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 Teaching Students (STS) Courses: Supporting Peer Education on Emerging Environmental Themes
- University of Vermont (VT)
Courses designed and taught by students on emerging environmental themes have been offered at the University of Vermont since 1985 through Environmental Studies. Students Teaching Students (STS) is presented as ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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How a Large Institution of Higher Learning can Impact Regional Growth on Sustainability Practices: Commercial Composting in the Pacific Northwest
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
The University of Washington is a public, four-year institution with a 40,000 student enrollment. The campus population also includes more than 30,000 faculty and staff. The Department of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Bridging the Gap Between Sustainability and Justice
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Vermont (VT)
- Hackman Consulting Group
CU Boulder's Environmental Center has been working to make the connections between sustainability and justice evermore clear while changing the campus conversation. With students, we spread awareness about eco-social ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Utilizing Community Based Social Marketing to Transform Sustainable Behavior
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
- Oberlin College (OH)
- Portland Community College (OR)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Behavior change campaigns have the potential to be highly effective and quite inexpensive. But how do we know which behaviors to target and how to influence these behaviors? Four schools ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Campus Gardens & Farms: A discussion of best practices for student and faculty engagement
- Portland Community College (OR)
Sustainable agriculture on campuses in the form of farms or gardens have their own unique challenges for student and faculty engagement. During this moderated networking session we will facilitate the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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A Learning Garden: Different Strategies for Student Engagement
- Portland Community College (OR)
This poster will visually guide you through Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus Learning Garden and the multiple ways we engage students in the garden. The Learning Garden functions ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Natural Area Stewardship as Part of Campus Sustainability
Despite a growing body of evidence that spending time in nature through leisure, stewardship, and related activities is critical to the healthy development of humans and can lead to pro-environmental ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Preaching to the Choir
- Baylor University (TX)
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: 97 percent of climate scientists agree that we are the main reason the planet is warming at an alarming rate and if ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Ten Tips for Students to be Sustainable on Earth Day and Beyond
- AASHE (MA)
Happy Earth Day to everyone! To commemorate this important day we are highlighting the impact students can have to advance sustainability efforts at their institution and reduce their individual carbon ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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University of Iowa and Balfour Beatty Partner to Deliver Unique Sustainability Programs
- University of Iowa (IA)
On-campus student housing project “Aspire at West Campus” opened its’ doors to students in August of 2014, a new housing partnership formed between AASHE Member University of Iowa (UI) and ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Guide to Creating & Managing Sustainability Internship Programs
- Connecticut College (CT)
- University of Richmond (VA)
- AASHE (MA)
This How-To Guide explores best practices for establishing and managing highly effective Sustainability Internship Programs (SIPs). It presents information for individuals seeking guidance on creating new SIPs (Chapter 2), or ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Student Diary Series: Plucking High-Hanging Fruit
- Virginia Tech (VA)
As sustainability professionals, we all have the same mission: Managing today’s resources for a more sustainable future. What better place to start than at Virginia Tech (VT), while pursuing ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Evaluating Penn's Green Living Certification: Successes and Recommendations for Improvement
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
As Penn's first environmental certification program aimed at rewarding students' personal behaviors, the Green Living Certification program has the potential to affect behavior change and promote a culture of ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Campus Sustainability and Natural Area Stewardship: Student Involvement in Adaptive Comanagement
University campus sustainability initiatives have proliferated over the last decade. We contend that such initiatives benefit from applying conceptual frameworks to help understand and guide their activities and from a ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Helpful Support Increases Impact: Clarkson University Focus the Nation Chapter
- Clarkson University (NY)
In my campus role as the Assoc. Director for Sustainability for Clarkson University (an AASHE & STARS Member Institution), I work with several different student groups every year to help ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Empowering Our Students to Lead the Revolution
- Wake Forest University (NC)
We recently hosted a panel event on campus that probed the realms of morality, justice, capitalism and sustainability. Titled Good for Me – Good for Us? Self Interest, Community Values, and ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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The No Impact Jack Sustainable Living Certificate: A Program Evaluation
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
Given the threats of climate change along with limited natural resources, colleges and universities are in a position to role model sustainable practices and provide opportunities for students to learn ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Fostering Sustained Energy Behavior Change And Increasing Energy Literacy In A Student Housing Energy Challenge
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
We designed the Kukui Cup challenge to foster energy conservation and increase energy literacy. Based on a review of the literature, the challenge combined a variety of elements into an ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Talking Trash for America Recycles Day
- College & University Recycling Coalition (DC)
The purpose of America Recycles Day is to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and waste reduction in conserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 34 percent ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Five Fabulous Ways Schools Celebrated Campus Sustainability Day 2012
- AASHE (MA)
I'm delighted to report that the 10th anniversary of Campus Sustainability Day Oct. 24 saw record participation from colleges. More than 150 institutions - triple the number from last year ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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STARS Blog: Sustainable Choices for Students in the Upcoming Academic Year
- AASHE (MA)
During the month of August, recent high school graduates across North America are completing final preparations for college and university life. New students face countless decisions, such as what to ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Earth Week Project
- AASHE (MA)
AASHE's 1,132 members and 286 STARS Institutions are at the forefront of education, operations, planning and engagement initiatives toward a more sustainable campus, community and world. In observance ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Student Diary Series: Seeing Like a Planet
- University of Michigan (MI)
On December 7, 1972 – at 5:39 a.m. EST to be exact – astronauts on the Apollo 17 mission took a photograph that transformed how we saw our home, Earth ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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AASHE Student Diary Series: The GREEN Life
- Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus (NJ)
This is the story of three Rutgers University students with a simple idea born in the hopes of educating and showing their peers the ever-expanding world of renewable energy. Three ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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AASHE Student Diary Series: Abuzz with Rooftop Bees
- Harvard University (MA)
The novice beekeeping adventures of a group of Graduate School of Design (GSD) students at Harvard University are featured in this installment of the AASHE Bulletin Sustainability Student Diary series ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Student Sustainability Educators: A Guide to Creating and Maintaining an Eco-Rep Program
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
- AASHE (MA)
Co-published by AASHE and National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology program, this step-by-step guide takes readers through the design, implementation and evaluation stages of an Eco-Rep program. It includes case ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Where Meaning Lies: Student Attitudes and Behaviors related to Sustainability in College
- New York University (NY)
While sustainability is a national priority, an intriguing gap seems to exist between peoples' perceptions of sustainability as an issue and their levels of actual engagement. This study aimed to ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Student Green Fund Implementation in U.S. Colleges and Universities from 1973-2010
- Harvard University (MA)
- University of Vermont (VT)
College campuses across the U.S. and abroad have seen a growth of student campaigns to take institutional action on climate change. The campus sustainability movement, an outgrowth of the ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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H204U: The Culture of Water Consumption at New York University
- New York University (NY)
While an abundance of information about the negative environmental impacts of bottled water exists, there are few, if any, bottom-up studies of why and how people choose and understand the ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Peer to Peer Sustainability Outreach Programs: The Interface of Education and Behavior Change
- University of Vermont (VT)
The current climate change crisis demands immediate and creative approaches for systemic shifts in our culture and actions. In the past several decades, education has played a role in bringing ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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The Human Dimension of Energy Conservation and Sustainability
- University of Michigan (MI)
The purpose of this paper is to determine the behaviors, attitudes, and levels of understanding among faculty, staff, and students in efforts to design programs aimed at reducing energy use ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Environmentally Responsible Attitudes and Behavior among Elon University Students
- Elon University (NC)
In 2008, the Elon administration made a commitment towards becoming a carbon-neutral campus. However, most of the action plans are largely infrastructural and do not encourage active student engagement/participation ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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2009 Collegiate Athletic Department Sustainability Survey Report
- AASHE (MA)
Shows that while sustainability efforts appear to be growing within collegiate athletics, commitment to sustainability is lower among athletic departments than compared to their institutions as a whole and to ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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UC San Diego vs. Preuss Ecology Club - Top Down vs Bottom Up
- University of California, San Diego (CA)
For a university like UC San Diego (UCSD), it appears that they are at the forefront of most innovative environmental projects and objectives. However, as they continue to receive national ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Minnesota Campus Energy Challenge 2009 Analysis and Recommendations
- Macalester College (MN)
This report is an analysis of the Minnesota 2009 Campus Energy Challenge (MCEC) from the point of view of the principal state organizer, Arielle Miwa Oseki Robbins, the principal Macalester ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Sustainability at Universities - Opportunities, Challenges and Trends
This book provides a concrete contribution towards the goal of fostering sustainability at universities, by especially focusing on opportunities, challenges and trends. It contains a wide range of papers written ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Green Study for Greeks: The Determination of Environmental Sustainability within the Greek Community of WPI
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA)
Commissioned by the Greek Alumni Council (GAC) of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the purpose of this project was to raise awareness within the Greek community of sustainability issues and ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Survey of Environmental Behaviors in UVM Residence Halls: Report on Findings
- University of Vermont (VT)
In the spring of 2007, an electronic survey was sent out to residents of four residential complexes at the University of Vermont (UVM). The goals of this survey were to ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Raise the Funds: Campus Action Toolkit
- AASHE (MA)
This is a guide to funding mechanisms for campus sustainability projects and initiatives for students, staff and administrators. It was released in November 2008.
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Creating a Green Community: Understanding Student Environmental Behaviors for Increased Campus Participation at Northwestern University
- Northwestern University (IL)
Today, the world is facing a crisis the likes of which has not been seen before. The onset of global warming in recent times has initiated the growth of environmental ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Organizing Residence Hall Conservation Competitions: A Guide for Students
- Furman University (SC)
Since as early as 1990, colleges and universities have been holding competitions to encourage energy and water conservation and waste reduction in college residences. These competitions reward on-campus residents for ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Designing a Social Online Network: Decreasing Fragmentation in the UBC Student Led Sustainability Movement
- University of British Columbia (BC)
The University of British Columbia has recognized sustainability as being a prominent issue over the past decade, and has become a leader in advocating sustainable practices. Although the University has ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Environmental Ethics and the Culture of Sustainability at Santa Clara University
- Santa Clara University (CA)
Though Santa Clara University has made a strong commitment to sustainability—one that impacts University spending, building, and planning—little information exists on to what extent and in what forms ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Green Campus Success in 30 Minutes or Less!
Ways to teach your students about every area of sustainability in which they can make a difference on campus. Use email/text message tips as way to get to students ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Social Marketing as a Means to Influence Student Behavior Towards Energy Conservation
- University of Mary Washington (VA)
Social marketing is one of many approaches to changing behavioral patterns. In this paper, the specific behavior is electricity conservation and the social marketing is provided by NORESCO, one of ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Earth Day as a Catalyst for Campus Environmental Leadership
- Antioch University, New England (NH)
This paper explores the impact of Earth Day on the development of campus environmental leadership. Personal narratives on the significance of Earth Day are presented in a series of interviews ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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From principle to product: Exploring process through the Solar Decathlon
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
The premise of this thesis is to examine the process and development of the evolution of words into built form. The abstract principle followed through the design process is the ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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A community-based social marketing campaign to green the offices at Pacific University: Recycling, paper reduction and environmentally preferable purchasing
- Antioch University (OH)
This study describes a community-based social marketing (CBSM) research project to bring awareness and behavior change around paper reduction, recycling, and purchasing of environmentally preferred products (EPP) at a small ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Student Activities Climate Change Resource Guide: How Student Affairs Professionals Can Contribute to Campus Climate Neutrality
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Campus presidents and chancellors across the country are committing their institutions to a climate neutral future. As of this writing, more than 550 campus leaders have signed the American College ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Environmental sustainability 'inreach' : How the campus community informs itself about environmental issues
- North Carolina State University (NC)
As many higher education institutions join in the sustainability challenge, several studies recently have emerged that examine the experiences of these institutions in greening their campuses. These studies have identified ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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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.