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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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Mapping of sustainability policies and initiatives in higher education institutes

  • University of Limerick

Higher Education Institutes are being called upon to integrate sustainable development into their organisation, driven by national and international events, policies and environmental targets. This paper maps sustainability policies and …

Student-led environmental management system in Chiba University

  • Chiba University

Purpose This paper aims to explain the student-led environmental management system (EMS) based on ISO14001 which Chiba University has continued for 15 years. It describes its structure “Chiba University Method”, …

Measuring Up: a Case For Redrawing the System Boundaries of Sustainability At the University of Kentucky

  • University of Kentucky (KY)

The primary goal of this paper is to examine the role that sustainability assessment and reporting plays in creating a sustainable campus for academic excellence. A prototype sustainability assessment and …

Implementation of SDGs at the University of South Africa

  • University of South Africa

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how universities can play a pivotal role in implementing sustainable development goals (SDGs). It recognises the advantage that universities have in …

Corporate Governance and Disclosure of Information on Corporate Social Responsibility: An Analysis of the Top 200 Universities in the Shanghai Ranking

  • Universidad de Granada

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its disclosure in the university environment is a topic of current relevance, as it makes the entities’ commitments visible and provides indicators that enable them …

Universities speak up regarding the implementation of sustainable development challenges: The case of Portugal

  • Universidade Aberta
  • University of Aveiro

Purpose This study aims to expand knowledge and provide further insights on how education for sustainable development (ESD) has been integrated into programmes at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Portugal. …

UI GreenMetric and campus sustainability: a review of the role of African universities

  • Ural Federal University (Sverdlovskaya Oblast')

The desire to combat the negative externalities of climate change and its variability has gained a lot of ground over the last few decades. This has resulted in the development …

Barriers to innovation and sustainability in universities: an international comparison

  • University of Passo Fundo
  • Universidade federal de Santa Maria
  • Universidade Federal do Pampa (RS)

Purpose Sustainability has become a global concern to deal with complex and unprecedent survival, social, political and peace issues. Higher education institutions play a key role in this transformation. This …

The role of planning in implementing sustainable development in a higher education context

  • University of Malta (Northern Harbor District)
  • Bournemouth University (Dorset)
  • Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
  • University of Beira Interior
  • University of Passo Fundo
  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz
  • Universität Bonn (Köln)
  • Amirkabir University of Technology
  • University of the Aegean (Lesvos)

The implementation of sustainable development in higher education is an important goal, and one which requires much planning. The many recurring problems and barriers that hinder the attainment of sustainable …

What Sustainability? Higher Education Institutions Pathways to Reach the Agenda 2030 Goals

  • Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Barcelona)

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have the mandate of promoting sustainability through addressing the Agenda 2030. However, how this is being understood and framed in both discourse and practice by HEIs …

Integrating Sustainability in the Quality Assessment of EHEA Institutions: A Hybrid FDEMATEL-ANP-FIS Model

  • Universidad de Oviedo (Asturias)

This paper proposes the design of a conceptual model of quality assessment in European higher education institutions (HEIs) that takes into account some of the critical reflections made by certain …

Building Climate Resilience at Arizona State University: Second Nature’s Climate Commitment

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

In 2016, Arizona State University’s President, Michael Crow, signed the Second Nature Climate Commitment, which not only reaffirmed ASU’s commitment to climate neutrality but also set a course to address …

The seven sustainability competences according to the RESFIA+D Model. Part B: practical experiences

  • Miami Dade College (FL)
  • Roorda Sustainability

Aim: In a previous article within this same journal, called “The Seven Sustainability Competences according to the RESFIA+D Model. Part A: Conceptual background”, the origins, structure and validation were …

The role of higher education institutions in sustainability initiatives at the local level

  • Allegheny College (PA)
  • Brescia University (KY)
  • University of Waterloo (ON)
  • Universidade Federal de Vicosa
  • Universiti Sains Malaysia
  • University of Bristol
  • University of Beira Interior
  • University of Passo Fundo
  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • University of Belgrade
  • University of Latvia
  • University of Chester
  • Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná
  • Università di Verona
  • Università di Bologna
  • Sunway University (Selangor)
  • Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Sabah)
  • Institut Mines-Télécom Business School
  • Thaksin University (Songkhla)
  • Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar (Odisha)

Universities are central players and important economic actors in many regions, and many of them are, in general, nationally and internationally active in respect of matters related to sustainable development. …

Contribution of University to Environmental Energy Sustainability in the City

  • Universidad del Pais Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (Bizkaia)

The environmental energy sustainability of universities has aroused great interest in recent years. In this study, environmental impact assessment tools are used to analyse the environmental impacts of the University …

Move Out Festival Give-Away 2019

Building a Resilient Recycling Operation Against Market Forces, Financial Pressures, & Contamination Developments

  • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)

Recycling rates had plateaued. By 2016, even with the best of internal marketing and operational changes, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was left to the devices of a decentralized collection and …

Community Engagement in the Transition to Carbon Neutrality

  • University of Victoria (BC)
  • AASHE (MA)

Universities are increasingly interested in transitioning towards carbon neutrality. Through our discussions with peer AASHE members, a significant challenge is meaningfully engaging students, staff, and faculty in the process. During …

  • Posted April 30, 2020
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Pay As You Throw: Testing a New Waste Reduction Strategy at Yale University

  • Yale University (CT)

In the spring of 2019, Yale launched a Pay As You Throw (PAYT) pilot program, the first of its kind among American institutions of higher education. From inception to development …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
  • Case Studies
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‘Doing good science’: The impact of invisible energy policies on laboratory energy demand in higher education

  • Cardiff University
  • Lancaster University

Education is the second largest consumer of energy in the service sector, however, little research to date has focused on the link between education policy and energy demand. Using a …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
  • Publications
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Party for Animals: Introducing Students to Democratic Representation of Nonhumans

  • The Hague University of Applied Science

This article aims to gauge students’ perceptions of the Dutch Party for Animals (PvdD) in order to reflect on the political representation of nonhumans (animals). The support for political representation …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
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Student perceptions and trust of sustainability information

  • James Cook University (Queensland)
  • University of Canberra

The purpose of this paper is to report student attitudes and beliefs towards climate change adaptation and sustainability-related behaviours.

  • Posted April 17, 2020
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Implications of vertical policy integration for sustainable development implementation in higher education institutions

  • Manchester Metropolitan University

The United Nations together with various national and local actors have acknowledged the importance of sustainable development. However, sustainable development implementation is not straightforward and requires contribution by different actors. …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
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Assessment of Sustainability Governance in Higher Education Institutions—A Systemic Tool Using a Governance Equalizer

  • University of Vechta
  • Freie Universität Berlin

The paper aims to add to the discussion on sustainability governance in higher education institutions by examining the role of sustainability assessment and introducing an assessment tool inspired by systemic …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
  • Publications
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Co-creating transdisciplinary global change research agendas in Finland

  • University of Helsinki

Co-creation principles have become prominent in the scientific disciplines that aim to respond to global sustainability challenges especially in the global south. This paper analyses a co-creation pilot of global …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
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Barriers, potentialities, and actions for implementation of sustainable energy procedures in Brazilian federal universities

  • Universidade federal de Santa Maria

Many universities around the world have served as active centers for research on climate change. However, there are several barriers to their activities, stemming from the nature of research, resources, …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
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The Effects of Energy Dashboards and Competition Programming on Cyclic Electricity Consumption on a College Campus

  • Western Michigan University (MI)

This report examined issues pertaining to the efficacy and cost effectiveness of energy dashboards in the effort to influence electricity-related behavior change on college campuses. Given the increasing popularity of …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
  • Publications
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Comparing Levels Of Environmental Literacy Between Stars- and Non-Stars-Rated Universities

  • San Jose State University (CA)

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) is a program that measures university sustainability levels. STARS ranks university campuses based on the number of points received from individual specifications …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
  • Publications
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Weaving Change

  • OCAD University (ON)

The purpose of undertaking this research project was to evaluate the likelihood of success of a Coalition of Graduate Programs in tackling issues of Sustainability. 63 Graduate Programs in Canada …

  • Posted April 17, 2020
  • Publications
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Blueprint for a Green Campus: The Campus Earth Summit Initiatives for Higher Education

  • Yale University (CT)

The Campus Earth Summit brought together 450 faculty, staff, and student delegates from 22 countries, 6 continents, and all 50 states at Yale University on February 18-20, 1994 to craft …

  • Posted April 15, 2020
  • Publications
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Improving the Campus Sustainability Assessment Process

  • Western Michigan University (MI)

This senior thesis provides an overview of the development and findings of the Campus Sustainability Assessment Review Project (CSARP), which aimed to identify “best practice” in campus sustainability assessment and …

  • Posted April 15, 2020
  • Publications
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Equipping Students to Launch Green Teams at Work

  • Florida International University (FL)
  • AASHE (MA)

Through an online course on sustainability team management, working adult students recruited and launched green teams at their places of work. Despite having little authority and few resources, students in …

  • Posted April 2, 2020
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Developing a Framework to Assess Renewable Energy Options for Higher Education Institutions: Values-Based Recommendations for Portland State University

  • Portland State University (OR)

Voluntary renewable energy projects offer organizations like Portland State University (PSU) the opportunity to address climate action-related goals and address other environmental, economic, and social values. To achieve the goals …

  • Posted March 6, 2020
  • Publications
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From Movements to Managers: Discourse, Jurisdictions, and Positions in the Field of Sustainability

  • Northwestern University (IL)

In three empirical chapters, this dissertation examines the field of sustainability over time, specifically uncovering the processes by which contentious interactions between movements and organizations can shift to the development …

  • Posted March 6, 2020
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Carbon Footprint Estimation in a University Campus: Evaluation and Insights

  • Oregon State University (OR)
  • Universidad de Talca

Background: The University of Talca (UT), since 2012, has been annually tracking the carbon footprint (CF) based on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol for all its five campuses. The purpose …

  • Posted March 6, 2020
  • Publications
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Sustainability disclosure in higher education: A comparative analysis of reports and websites of public and private universities in Turkey

  • The Open University
  • MEF University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain the extent and content of the sustainability disclosure of public and foundation (private but not-for-profit) universities in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach Subsequent to …

  • Posted March 6, 2020
  • Publications
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Reporting on sustainable development with student inclusion as a teaching method

  • Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Amberg-Weiden (Oberpfalz)

The paper is a mixed-method case study. First focus is to test which standard and indicators are suitable for universities reporting on sustainability. Therefore, reporting was on the agenda of …

  • Posted March 6, 2020
  • Publications
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Higher Education Institutions as a Transformation Platform under the Sustainable Development Goals Framework

  • Universidad de Murcia (Murcia)

Previous research has highlighted the critical role of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in promoting sustainability. In this vein, HEI, as a driving force of change, should actively participate in the …

  • Posted March 6, 2020
  • Publications
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Online sustainability reporting at universities: the case of Hong Kong

  • University of Waikato
  • University of Canberra
  • Qingdao College (Shangdong)
  • Ocean University of China (Shandong)

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the current state of online sustainability reporting in the Hong Kong higher education sector from a variety of perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach The …

  • Posted March 5, 2020
  • Publications
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Geographic versus institutional drivers of nitrogen footprints: A comparison of two urban universities

  • McGill University (QC)
  • Université de Montréal (QC)

Excess reactive nitrogen (N) is linked to a myriad of environmental problems that carry large societal costs. Nitrogen footprint tools can help institutions understand how their direct and indirect activities …

  • Posted March 5, 2020
  • Publications
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Competences for Environmental Sustainability: A Systematic Review on the Impact of Absorptive Capacity and Capabilities

  • University of Manchester (Lancashire)

Responsible management competences are the skills of managers to deal with the triple bottom line, stakeholder value and moral dilemmas. In this paper, we analyse how managers develop responsible management …

  • Posted March 5, 2020
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Structural key factors of participatory sustainability reporting for universities

  • University of Hamburg
  • Freie Universität Berlin
  • Universität Duisburg-Essen

The purpose of this paper is to answer the following research question: What are the key factors of the participatory process for establishing sustainability reporting in German universities?

  • Posted March 4, 2020
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Assessing the materiality of university G4-sustainability reports

  • Johannes Kepler University Linz (Oberösterreich)

Purpose Materiality, as a content-selection principle, is an emerging trend in sustainability reporting for making sustainability reports (SRs) more relevant for stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to investigate …

  • Posted March 4, 2020
  • Publications
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Weaving Equity and Sustainability into the Fabric of Higher Education: The University of Utah Experience

  • University of Utah (UT)

Sustainability is an idea that is celebrated, loathed, or deemed entirely useless given its many meanings and approaches. While scholars broadly agree it must include merging ecology, economy, and equity, …

  • Posted March 4, 2020
  • Publications
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Cultures of sustainability governance in higher education institutions: A multi‐case study of dimensions and implications

  • University of Vechta
  • Freie Universität Berlin

Organisational culture is frequently mentioned in the context of sustainability governance in higher education institutions, but its substance and role for organisational development remain largely unclear. This paper argues that, …

  • Posted March 4, 2020
  • Publications
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Students Tabling at Agricultural Literacy Week Celebration

UVM's Food Values Campaign

  • University of Vermont (VT)

The UVM Eco-Reps program consists of 20 students that are divided up into five community teams, with each team assigned to a specified residential area on campus. Each semester, Eco-Reps …

  • Posted Feb. 27, 2020
  • Case Studies
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Bike Friendly University

  • University of Cincinnati (OH)

The Bicycle Friendly University program recognizes institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bikeable campus for students, staff and visitors. The Bicycle Friendly University program evaluates university's …

  • Posted Feb. 27, 2020
  • Case Studies
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Institutionalizing Environmental Justice

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)
  • AASHE (MA)

Over the past few years, the Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) has been working to institutionalize environmental justice operations, programs, and projects for …

  • Posted Feb. 27, 2020
  • Videos & Webinars
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Welcome and Unwelcome Surprises on the Path to Carbon-Neutrality

  • University of California, Irvine (CA)
  • AASHE (MA)

For many colleges and universities, the commitment to carbon-neutrality was initially a pledge based upon a leap of faith that was judged too important to delay until a clear path …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2020
  • Videos & Webinars
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A review of empirical data of sustainability initiatives in university campus operations

  • University of Coimbra

Given the need to actively address the challenges of climate change, university leaders have a growing interest in reducing their campuses’ environmental impact. This article carries out a comprehensive literature …

  • Posted Feb. 10, 2020
  • Publications
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A methodological framework for the implementation of circular economy thinking in higher education institutions: Towards sustainable campus management

  • University of Mondragon, Spain (Guipuzcoa)
  • University of Manchester (Lancashire)

Many higher education institutions have started to develop academic curricula, research capacity and outreach activities related to circular economy. However, little is known yet on how to apply circular economy …

  • Posted Feb. 10, 2020
  • 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.

PA 1: Sustainability Coordination

PA 2: Sustainability Coordination

PA 3: Sustainability Coordination

PA 4: Reporting Assurance

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Coordination & Planning Partners

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