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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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official poster version 2018

University Student Sustainability Conference

  • Universidad de Chile (Region Metropolitana)

The CEUS Congress (for its acronym in Spanish) is a space for convergence of young leaders from all over the country, where discussions are held on the different topics of …

Sustainable Events Consultant Volunteer Team

The McGill Staff Engagement Ladder

  • McGill University (QC)

Between 2016 and 2019, the McGill Office of Sustainability developed four separate engagement programs to increase collective sustainability actions for staff, students, and faculty. The programs were strategically developed to …

STARS Aligned: Higher Education and the SDGs

  • Bard College (NY)
  • AASHE (MA)

Given the unique position of higher education institutions (HEIs) in society, not only can these institutions model sustainable practices but they can be agents of change themselves in the societal …

Demystifying Sustainability Behaviors on College and University Campuses: A Mixed Methods Analysis

  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)

In response to the growing threat posed by climate change, colleges and universities are implementing interventions to engage students and employees with achieving sustainability and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. …

Creating a focused Departmental Sustainability Plan for Residence Life

  • Texas A&M University (TX)

In 2018, the Department of Residence Life at Texas A&M University sought a new avenue to promote sustainability within the institution and, more specifically, their individual department. Working with Ayers-Saint …

Biodiversity

STARS Report as a Framework for Campus Sustainability.

  • The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)

The Eco Rep program at the University of Texas at Dallas expanded campus sustainability efforts by using AASHE STARS reporting as a framework for new student run initiatives and projects. …

A rendering of above-grade design elements along English Walk, previously a car-oriented roadway.

BCIT’s Sustainable Infrastructure Project wins Envision Gold

  • British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)

The North Campus Infrastructure Project (NCIP) at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby, British Columbia, is an ambitious and forward-thinking initiative that leverages the opportunity of infrastructure …

University of Houston Tree Inventory

  • University of Houston (TX)

There is an old saying that to plant a tree is the most optimistic act a person can do. This is because it takes so long for trees to grow, …

Campus food scraps

Addressing Compost Contamination Through Systems Thinking

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

Discover UW-Madison’s compost collection journey! The UW-Madison (UW) began composting its food scraps at its agricultural research station just off campus in 2009. Since then, the UW has overcome contamination …

The Promotion of Indoor Drinking Water Fountains at UBC

  • University of British Columbia (BC)

The University of British Columbia (UBC), located in Vancouver, Canada, offers its students, staff and visitors free tap water through campus-wide drinking fountains (water fountains). However, there are currently no …

Sustainable Development in Swedish and Canadian Campus Plans

  • KTH Royal Institute of Technology

The concept of sustainable development being integrated into strategic spatial plans has increased in recent years. University campus plans are examples of such spatial plans, and these form the focus …

DiLoreto Initiative: Sustainability Decision Support System at Villanova

  • Villanova University (PA)

Colleges and universities throughout the world are not only significant consumers of energy and natural resources but also have the social, economic and political impacts of small cities. How can …

Sustainability at SIT: a Look at the Past, a Plan for the Future

  • School for International Training (VT)

Climate change threatens our world and way of life. Intelligent development and investment could mitigate the worst threats of climate change, while simultaneously providing continuous growth for the global economy. …

Management perspectives on campus sustainability in Hong Kong

  • University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

This study explores administrative managers’ understanding of sustainability issues and perceptions of stakeholder salience in relation to campus environmental initiatives in the publicly-funded universities of Hong Kong. Universities in Hong …

The Rise of H2Ottawa

  • University of Ottawa (ON)

In 2010, the University of Ottawa (hereafter, UO) banned the sale of single-use water bottles. UO decided that the sale of this product ran contrary to their commitments to environmental, …

Envisioning green solutions for reducing the ecological footprint of a university campus

  • Politecnico di Torino

Purpose This paper aims to report strategies towards a green campus project at Politecnico di Torino University, a 33,000-students Italian higher education institution (HEI), and estimate the avoided ecological footprint …

A baseline assessment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within European Student Union web environments

  • National Union of Students
  • University of the West of England, Bristol

The world of student unions is under-researched, particularly relating to global issues and challenges, despite them holding a large proportion of the future workforce. At present, the European Students Union …

A High Performance Campus Building at Ozyegin University

  • Özyeğin University
  • Fiba Holding
  • Fundacion Circe Centro De Investigacion De Recursos Y Consumos Energeticos (CIRCE)
  • DIRCO S.R.L.
  • SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut Ab (SP)
  • Vue Sur Mons S.A (VSM)
  • D´appolonia Spa (Dappo)
  • Acciona Infraestructuras S.A. (Acciona)
  • Université de Mons
  • Imprima Costruzioni Srl (Imprima)
  • Derome Hus Ab (Derome)
  • M5
  • Ingenieria Y Control Electronico, S.A. (Ingecon)
  • Bureau D'architectes Format D2 Sprl (FD2)
  • Intesasanpaolo Eurodesk S.P.R.L. (ISPE)
  • University of Zaragoza
  • Bg Mi̇marlik Müşavi̇rli̇k Li̇mi̇ted Şi̇rketi̇ (BDesign)

This AASHE application is about a high-performance energy-efficient sustainable building of The School of Foreign Languages (SCOLA) at the Ozyegin University (OzU) Campus as a sustainability initiative OzU has constructed …

British Columbia (BC) Cool Campus Challenge

  • British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)
  • University of British Columbia (BC)
  • Selkirk College (BC)
  • Thompson Rivers University (BC)
  • Simon Fraser University (BC)
  • University of British Columbia Okanagan (BC)

The BC Cool Campus Challenge (the Challenge) was launched in 2019 as a province-wide energy conservation challenge led by five post-secondary institutions in British Columbia, Canada. This was the first …

ZNE Project Team

San Bernardino Community College’s Journey to sustainability and achieving Zero Net Energy

  • Arup (NY)
  • San Bernardino Community College District (CA)

In San Bernardino Community College District (SBCC) pursuit to lead the journey in sustainability, SBCC committed itself back in 2010 to a “Sustainability Plan”. This commitment started at its Crafton …

Integrating Sustainability into Regional Accreditation Processes

  • Johnson County Community College (KS)

As part of its regional reaccreditation process with the Higher Learning Commission, Johnson County Community College has for the past several years participated in the Academic Quality Improvement Program, or …

University of Pittsburgh Student Office of Sustainability

  • University of Pittsburgh (PA)

The student office of sustainability was created in 2015, before the university of Pittsbugh had a campus wide sustainability office, which opened in 2018. Not only was the student office …

Geothermal bore field installation on the Bald Spot at Carleton College

The Carleton Utility Master Plan: Transitioning a 100-year Legacy of Campus Steam to 21st Century Geothermal

  • Carleton College (MN)

The last time Carleton College made a major shift in its campus utilities was over 100 years ago with construction of the central plant in 1910. Before that, each building …

Environmental sustainability features in large university campuses: Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) as a model of green university

  • Jordan University of Science and Technology

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe the efforts undertaken to convert the large university campus of Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) into a green, resource-efficient …

Integrating education for sustainable development into a higher education institution: beginning the journey

  • Nottingham Trent University

Much of the current literature on integrating sustainability into HEIs is focussed on why HEIs should embrace sustainable development (SD) and what is still missing or hindering work and the …

Student Engagement in Sustainability at Northern Illinois University

  • Northern Illinois University (IL)

The Environmental Studies department and student community at Northern Illinois University have been engaged in a variety of sustainability initiatives. However, even with this focus on sustainability NIU does not …

Assessing sustainability on Chinese university campuses: Development of a campus sustainability evaluation system and its application with a case study

  • Zhejiang University
  • Tongji University

With the vigorous promotion of national policies and funds, green campus construction is booming in Chinese universities. It's in great need to develop an evaluation system, as a long-term mechanism, …

Personal waste management in higher education: A case study illustrating the importance of a fourth bottom line

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

Purpose This paper aims to propose a quadruple bottom line approach for higher education leaders who must decide whether to accept sustainability initiatives that do have not have a business …

Social and institutional factors affecting sustainability innovation in universities: A computer re-use perspective

  • UNSW Sydney (NSW)

With the wave of digitisation sweeping through the higher education sector, end-of-life outcomes for decommissioned computers will pose a serious sustainability challenge for higher education institutions. This challenge presents an …

Sustainability Strategy in Higher Education Institutions: Lessons learned from a nine-year case study

  • University of Minho

Sustainable Development is recognized as one of the biggest societal challenges of the twenty-first century. Higher Education Institutions have the vision, the knowledge and the power to lead this transition, …

The integration of social responsibility and sustainability in practice: Exploring attitudes and practices in Higher Education Institutions

  • University of Worcester
  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • Universidade federal de Santa Maria
  • University of Chester
  • Griffith University (Queensland)
  • Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
  • University of Winchester
  • University of Milano-Bicocca

The demands placed on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to deliver sustainability initiatives alongside their long-standing social responsibility commitments has been recognised in literature. However, how these interrelate in practice continues …

Universities, industries and sustainable development: Outcomes of the 2017 G7 Environment Ministerial Meeting

  • Università di Bologna

During the G7 Environment Ministerial Meeting under the Italian Presidency which took place in Bologna, Italy, 11–12 June 2017, representatives from Universities and Research Institutes and from the major industries …

Sul Ross students confer over research posters

Sul Ross State University Undergraduate and Graduate Research Symposium - Earth Day 2019

  • Sul Ross State University (TX)

Sul Ross State University's second annual undergraduate and graduate research symposium was held on Earth Day, April 22, 2019, with special recognition awarded to those presenting on sustainability-related topics. Among …

Do Codes of Ethics Reveal a University’s Commitment to Sustainable Development? Evidence from Italy

  • Università di Verona

Higher education institutions, such as universities, formulate strategies and undertake initiatives to support sustainable development (SD). Scholars draw up and examine sustainability reports as the main institutional documents to assess …

  • Posted April 30, 2019
  • Publications
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Considering the Anchor Mission Strategy within the Competing “Regimes” of Higher Education Community Engagement

  • Marquette University (WI)
  • Democracy Collaborative (DC)

The concept of the anchor institution, and its subsequent mission, was first considered in the mid-1990s, a time during which the dominant academic culture of higher education was driven by …

  • Posted April 30, 2019
  • Publications
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Building Capacity as Anchor Institutions: Infrastructure, Structure, and Strategy

  • Indiana University Indianapolis (IN)

As campuses embrace their role as anchor institutions, considerations should be given to the role of infrastructure, structure, and strategy. This article differentiates between infrastructure and organizational structure then identifies …

  • Posted April 30, 2019
  • Publications
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Developing a Resilience Tool For Higher Education Institutions: A Must-Have in Campus Master Planning

  • Virginia Tech (VA)
  • Hanbury (VA)

Resilience has become a prominent topic in the planning and design industry over the past several years. States, cities and entire regions face an ever-growing threat of environmental and societal …

  • Posted April 30, 2019
  • Publications
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An analysis of university sustainability reports from the GRI database: an examination of influential variables

  • University of Cadiz

In the business context, many papers have examined whether certain variables can affect sustainability disclosure practices. However, research on universities has mainly been addressed to explore the extent of sustainability …

  • Posted April 30, 2019
  • Publications
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Towards a social sustainability in higher education: Enhancing students’ solidarity and togetherness through collaborative projects in racially diverse learning environments

  • University of the Free State

One key goal in the mission and vision statement of the University of the Free State is to recruit the best and most diverse students who work in solidarity and …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Biophilic campus: An emerging planning approach for a sustainable innovation-conducive university

  • The University of Adelaide (SA)

Universities worldwide are competing to offer attractive learning and research environments to a new generation of skilled and talented students. Governments of the developed world urge universities to foster innovation …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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University of Miami Mobility Plan

  • University of Miami (FL)

Executive Summary The University of Miami is committed to programs and strategies that reduce single-occupant vehicle trips and maximize efficiency for moving to, from, within, and around its Coral Gables …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Education for Sustainable Development: Emerging Themes from Adopters of a Declaration

  • Auburn University (AL)
  • Deakin University

Universities that sign the Talloires Declaration signify their commitment to education for sustainable development. This research explores whether the signification is a strategic desire to be seen to be doing …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Sustainability Governance at Universities: Using a Governance Equalizer as a Research Heuristic

  • University of Vechta
  • Freie Universität Berlin

Universities play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development. Accordingly, the project “Sustainability at Higher Education Institutions: develop — network — report (HOCHN)” (2016–2018) aims to facilitate sustainable development at …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Factors influencing students’ corporate social responsibility orientation in higher education

  • University of Beira Interior
  • Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

Given that the future of corporate social responsibility depends on upcoming generations' attitudes, a better understanding of the relationship between corporate social responsibility orientation and its predictors has significant implications …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Mainstreaming Education for Sustainable Development at a Swiss University: Navigating the Traps of Institutionalization

  • University of Bern

How far have higher education institutions progressed towards integrating sustainable development at an institutional level and are they responding to the societal need for transformation? Can the pace of transformation …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Sustainability assessment of the service operations at seven higher education institutions in Brazil

  • Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná
  • Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná

The objective of this paper is to test a procedure for assessing the adoption of sustainable practices in higher education technological institutions services, known as institutes of technology and polytechnic …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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The contemporary definition of university social responsibility with quantifiable sustainability

  • Lebanese American University

The university social responsibility (USR) is still in embryonic stage compared to corporate social responsibility (CSR) which is still debatable by researchers. The purpose of this paper is to propose …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Mt. Trashmore @ St. Lawrence University

Earth Week at St. Lawrence University

  • St. Lawrence University (NY)

This year, nearly a dozen student organizations came together to celebrate Earth Week with several campus events. The week started on Tuesday, April 16th with Mt. Trashmore, an art installation …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Photographs
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Connecting Academic and Administrative Units through Sustainability Professional Development

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)

The Sustainability Certificate program was developed in 2017-18 to foster meaningful dialog and empower leadership in sustainability among campus employees. The program connects a diversity of departments and initiatives engaged …

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
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Comprehensive sustainability reporting in higher education institutions

  • Tarbiat Modares University
  • American University in Dubai

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the comprehensiveness of sustainability reporting in higher education institutions.

This study adopts a university sustainability rating framework and uses it to evaluate …

  • Posted April 5, 2019
  • 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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