Coordination & Planning
Introduction
Staff and other resources help an institution organize, implement, and publicize sustainability initiatives. These resources provide the infrastructure that fosters sustainability within an institution. Sustainability planning affords an institution the opportunity to clarify its vision of a sustainable future, establish priorities and help guide budgeting and decision making.
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Tree mapping and carbon inventory on a university campus in South Korea: Case study and global review
- Korea University
- Kyungmin University
- Sangji University
Campus trees have significant potential for sequestering carbon in urban environments and improving civic life quality; however, few inventories of university campus trees have been constructed worldwide (excluding North America). …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Driving Revenue Growth through Sustainable Products and Services: Implications for Chief Marketing Officers
- The Conference Board
The business benefits of sustainability initiatives go well beyond strengthening corporate image. Chief marketing officers can leverage such initiatives to respond to the voice of the customer, address global societal …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Consumers care about sustainability—and back it up with their wallets
- McKinsey & Company (NY)
- Nielsen
A joint study from McKinsey and NielsenIQ examines sales growth for products that claim to be environmentally and socially responsible.
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Climate Risks and Resilience at Dickinson College: Infrastructure and Continuity Planning
- Dickinson College (PA)
Dickinson College is faced with growing risks from climate change that could significantly impact its campus infrastructure, operations, and ability to fulfill its educational mission without disruption. As climate change …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Preparing and Adapting Our Campuses for the Effects of Climate Change
- Merrimack College (MA)
Colleges across the United States have become greener, and efforts are underway to enhance their sustainability practices and reduce their carbon footprint. This article is not about the greening of …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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The State of Campus Resilience in the Face of a Changing Climate
- Society for College and University Planning (MI)
- Amgen
The impact of climate-related events poses a major threat to campuses nationwide, a trend expected to only worsen as the climate continues to change. However, a recent study by Haley …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Integrating Resilience Planning into University Campus Planning
- Society for College and University Planning (MI)
Within the higher education community, there is increasing awareness of the need to plan for more frequent occurrences of natural hazards and the effects of climate change. Many institutions are …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Adapting universities and colleges to a changing climate
- Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) (Gloucestershire)
The guide provides a range of support, from an initial self-assessment on climate readiness and an example Elevator Pitch to use to communicate the need for investment in adaptation, to …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Don't Think Your Campus Needs to Prepare for Climate Change?: Here's Why You're Wrong
- Merrimack College (MA)
It isn’t hard to find evidence that colleges across the country are concerned about global climate change and the role they play in contributing to it. Solar panels, LEED-certified buildings, …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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$3 Million Gift Boosts Sustainability at CNU
- Christopher Newport University (VA)
The Redekop Family Endowment has donated $3 million to fund projects advancing sustainability at Christopher Newport University. The gift of $1 million for each of three years will support programs …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Stewart and Lynda Resnick Pledge $750 Million to Caltech to Support Environmental Sustainability Research
- California Institute of Technology (CA)
The owners of The Wonderful Company, have announced an unprecedented $750 million pledge to Caltech to support cutting-edge research into the most pressing challenges in environmental sustainability. The commitment, part …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, university’s first new school in 70 years, will accelerate solutions to global climate crisis
- Stanford University (CA)
Stanford’s first new school in 70 years will launch this fall as the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, recognizing a $1.1 billion gift from John and Ann Doerr, the largest …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Commercialising university inventions for sustainability—a case study of (non-)intermediating ‘cleantech’ at Aalto University
- Utrecht University
- University of Helsinki
- University of Sussex (Sussex)
The challenge to transform towards more sustainable societies requires action on multiple levels, including commercialisation of inventions created in universities. We examine intermediation in the pre-commercialisation phase of cleantech inventions …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Commercialising science-based sustainable innovations: extending the role of university-industry collaboration
- University of Oulu
Technological innovation for sustainability is often complex and entails high costs and uncertainties for companies. Therefore, collaboration with external partners, such as universities, is crucial. However, commercialising innovations originating from …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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The Sustainable Times: The positive impacts of UT's Green Fee
- University of Tennessee System Office (TN)
The Green Fee at the University of Tennessee, introduced in 2005, charges students $10 per semester (in-state) or $35 (out-of-state) to fund sustainability projects. This fee generates around $870,000 annually …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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The value of sustainability in students’ university choice
- University World News
The QS Sustainability Rankings 2023 set out to measure a university’s ability to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance challenges. Likewise, the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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College Pulse Sustainable Campuses Survey 2023
- College Pulse (CA)
This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted in English among a sample of 2164 undergraduate students who are currently enrolled in the U.S. The sample …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Earth Day 2023: How Does Sustainability Impact Marketing in Higher Ed?
- Carnegie (MA)
This article reports on a survey of 700+ students in grades nine through 12. When asked, “How important is it to you that the college or university you attend is …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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The climate for change: How university sustainability is impacting student decision-making
- QS Quacquarelli Symonds
What matters to students continues to evolve as the world around them changes. Through QS data and analytics – including the International Student Survey which collates the perspectives and motivations …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Student Perspectives on Sustainability at Iowa State University
- Iowa State University (IA)
This research report employed focus groups and a student body survey to understand Iowa State University (ISU) students' perspectives on how well the curriculum and extracurricular activities are preparing them …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Institutions underestimate importance of sustainability for prospective students – new research reveals
- Shakespeare Martineau
This article describes a survey of 1,000 16 to 19-year-olds planning on applying for college conducted by the law firm Shakespeare Martineau. The survey found that around three quarters of …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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48% of students prefer a sustainable university to one in the top 100
- QS Quacquarelli Symonds
For many students, a sustainable university matters more than a high ranking When asked which type of university they would prefer to enrol in, more than two-thirds of students say …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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How Corporate Social Responsibility Affects the Well-Being of Students Through Organizational Pride and Employability
- University of Coimbra
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) covers a wide range of activities. Higher education institutions (HEIs) also engage in CSR actions, thus playing a significant role in society, seeking to promote education …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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How universities' social responsibility activities influence students’ perceptions of reputation
- Technische Universität Dresden (Dresden)
Based on signaling theory, this study investigates how universities' social responsibility activities influence students' perceptions of their reputation. Using a structural equation modeling approach, we explore the determinants of reputation …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Factors influencing student retention university students: an analysis of institutional reputation, social responsibility and loyalty
- Universidad Peruana Unión
Introduction: This study investigates the impact of institutional reputation (IR), social responsibility (SR) and student loyalty (LY) on student retention (RT) in university students. Methods: Using a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Green-Smart University Campuses: The Mediating Role of Student Engagement in Enhancing Corporate Image
- The University of Jordan
This study investigates the motivating factors influencing university students’ participation in the Green-Smart Campus initiative. The model examines variables from the student’s perspective, with a green-smart campus as the exogenous …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Students’ satisfaction and empowerment of a sustainable university campus
- University of Beira Interior
Universities are crucial in empowering a sustainable campus through the adoption of sustainable development practices (SDP), which are expressed in terms of economic, organizational, environmental, and social dimensions. Previous findings …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Balancing sustainability and profitability
- IBM
Today’s executives walk a tightrope, balancing the long-term imperative to protect the planet with the short-term need to preserve the bottom line. In a landscape defined by chaos and disruption, …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Environmental Record a Factor for Most U.S. Job Seekers
- Gallup (DC)
About seven in 10 U.S. workers say that a company's environmental record matters to some degree in whether or not they would take a job with that company. This includes …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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University Social Responsibility and Teachers’ Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Reputation and Image
- University of Kent
- Hanoi National University of Education
- University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City
- Universitas Padjadjaran
Understanding teachers' expectations of university social responsibility (USR) is imperative for formulating effective human resources strategies within higher education institutions (HEIs). This study delves into teacher perceptions of USR within …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Analyzing the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Employee Satisfaction Using a Hybrid SEM-ANN Approach
- University of Belgrade
In the conditions of modern market dynamics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly evolving from a formal ethical principle into a powerful strategic instrument, key to achieving sustainable growth and …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Impact of corporate social responsibility on employee loyalty: Mediating role of person-organization fit and employee trust
- Qingdao University of Technology
The study explores the impact of employee perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in improving employee loyalty by examining the direct and indirect role of person-organization fit and employee trust. …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Winning in the Marketplace and the Workplace: Activating the Workplace by Engaging Employees in Sustainability
- National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) (DC)
Engaged employees lead to better business outcomes. As companies look for ways to boost employee engagement, they are focusing on job purposing—the concept of linking an organization’s purpose and an …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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The Intersection of ESG and HR
- Society for Human Resource Management (VA)
The March EN:Insights Forum looked at the effects of environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives on corporate goals, performance and HR effectiveness. The session explored the impact of these goals …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Engaged employees are asking their leaders to take climate action
- Deloitte Consulting LLP (TX)
Employees with strong environmental awareness can play a pivotal role in accelerating corporate sustainability plans, yet Deloitte survey data shows that leaders could be doing more to engage their full …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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The positive impact of university sustainability on academic prestige
- Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI)
Increasingly driven by environmental and social consciousness, students are aligning their values for a greener, fairer future with their educational decision-making. Data collated for the QS World University Rankings 2025 …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Universities Need a Social License to Operate and Grow: Reflecting on the University-Community Engagement of two Transnational Universities
- Ocean University of China (Shandong)
- University of Groningen
Transnational higher education is big business. However, it is unclear what transnational universities must do to behave in a responsible way or to gain a social licence to operate. Examining …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Does sustainability reporting promote university ranking? Australian and New Zealand evidence
- University of Western Australia
- Murdoch University (Western Australia)
Purpose: This study aims to investigate the relationship between university rankings and sustainability reporting among Australia and New Zealand universities. Even though sustainability reporting is an established area of investigation, …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Sustainability 2.0
- Deloitte Consulting LLP (TX)
The article explores how sustainability is evolving from a peripheral initiative to a core business strategy, much like the early development of the internet. Initially focused on basic environmental practices, …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Why Sustainability Is Now the Key Driver of Innovation
- Harvard Business Review (MA)
When companies pursue sustainability, it’s usually to demonstrate that they are socially responsible. They expect that the endeavor will add to their costs, deliver no immediate financial benefits, and quite …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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President Mandel of Williams College signs the Break Free From Plastic Campus Pledge
- Williams College (MA)
President Maud Mandel signs Post Landfill Action Network's Break Free From Plastic Campus Pledge
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
- Photographs
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Climate Vulnerability Index
- Texas A&M University (TX)
These images depict the overall climate vulnerability of the United States. There are three images to choose from:
- Overall Climate Vulnerability map of U.S. (map only version)
- Overall Climate Vulnerability …
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
- Photographs
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Vote on Ho Plaza
- Cornell University (NY)
Students from the Cornell Policy Group, a nonpartisan student organization, help others register to vote on Ho Plaza.
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
- Photographs
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UConn Includes Sustainability in Updated Strategic Plan
- University of Connecticut (CT)
The University of Connecticut recently released it's new Strategic Plan guiding the institution through 2034.
One of the key focus areas is: Wellness of People and Planet "At UConn, we …
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
- Photographs
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UConn Wins Connecticut's GreenerGov Award
- University of Connecticut (CT)
The State of Connecticut recognized the University of Connecticut with a GreenerGov award in 2025. The event celebrates the exceptional efforts of State Agency staff and agency Senior Sustainability Officers …
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
- Photographs
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University of Zurich Sustainability Report
- University of Zurich
Provides an overview and updates on sustainability at the university.
- Posted Aug. 6, 2025
- Publications
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UBC Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan
- The University of British Columbia (BC)
UBC’s pathway to a net-zero, climate resilient community for the campus neighborhoods.
- Posted Aug. 6, 2025
- Publications
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UBC Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan Progress Update
- The University of British Columbia (BC)
This report provides a 2025 progress update on NCAP implementation by scope area. The report tracks progress towards building climate resilience and reducing GHG emissions since NCAP was approved in …
- Posted Aug. 6, 2025
- Publications
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EcoPark Project
- American University of Central Asia
Center for Civic Engagement holds annual tree planting event during each Spring and Fall at Elm Grove, drawing wide participation and community support. The event was organized in partnership with …
- Posted July 31, 2025
- Photographs
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Tree Planting at American University of Central Asia
- American University of Central Asia
The Sustainability Program of the Center for Civic Engagemnt in collaboration with the Administration, hosted a tree planting event at the AUCA campus. This initiative aimed to promote environmental awareness …
- Posted July 31, 2025
- Photographs
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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.
PA 1: Sustainability Coordination
- Description of the sustainability committee(s)
- Description of the sustainability office(s)
- Description of activities and accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years
- First sustainability position (upload)
- First sustainability position (text)
- Second sustainability position (upload)
- Second sustainability position (text)
- Third sustainability position (upload)
- Third sustainability position (text)
- Website URL - Sustainability Coordination
PA 2: Sustainability Coordination
- Published measurable objectives - Academics
- Published measurable objectives - Engagement
- Published measurable objectives - Operations
- Published measurable objectives - Planning & Administration
- Website URL - Highest Guiding Strategic Plan
- Sustainability plan (upload)
- Sustainability plan (website URL)
- Website URL - Sustainability planning
PA 3: Sustainability Coordination
- Description of participatory or shared governance bodies
- Percent of official members of the highest governing body that are women
- Website URL - Institution’s highest level governing body
- Description of campus-community council or equivalent body that gives external stakeholders a regular voice in institutional decisions
- Website URL - Institutional governance body
PA 4: Reporting Assurance
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.