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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2 Universities, 1 Climate Goal
- College of William & Mary (VA)
- University of Virginia (VA)
William & Mary and the University of Virginia jointly announced a carbon neutrality date of 2030 along with a climate action partnership between the two. Choosing to collaborate, each university …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Leveraging Town Gown Relationships to Promote Community Sustainable Development Initiatives
- Denison University (OH)
Colleges and Universities are uniquely positioned to leverage resources to drive sustainable development initiatives in their respective communities. These efforts can and should be mutually beneficial to the school and …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Just Transition in Action: Lessons from Freiburg, Germany and New York
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
This dynamic workshop inspires participants with detailed case studies of just transition in action. It challenges participants to engage in practical solutions in ways that build economic and community solidarity …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Communiversity Resiliency Mobilization
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
- University of Notre Dame (IN)
In response to partisan and divisive politics and relationships in our nation and our communities, the University of Notre Dame, in partnership with Indiana University South Bend and the city …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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When the Silos Break: Creating Connections and Coalescing Sustainability Efforts
- University of Oregon (OR)
Through research, and teaching, and by serving as a testing ground or model for sustainable physical spaces, colleges and universities have the potential to help solve the most complex environmental …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Creating Organizational Culture Change to Advance Sustainability in Higher Education
- University of St. Thomas (MN)
Culture is a shared set of assumptions that guides people's thoughts and behaviors. Within organizations, aligning structures and process with organizational culture is crucial for maintaining successful organizational functioning. This …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Campus as a Living lab: Building Resilient Teams Across Operations, Academics, and Administration
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
- San Mateo County Community College District Office (CA)
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
Building resilient systems is now more critical than ever, particularly in realizing the promise of preparing a climate ready workforce for a just and equitable transition. California institutions of higher …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The Post Carbon Neutrality Story: A Student Perspective on how to Pursue Meaningful Peer Engagement
- Colgate University (NY)
In 2019, Colgate University became the first university in New York, and one of the first in the country, to achieve carbon neutrality. While the road to carbon neutrality was …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Imagining New Realities: the Green Fund and Student-Led Change
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Come learn from the experiences of students involved with the Green Fund at a large public university. A Green Fund offers money to student-led projects that reduce the operating costs …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Building Campus-Community Relationships and Resilience
- Bemidji State University (MN)
- Precipitate, PLLC (MN)
Located in Northern Minnesota, Bemidji State University (BSU) operates within a dispersed, rural, and diverse community. Bemidji State staff and faculty will be joined by planning consultant Precipitate to share …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Using Smartsheets, Dashboards and ArcGIS Insights to Track and Analyze Waste Stream's Weights
- University of Kentucky (KY)
The University of Kentucky's (UK) Waste and Recycling Department is using Smartsheets, Dashboard and ArcGIS Insights to collect and analyze the different waste streams. UK has about 300 dumpsters and …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The Nature and Contents of Current Campus Sustainability Plans in the United States.
- Texas State University, San Marcos (TX)
A campus sustainability plan is a detailed document that integrates sustainability within an institution of higher education's operational, academic, and administrative aspects. These plans are significantly different from campus master …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Campus as a Living Lab Curriculum: Lessons from a Diversity of Institutional Types
- Michael Roy Iversen, Urban and Campus Sustainability Consultancy (IL)
The 'campus as a living lab' approach blends academic curriculum and campus facilities management, so as to both benefit students with experiential, real-world learning, and institutions with a purposeful means …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Emotional Intelligence, Effective Advocacy and Sustainable Operations: The Path to Zero Waste
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
Municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the U.S. Landfills have also been shown to be environmentally unjust. Since the 1980's, studies have shown …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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GHG's and EIS: Automating the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Process
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
Universities nationwide have made impressive commitments to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that drive climate change. This has led to a variety of emission-tracking tools and methodologies, ranging widely …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Creating Pathways to Empower Sustainability Professionals
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) (OR)
Sustainability professionals lead organizations and communities in driving social justice, environmental health, and a regenerative economy. For graduates of sustainability-oriented academic programs, professional, post-nominal, credentials help create an immediate on-ramp …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Resilient Recycling- Build a Strong Recycling Program Against Market Forces and Beyond Good Behavior
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
Contamination, 'wish-cycling', and global market changes are shaking the very foundation of recycling. The barriers to recycling and zero-waste are not just in marketing & campus behavior, but rather they …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Transitioning from Ideation to Implemention: How to Launch an Impactful Campaign or Program
- Wilfrid Laurier University (ON)
As sustainability staff or students, we often want to create innovative campaigns or programs on campus to reach a large audience. Sometimes we skip the basics of designing a program …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Organizing a Campus-Community Resilience Building Workshop
- Second Nature (MA)
This workshop will train participants in how to organize and facilitate a Community Resilience Building (CRB) Workshop. The CRB Workshop is a community-driven process, rich with information, experience, and dialogue …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Preparing a Faculty Cohort to Facilitate Internal Curriculum Integration Workshops
- University of Michigan (MI)
- Dallas College (TX)
An increasing number of colleges & universities are working to integrate sustainability & social justice into the curriculum. This often involves faculty development workshops led by external facilitators. In-house efforts, …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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New Methodology and Measurement Tool Linking Curricula to the 2030 Agenda and University Strategy
- Copenhagen Business School
At Copenhagen Business School (CBS), 2008 marked the beginning of a university-wide effort towards connecting curriculum to Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainability (RES). As a United Nations PRME (Principles of Responsible …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Embedding SDG competencies into global education curriculum
- The GREEN Program (PA)
This session will discuss the process of designing global education programs that educate for SDG competencies and measure progress in SDG comprehension through pre- and post-program assessment. The session will …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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University Sustainability Funds 2.0: A Model for the Next Generation
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
- McGill University (QC)
The University of Washington's Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) and McGill University's Sustainability Project Fund (SPF) are two of the largest university sustainability funds in North America with yearly budgets of …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Global Affairs Office and a Sustainability Office: What's the Connection?
- University of California, Davis (CA)
Over the past year, the University of California, Davis Global Affairs office and the Office of Sustainability have collaborated in ways that are mutually supportive of each office's mission on …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Sustainability Strategic Planning: Meaningfully Integrating Sustainability into Campus-Wide Planning
- Williams College (MA)
During the 2019-2020 academic year, Williams College embarked on a college-wide strategic planning process. Sustainability was designated as one of the eight working groups and as one of three principles …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Approaches to Strategic Zero Waste Planning and Implementation
- Boston University (MA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Zero Waste requires reimagining the notion of 'waste' and navigating the tension between meeting the desires of a University's young, climate-concerned community and convincing University leadership and staff to move …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Leverage Your Renewable Energy Impact Through Avoided Emissions Power Purchase Agreement Strategies
- Boston University (MA)
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
- Edison Energy (CA)
Renewable energy procurement is a critical strategy for reducing an institution's greenhouse gas emissions, however not all renewable energy projects avoid the same amount of GHG emissions per kWh. With …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Building a Comprehensive Internship Program for Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development
- University of Denver (CO)
Internships can provide students with deep experiential learning that supports and enhances their curricular pathways. Managing internships can be complex and time consuming for both student and supervisor. At the …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Student Peer Educators as the Primary Communication and Outreach Strategy for Campus Sustainability
- University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)
A programming methodology was developed for applying student peer educators (EcoReps) for campus-wide communications and outreach. The idea was to emphasize direct, face-to-face engagement with students and staff in place …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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We Can Submit: An Authentic Discussion of a First Time STARS Submission
- Oklahoma State University (OK)
- University of Mississippi (MS)
Calling all STARS wannabes! Do you feel overwhelmed when you think about starting the STARS process? Has your office tried to submit and is yet to be successful? Are other …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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How universities understand sustainability and its implications for action
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
The integration of sustainability across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has produced an emerging field around defining sustainability. Despite the increase in universities transitioning towards more sustainable institutions, and the importance …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Green Events Ambassadors: Student Interns Share Zero Waste Knowledge Across Institutions
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
This informational session will provide attendees with an in-depth look at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Sustainability's intern-run Green Events Program, its zero waste planning, and how this programming …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Move Out Programs: Finding the Solution for your Campus
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
Every year when students move out of their dorms and apartments, tons of useful stuff is left behind or discarded. Over the past decade or so, campuses all across the …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Zero Waste Campus is Possible!
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
In this workshop we will facilitate a discussion around how students can lead specific efforts to solve waste issues on their campuses. We start with a short presentation on the …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Achieving University Circularity in 2050
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
- CannonDesign (NY)
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation
It's 2050 and the world's civilizations have successfully implemented 100% recycled materials, 100% material waste diversion, 100% renewable energy-fueled systems and perpetual environmental regeneration. Within the design field, as a …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Project Management for Sustainability Offices to Keep Moving Forward
- University of Florida (FL)
- University of Southern Maine (ME)
Whether you're a single-person operation, have a team of staff members, or have a group of fantastic student volunteers or interns, we are all facing more requests for our time …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Go DefaultVeg: Using Behavioral Nudges to Reduce Food-Related GHG Emissions at Your Institution
- Harvard University (MA)
- Better Food Foundation (DC)
Colleges and universities are increasingly attempting to measure and reduce their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. Among the largest contributors of Scope 3 emissions are transportation and food. In 2019, …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Transforming Your Supply Chain for a Sustainable Future
- Aramark (PA)
- Better Food Foundation (DC)
- Harvest Table Culinary Group (PA)
Developing a resilient food system is a crucial task for de-escalating and reversing the interrelated social and ecological crises unfolding as a result of industrial scale animal agriculture. Universities and …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Beyond the Ivory Walls: Community Based Sustainable Solutions for Building Local Resilience
- University of Dayton (OH)
In an era of climate change, a just transition requires solutions that marry sustainability and resilience. Commonly, resilience is perceived as an adaptation strategy that builds capacity to withstand disturbances …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The Challenge and Promise of a Living Building Project in a Dynamic Urban Ecosystem
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
- Thornton Tomasetti (ME)
- Simons Architects (ME)
Where many people see an unassuming drab brick building in a corner of Portland, Maine's, historic waterfront, Unity College sees an unprecedented opportunity for a physical manifestation our sustainability mission. …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Incorporating Social Equity Considerations into Sustainability & Climate Action Planning
- Portland Community College (OR)
Equity is playing an increasing role in the process of sustainability and climate action planning. Asking 'Who benefits?' and 'Who gets to decide?' from the outcomes is a critical component …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Organics for Everyone: Lessons Learned from a Large-Scale Campus-wide Organics Rollout
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- University of Minnesota System Office (MN)
Implementing post-consumer organics collection on campus is a big step. But it can be done! The University of Minnesota has confronted the challenges associated with front-of-house organics collection head-on with …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Navigating Options for Scaling-Up Campus Renewables: PPAs, Onsite, Offsite, Leases, & More
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
- University of Wisconsin-Parkside (WI)
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville (WI)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
The renewable energy marketplace is opaque and complex. Onsite solar, community solar, offsite wind and solar, direct ownership, lease, utility partnerships, third party PPAs? What's legal? What's prohibited? Navigating this …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Collaborating for Resilience: The Power of Campus-Community Conversations
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
- University of Florida (FL)
We are already beginning to feel the impacts of climate change on our campuses and within our communities. It is increasingly important that universities and colleges anticipate these impacts by …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Creating Intersectionality with Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Sustainability with UC Berkeley
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
In the realm of establishing a sustainable campus, a clear understanding and commitment from leaders (staff and students) are necessary to execute those goals. Often times, communities who are underrepresented …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Student Support 101: A Guide for Sustainability Professionals
- Florida State University (FL)
Across the country, universities are solidifying their commitment to a more sustainable future through the creation of sustainability offices. Often times, these offices are located within facilities departments with professionals …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Connecting University Sustainability Efforts to Your Health System
- Duke University (NC)
- Emory University (GA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
Sustainability is defined as the nexus between society, the environment and the economy. Hundreds of universities are making significant progress toward incorporating sustainability across their campus operations, educational efforts and …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Strategies, Priorities and Movement Building Tactics of the Environmental Justice Movement
- The New School (NY)
Climate change is one of the most significant threats to humanity. Frontline, environmental justice (EJ) communities will be the most impacted by these threats and are already facing the devastating …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Going Zero Waste: It's not Just Business, it's Personal
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
There are many long-established zero waste best practices addressing bins, signage, reusables and more. Unlike LED retrofits, low-flow faucets or other infrastructure projects, a zero waste initiative requires the participation …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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.