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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The sustainability report as an essential tool for the holistic and strategic vision of higher education institutions
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Institutions of higher education have a significant role in promoting change to sustainable development models as centers of knowledge and innovation. In addition, they are currently facing their own change …
- Posted April 5, 2019
- Publications
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Creating Sustainable Universities: Organizational Pathways of Transformation
- Dalian University of Technology
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including the SDGs, is being integrated into sustainability strategies, research, teaching, pedagogy, and campus practices, and to position higher education institutions as key drivers …
- Posted April 4, 2019
- Publications
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Developing a sustainability reporting assessment tool for higher education institutions: The University of California
- Tarbiat Modares University
- South East European University
Businesses have integrated sustainability reporting into their corporate responsibility efforts. However, universities, as the hubs of sustainability awareness, have been struggling with reporting their sustainability practices. The purpose of this …
- Posted March 31, 2019
- Publications
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Examining the effect of an environmental social marketing intervention among university employees
- University of Birmingham
- Queen Mary University of London
- University of Sheffield
- Global Action Plan
This paper examines the impact of an environmental social marketing intervention on employees’ energy saving intentions in a higher education institution (HEI) in the UK. The study examines the influence …
- Posted March 30, 2019
- Publications
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Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability (CSRS) Initiatives among European and Asian Business Schools: A Web-based Content Analysis
- GIFT University
- University of Rome Tor Vergata
The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which MBA programmes offered by top European and Asian B-schools have a corporate social responsibility and sustainability (CSRS) orientation …
- Posted March 30, 2019
- Publications
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The challenge of sustainability and integrated reporting at universities: A case study
- University of Cadiz
- University of Zaragoza
This study contributes to research on integrated and sustainability reporting at higher-education institutions in the context of voluntary reporting by focusing on an innovative Spanish university. It examines the developments …
- Posted March 30, 2019
- Publications
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Building a business case for implementation of a circular economy in higher education institutions
Various frameworks have been developed to guide organisations in embedding circular economy principles in their strategy and operational practice. However, there is a lack of studies analysing practical implementation of …
- Posted March 15, 2019
- Publications
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Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Zero Waste Program
- University of Southern California (CA)
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has influenced generations across the world through events such as the Olympics, World Series, and Super Bowls as well as community events like papal and …
- Posted March 15, 2019
- Case Studies
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Sustainability Education and Organizational Change: A Critical Case Study of Barriers and Change Drivers at a Higher Education Institution
- Kennesaw State University (GA)
Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact on students, faculty, and the larger community. Sustainability efforts also experience many barriers to implementation within higher education …
- Posted March 6, 2019
- Publications
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Harvard's Challenge: Institutional Green Power
- Harvard University (MA)
This case study examines the options that Harvard University has for complying with one aspect of its Climate Action Plan, which was announced in February 2018. It specifically focuses on …
- Posted March 1, 2019
- Case Studies
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Central College Student Green Fund
- Central College (IA)
What is Green Fund? The purpose of the Central College Student Green Fund is to promote innovative student projects that further the vision of sustainability at Central College.
Who can …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2019
- Green Funds
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STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Webinar Series: Planning & Administration
- AASHE (MA)
Expanded from last year, the STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Series will help you gain the insights you need to submit a high-quality STARS report in time for the 2019 …
- Posted Feb. 6, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Webinar Series: Operations
- AASHE (MA)
Expanded from last year, the STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Series will help you gain the insights you need to submit a high-quality STARS report in time for the 2019 …
- Posted Feb. 1, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Webinar Series: Engagement
- AASHE (MA)
Expanded from last year, the STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Series will help you gain the insights you need to submit a high-quality STARS report in time for the 2019 …
- Posted Jan. 30, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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An alternative university sustainability rating framework with a structured criteria tree
- City University of Hong Kong
University sustainability assessment frameworks are gaining popularity with an increasing number of universities demonstrating leadership on combating climate change and pursuing sustainability. Nonetheless, international university sustainability ranking systems remain controversial …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2019
- Publications
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Assessment of sustainable development in technical higher education institutes of India
- Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
This paper assesses the sustainability related performance of Indian Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) based on the parameters and indicators listed under the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), and …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2019
- Publications
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STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Webinar Series: Overall Tips
- AASHE (MA)
Expanded from last year, the STARS Data Quality Boot Camp Series will help you gain the insights you need to submit a high-quality STARS report in time for the 2019 …
- Posted Jan. 23, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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How to Prove ROI and Get Funding for an Energy Management Information System (EMIS)
- Weber State University (UT)
- AASHE (MA)
- Atrius (CA)
Still on the fence about purchasing an Energy Management Information System to manage your university’s resource data? The time to act is now.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, …
- Posted Jan. 17, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Looking for Sustainable Systems on Campus
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- State University of New York at New Paltz (NY)
Higher education campuses play an important role in developing visionary models of sustainability that integrate campus facilities, student learning, and research. We reflect on a series of visits to campuses …
- Posted Jan. 11, 2019
- Publications
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Canadian Student Leaders’ Conceptualizations of Sustainability and Sustainable Universities
- Dalhousie University (NS)
There are a growing number of university sustainability efforts, but the literature provides limited information to help universities decide if they are focused on sustainability aspects important to their stakeholders. …
- Posted Jan. 11, 2019
- Publications
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The Road to Gold: Sustainability Success Really is Written in the STARS
- Texas A&M University (TX)
STARS, or Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System, is a self-reporting system which scores itself on various categories, including academics, engagement, operations, planning & administration, and innovation & leadership. The …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Most Likely to Succeed: Tips for Students when Developing Sustainability Initiative Proposals
- Trinity University (TX)
The presentation offers 8 tips for constructing comprehensive plans to build a foundation for success, the key elements of a proposal, and campus stakeholders to consider when developing a proposal.
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Four Steps for Leading Impactful Environmental Change On-Campus
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
The Campus Environmental Center at University of Texas at Austin explains their strategy for encouraging student-led activism. They describe their steps as: build a motivated community, create a strategic plan, …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Education for Sustainability Policies: Ramifications for Practice
- Monash University (VIC)
- Deakin University
While it is well understood there is an urgent need to address global environmental problems, there is less understanding around how these problems can be addressed. At each level of …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Publications
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Characteristics of UK higher education institutions that disclose sustainability reports
- University of Hamburg
This study aims to focus on the following research question: Which institutional characteristics are associated with sustainability reporting by UK higher education institutions?
To answer the aforementioned research question, this …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Publications
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AASHE STARS Credits through ENERGY STAR®
- AASHE (MA)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
Download this five-page guide for a summary of ENERGY STAR tools and resources that could be used to earn AASHE STARS credits (version 2.1, July 2017), including credit descriptions and …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Tools
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Universities as Models of Sustainable Energy-Consuming Communities? Review of Selected Literature
- Texas State University, San Marcos (TX)
Given the prominent position of academia in sustainability studies and sustainability science, it is natural to want to look to universities as models of (or keepers of knowledge about) sustainable …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Publications
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The Role of Universities in Private Environmental Governance Experimentalism
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
In our federal, constitutional system of government, the states are often lauded as “laboratories of experimentation” for public policy, including for public environmental law. Yet private actors are playing an …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Publications
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How Committed Are Australian Universities to Environmental Sustainability? A Perspective on and from the University of Melbourne
- University of Melbourne (Victoria)
Drawing upon our experiences at the University of Melbourne, we examine the issue of how environmentally sustainable that university and other Australian universities are in an era increasingly impacted by …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Publications
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2018 Sustainable Campus Index
- AASHE (MA)
The 2018 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) recognizes top-performing colleges and universities overall by institution type and in 17 sustainability impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2018
- Publications
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Atlas: The Road to a Zero Waste Campus
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
The Atlas is an assessment framework to create Zero Waste strategic plans for universities and colleges. We start off by utilizing our extensive Campus Programs Checklist to assess infrastructure, policies, …
- Posted Nov. 29, 2018
- Tools
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What does environmentally sustainable higher education institution mean?
- Riga Technical University
Sustainable development, environmental protection and climate change definitions are increasingly emphasized globally. As analyses on global warming shows, all stakeholders in society must act to reduce their environmental impact. With …
- Posted Nov. 26, 2018
- Publications
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Assessment of Ecological Footprint and Sustainability Analysis of Debre Berhan University in Ethiopia
- Debre Berhan University
Ecological footprint is an environmental tool to assess the environmental impacts and resource consumption by the operations and activities in a given area. This approach, to make university campus area …
- Posted Nov. 26, 2018
- Publications
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Environmental performance of universities: Proposal for implementing campus urban morphology as an evaluation parameter in Green Metric
- Università Roma Tre
Over the last years, various sustainability evaluation tools for universities have been developed and have gained a certain diffusion. This paper reviews the applications of the most widespread university ranking …
- Posted Nov. 26, 2018
- Publications
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Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Sustainability: Systematic Review 1990–2016
- Universidad de Antioquia
For any transition towards sustainability to be successful, it is necessary to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) – related to sustainability – in different populations. A systematic review …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2018
- Publications
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Prioritising performance indicators for sustainable construction and development of university campuses using an integrated assessment approach
- Deakin University
Sustainability assessment tools are considered to play a vital role in strategies to reorient universities towards sustainability in a systematic way. However, strategic selections of the main existing assessment tools …
- Posted Nov. 13, 2018
- Publications
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Master Plan to Robus Practice: The Evolution of Sustainable Landscape Practices at Georgia Institute of Technology
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
Universities across the globe are recognizing the need to implement sustainable landscaping practices in order to support wildlife, improve water quality and positively impact human health and wellbeing. Georgia Institute …
- Posted Nov. 13, 2018
- Publications
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A New Way to Benchmark your Sustainable Purchasing Program
- AASHE (MA)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
The members of the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council have collaborated to produce a Benchmarking System for evaluating the maturity of Sustainable Purchasing Programs. The new tool is being used by …
- Posted Nov. 8, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Energy and Climate Planning at Rice University
- Rice University (TX)
Rice University completed the Rice Integrated Climate and Energy Master Plan (RICEMaP) in 2013. Since that time, the world has arguably entered into a period of significant transition with respect …
- Posted Nov. 8, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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How a College Student Turned His Campus Sustainability Program Into a Fortune 500 Company
- Atrius (CA)
As a student at Oberlin, Vladi Shunturov gained his passion in buildings and was determined to find a way to make the built environment more sustainable and efficient. Vladi and …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Benefits of Incorporating Well-Being and Diversity Into Sustainability Master Planning
- Verdis Group (NE)
Black Hills State University (BHSU) located in Spearfish, SD recently contracted with Verdis Group to complete a Sustainability Master Plan with goals set for 2030. Along with including robust environmental …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Stretching Your Sustainability Leadership Career: Future Business/Facilities Officer
- National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO) (DC)
Many sustainability directors possess the requisite skills to position themselves for future leadership at a campus. Additionally, that stretch in their career path to more senior leadership positions could significantly …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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This Justice In: Updated Results From the Living Wage Policy Study
- Saint Joseph's University (PA)
This session will provide the most recent results from the Living Wage Policy Study, a five-year multi-phase research project exploring the prevalence and nature and living wage policies in American …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Secrets to Success for Your Career and Your Campus in Sustainability
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
Do you want tips to create a great career in sustainability? Do you also want to create more positive impacts on campus and beyond? Do you want to be a …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Resilience and Renewal - A Retreat Model: Preparing Ourselves for a Lifetime of Global Change
- Central College (IA)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Join sustainability students in discovering how a model of stepping away from our various institutions, discovering common challenges, and reflecting on our resilience can help us sustain ourselves. Central College …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Adaptation and Resilience in Sustaining Ourselves - A Micro-Retreat
- Macalester College (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Join sustainability professionals across Minnesota in discovering how a model of stepping away from our various institutions, discovering common challenges and building cross-institution relationships helps us sustain ourselves. The planning …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Harvesting Hope for the Future Through Green Infrastructure
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Tucson is situated in one of the most arid regions of the world. Consequently, conserving water for the use of both people and the environment is of utmost importance. Doing …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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On-Campus Water Reclamation: A Tale of Two Cities
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Emory University (GA)
- NextEra Distributed Water, Inc. (VA)
Think globally. Act locally. Water is a critical issue in many parts of the world. See how Emory University and Arizona State University have turned to on-campus water reclamation as …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Resource Management Contracting- How It Can All Go Wrong When You Do Everything Right
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
With stagnant recycling and diversion rates, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee sought to get aggressive with its haulers, data collection, and its plan for waste reduction. UWM set out to achieve …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Bin There, Done That: Mapping CSUN's Outdoor Waste Infrastructure
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
To prepare for the implementation of CSUN's Zero Waste Plan, and to comply with new stormwater pollution mandates, the Facilities Planning department at CSU Northridge created an internship for students …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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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.