led initiative at UVA
- University of Virginia (VA)
When students step back from initial impulses for traditional initiatives and develop a long-term vision of sustainability, powerful and lasting movements arise. The student-led vision casting can transform into a ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Engagement Ladder
- University of Virginia (VA)
Do you know when and where your students receive their sustainability education? Where engagement is the strongest and where it is lacking? Students mapped out a ladder of engagement starting ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Weaving Green Threads: Sustainability Students as Connectors and Creators
- Franklin Pierce University (NH)
This presentation shows how students in a sustainability certificate program model self-organization, emergent properties and resilience, and develop leadership to leverage change. FPU's Sustainability Certificate students exemplify complex systems ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Mapping of College Campuses
- Lewis & Clark College (OR)
Lewis & Clark College has recently made significant improvements in green infrastructure and sustainability services, and has seen improvements in the capacity to support student endeavors of sustainability. However, there ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Funds at Community Colleges: Unique Approaches to Engaging Students
- College of Lake County (IL)
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
Connecting students to a community college's sustainability efforts presents distinct challenges. Community colleges strive for a standard of quality education that is affordable and accessible to all types of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Preparing Students for the 21st century Green Workforce
- American Association of Community Colleges (DC)
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
- AASHE (MA)
Hosted by American Association of Community Colleges and AASHE, this workshop will highlight best practices, innovative partnerships and collaborative successes preparing community college students to build a green and sustainable ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Mentoring Student Workers to Increase the Potential for Advancing Sustainability
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Traditional mentorship models, similar to traditional internship models, often feature a top-down relationship with knowledge flowing in one direction. In this model a power structure is established that can make ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Honors Society for Sustainability: Catalyzing Student Engagement
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The ASU School of Sustainability, founded in 2007, was the first of its kind. For the past year, high-achieving sustainability students at ASU have sought to create another first - an ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Embedding Sustainability Into the Collegiate Recreation Culture: the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association's Journey Forward
- Oregon State University (OR)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Sonoma State University (CA)
- NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation (OR)
Within the past year, embedding sustainability throughout the collegiate recreation culture has emerged as a strategic initiative with the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). NIRSA is the leading resource ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Solutions Generator: A Cocurricular Sustainability Leadership-Service Program
- Portland State University (OR)
In the search for campus sustainability solutions, many institutions continue to seek ways to cultivate student engagement in ways that meet campus learning outcomes and prepare them as change agents ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Community of Practice for Cocurricular Sustainability Program Coordinators
- Portland State University (OR)
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
This session is designed to catalyze cocurricular sustainability program coordinators as they transition from the AASHE conference experience back to their institutions. Through a Community of Practice format, the focus ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Combining Bottled Water Reductions with Outreach: E-Signage for Hydration Stations at The University of British Columbia
- University of British Columbia (BC)
In order to reduce purchases of bottled water at The University of British Columbia (UBC), the Alma Mater Society (AMS) installed two Waterfillz hydration stations in the UBC Student Union ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Maximizing Reuse and Recycling Diversion Opportunities Through Campus Partnerships
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
This presentation describes a case study of a significant reuse and recycling intervention at UC Berkeley that was successful largely due to the heavy collaboration between student organizations and various ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Design that Inspires: Cutting through Environmental Gloom and Doom
- University of Chicago (IL)
Sustainability is a complex concept with multiple meanings making it a challenge to communicate clearly and concisely. At the same time, communication tools have changed significantly, as has the speed ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Students as Change-makers: Engagement and Innovation for Small, Underfunded, Public Institutions
- Western Colorado University (CO)
How do you increase student engagement with campus sustainability initiatives, develop a sustainability plan when administrators have more pressing obligations, and implement it with next-to-no budget or dedicated staffing? These ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability & Social Justice; How College Students Engage with Subjugated Populations in the Community
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
What is social sustainability and why is it important? Master's students and undergrads join together to work with subjugated groups in the community to combat the powerful forces of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Collaborating with Campus Recreation Departments: How Students and Sustainability Directors Can Engage Campus Recreation in Sustainability Efforts
- Oregon State University (OR)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Sonoma State University (CA)
- Washington State University, Pullman (WA)
Campus recreation departments and student recreation centers have become one of the largest hubs for student activities on campuses in recent years. In addition to often serving 50-90% of the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaging Students, Faculty, and the Curriculum in Research and Creative Activities for Sustainability
- Portland State University (OR)
As a result of national initiatives like the ACU's President's Climate Commitment, higher education is working hard to promote sustainability. Yet, while institutions "green" their campus operations, transformations ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Internship Programs: Strategies for Creating and Managing Successful Programs
- Connecticut College (CT)
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
- University of Arkansas (AR)
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
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Residence Hall Water Battle Competition
- Alliance to Save Energy (CA)
Water and energy are intertwined- energy is used to extract and convey water to end-users and water is essential during different stages of energy production. Students involved in our multi-campus ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Realizing Campus Sustainability: One Student Project at a Time
- Arizona State University (AZ)
In transforming a University campus for a sustainable future, operations staff generate a multitude of project opportunities which have the potential to engage students in sustainability research and problem-solving. Simultaneously ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Go Green and Go Home! How College Administrators are Investing in the Future by Communicating with Sustainability Activists
- Bridgewater State University (MA)
- Global Spark (WA)
Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, Tar Sands Action...this year has seen an explosion of social justice activism that continues to ignite public imaginations. This presentation looks at how colleges ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Hungry While Learning: Sustainability and Student Food Security
- Bridgewater State University (MA)
- Salish Kootenai College (MT)
- Presidio Graduate School (CA)
We've all known hungry students who are lurking on the edges of campus buffets and loading up on one daily meal to get the most out of discounted meal ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Synergy in a Faculty Learning Community: Sustainability & Pedagogy at Cal State East Bay
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
Having joined AASHE in fall 2011, Cal State East Bay established its first Faculty Learning Community (FLC) to focus on Sustainability & Pedagogy during the winter and spring quarters of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Beyond Efficiency to Embedded Sustainability
- Clarke University (IA)
Program Abstract: Sustainability offers the physical plant administrator tremendous opportunities to increase the profile of her/his department. It also offers a significant new dimension to her/his leadership role ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Sustainable, Student-Run, and Delicious Cooperative at Your Campus
- CoFED (NM)
Three times a day we choose put something in our bodies that is sustainable or unsustainable. Every student that comes into your school comes open to new ideas and experiences ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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CoFED: Student Leadership Through Cooperative, Sustainable Food Enterprises
- CoFED (NM)
Empowered student leadership is the most critical tool to catalyze a culture of sustainability on your campus. Imagine your most active student leaders being able to engage any student that ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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.