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.
Featured Resources
New Resources
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 was conducted ...
- 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 ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Implementing an Effective Campus Recycling & Waste Bin Infrastructure
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- CleanRiver Recycling Solutions (ON)
A uniform system of well-designed recycling and waste bins is crucial for colleges to achieve significant diversion rates. The challenge is to identify bins that can address four key needs ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Identifying Holistic Metrics to Redefine Zero Waste
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
While diversion has been the go-to metric for evaluating our waste reduction efforts, it skips over several levels of the waste reduction hierarchy, resulting in the prioritization of recycling and ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Western State Colorado University Role in Advancing SDGs- Road Map to Institutionalizing Zero Waste
- Western Colorado University (CO)
Higher education plays critical roles in the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More specifically, higher education should strategically strive in its physical operations in advancing the ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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A Residential Recycling Competition at Skidmore College
- Skidmore College (NY)
Energy conservation competitions are a cornerstone project in many schools' outreach efforts, and this program utilized a similar approach to address apartment waste patterns. This recycling and compost-oriented competition involved ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Thinking Outside of the Trash: Waste Policy Implementation and Education at Emory University
- Emory University (GA)
Emory University consulted with Cascadia and Burns & McDonnell during 2016-2017 to assess Emory's materials management program and make recommendations for innovative and programmatic strategies to help Emory achieve ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Using Waste Audit Data to Drive Waste Reduction, Diversion, and Engagement
- Northwestern University (IL)
- Oakton Community College (IL)
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
- University of Richmond (VA)
Unlike other utilities, such as electricity and natural gas, actual waste and recycling data are more difficult to track. The lack of ready to use data creates challenges in goal ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Utilizing Waste Management Plans in Residence Halls: A Case Study
- University of South Carolina (SC)
In large universities, waste and recycling can be a daunting task to take on and fix. At the University of South Carolina, there are 28 residence halls, all built slightly ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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From Cars to Bikes - A Campus Transformation
- Purdue University (IN)
- Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA) (IN)
The transformation of physical environments on college campuses typically comes in the form of a formal master planning effort with great vision and fanfare. BUT there are other, more granular ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Data-Driven Planning for Campus Materials Management - From Inputs Through Outputs
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
While the higher education sustainability field is grappling with materials management challenges, from procurement through waste operations, there are limited tools and processes for data-driven planning. University campuses yield the ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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EAN Sustainability Index: How to Measure the Sustainability in an University Incubator?
- Universidad EAN
The implementation of sustainability at the EAN University is a process that takes more than eight years, however, being an institution whose focus is entrepreneurship, it is clearly necessary to ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Educating, Engaging and Empowering Sustainable Businesses Through a Smart Business Challenge
- Iowa State University (IA)
A vital facet in ensuring a sustainable community is sustainable awareness and commitment of its businesses. As part of the Town Gown Collaboration with the Iowa State University Office of ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Using the UN SDGs to frame community resilience assessment and planning for students and partners
- Allegheny College (PA)
After Allegheny signed Second Nature's Resilience Commitment (Climate Commitment signed in 2007), the sustainability coordinator cultivated collaborative partnerships in the community and explored ways to support existing work while ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Mapping our Participation in the United Nations Global Compact: Storytelling and Sustainability
- State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
As a participant of the U.N. Global Compact, the State University College of New York at Geneseo uses the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to talk ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Community Outreach on Steroids: Impacting People in 8 Counties While Recruiting Great Students
- Slippery Rock University (PA)
In June 2017, Slippery Rock University's Office of Sustainability launched the 'Healthy Planet, Healthy People Environmental Summer Camp and Community Project Incubator'. The focus of this program was to ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Celebrating Anniversaries: Reflecting and Adapting within Campus Green Funds
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Adaptability is key for any successful program. In spring of 2016, students renewed The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) at UC Berkeley for an additional 10 years, celebrating 10 years of ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Solutions for Evaluating Projects: Quadruple Bottom Line & Financial Models for Climate Neutrality
- Cornell University (NY)
It's time to move the conversation beyond 'financing climate neutrality.' In order to move away from traditional financial, single bottom line decision making for large capital investments, institutions must ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Leadership in Sustainable Grounds Management: The Audubon International Experience
- American University (DC)
- University of Florida (FL)
- Niagara College Canada (ON)
- Audubon International (NY)
This presentation will provide an open dialogue and best practice sharing on the process of achieving Audubon International's (AI) Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) certification at both public and ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Leveraging Sustainability in Food Service Across Campus
- University of Houston (TX)
The University of Houston has undergone a physical and culture transformation with a different food service provider and new collaboration with our Office of Sustainability. In spring 2017 the Food ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Food Service Contracts and RFPs as Vehicle for Sourcing More Sustainable Food
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Vermont (VT)
- Farm Forward (OR)
College and universities need new strategies to scale sustainable food procurement. Programs like STARS and the Real Food Challenge have institutionalized sustainable food purchasing targets and many campuses have made ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Hitting Bumps in the Road to Renewables
- Connecticut College (CT)
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
Almost every month it seems like a new renewable energy project is announced on a college campus, feeding a sense of urgency at those colleges and universities who have not ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Student-Developed Energy Management Information System
- Macalester College (MN)
Like many other educational institutions, our college cares about the efficient use of energy and seeks ways to reduce its impact on the environment. We promote energy-wise behavior among students ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Rising to Meet the Challenge of 100% Renewable Energy
- Boston University (MA)
- University of Richmond (VA)
- Edison Energy (CA)
Campuses are increasingly looking to renewable energy as the most financially attractive strategy for making dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieving their GHG goals. The costs of ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Best Practices to Contain the Uncontainable: Lessons Learned From UVA & August 11/12
- University of Virginia (VA)
UVA's responses to the white supremacist rallies at UVA and Charlottesville during the summer of 2017 can serve as an example to other institutions as white supremacy and violence ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Anti-Oppressive Youth Facilitation
- Power Shift Network (DC)
From organizing campaigns to coordinating community engagement events. From engaging in political advocacy efforts to training with youth. Wherever your youth engagement falls, there are best practices for working with ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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How Higher Education is approaching its commitment to sustainability through sustainability courses
- Western Michigan University (MI)
For over a decade, the concepts of education for sustainable development have been recognized by many higher education institutes. A significant number of higher education institutions have signed agreements and ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Campus Sustainability Plans as Pedagogical Opportunities for High Impact Student Experiences
- Furman University (SC)
As universities strive for increased sustainability, there is a growing need for coordinated and comprehensive campus sustainability plans that provide specific action items and clear roadmaps to improved sustainability within ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Demonstrating Impact Through SDG Cases - Creating Common Language and Shared Purpose Across Campus
- Harvard University (MA)
- Danish Energy Management
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) exist as a Global platform for taking action to achieve sustainable development. The SDGs recognize that staying within our planetary boundaries and achieving sustainable ...
- 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.