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
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New Resources
Sustainability Goal Setting at Universities: A Nitrogen Action Plan at the University of Virginia
- University of Virginia (VA)
A nitrogen (N) footprint is the amount of reactive N released to the environment as a result of an entities' resource use. In 2010, the University of Virginia (UVA) became …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Go Green or Get Gone: Teachers College as a Case Study
- Teachers College, Columbia University (NY)
What is the role of graduate schools of education in the face of local and global environmental challenges? This session explores this question by presenting the development process and implementation …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Preaching Beyond the Choir: How to Institutionalize Sustainability Into Organization-Wide Culture
- Denison University (OH)
It is easy to get caught up in and become comfortable in a group that shares the same views. We know the people who have our back and who will …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Inducing Paradigm Shifts through Complementary Curricular and Co-curricular Program Engagement
- College of Charleston (SC)
The Office of Sustainability (OoS) at the College of Charleston offers a unique work environment. Housed in Business Affairs & led by 2 Staff who also serve as College Faculty, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Integrating Social Equity: Texas A&M's 2018 Sustainability Master Plan
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
Released in the Spring 2018 semester, Texas A&M's new Sustainability Master Plan has three primary objectives: to better integrate social equity objectives with environmental and economic efforts, to balance the …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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What is a Residence Life Sustainability Plan?
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
The Department of Residence Life at Texas A&M operates as an auxiliary enterprise to provide student housing to approximately 12,000 students annually. Concurrent to the University's update to the campus-wide …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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A Framework for Sustainability Competencies for Your Campus
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- Stanford University (CA)
Last fall we published a study on competencies for sustainability, 'Developing a framework for sustainability meta-competencies,' based on interviews and focus groups with Penn State University employees serving in a …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Mapping the Pathway to STARS Platinum
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- University of California, Merced (CA)
AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) is the leading North American green/sustainable campus rating system developed by colleges and universities for colleges and universities. STARS provides the foundation …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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AASHE STARS: Field Notes From New Adopters
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
- University of Chicago (IL)
- Gordian (SC)
The AASHE STARS program is invaluable. It provides higher education institutions a unified platform for assessing and reporting their contributions towards the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. However, obstacles remain. …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Got Plans? Perspectives on Developing and Implementing Campus Sustainability Plans
- East Carolina University (NC)
- Emory University (GA)
- Harvey Mudd College (CA)
- Marquette University (WI)
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
Panelists and audience members will share diverse perspectives on and experiences with sustainability strategic planning. To serve a broad audience, our panelists (and, hopefully, audience members) represent the following perspectives: …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Notre Dame's Success in Developing a Sustainability Strategy Aligned to SDGs and Its Mission
- University of Notre Dame (IN)
In response to Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical Laudato si', the University of Notre Dame leadership championed a committee out of the Executive Vice President's office to take action. Using a …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Leveraging the SDGs to Build a System-Wide Higher Education Sustainability Strategy
- University at Albany (NY)
- University at Buffalo (NY)
- State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
Sixty-Four schools, nearly half a million enrolled students, 33,000 faculty and 96,000 degrees granted annually--the higher education scope and impact of the State University of New York system is vast …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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How to Create Sustainable Solutions in Your Community
- GreenLight Solutions Foundation (AZ)
Want to learn how to implement sustainability projects with local businesses in your community? Join GreenLight Solutions Foundation for an interactive brainstorming session to create a strategic framework for catalyzing …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Imposters, Insiders, and Collaborators: Bringing Outside Expertise to the World of Sustainability
- Dickinson College (PA)
- University of Florida (FL)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- University of California, Merced (CA)
Sustainability is often viewed as a field reserved for those with expertise gained through an academic background in Environmental Science, Ecology, Sustainability or similar areas, and individuals from outside of …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Abandoned Bikes on Campus: Redistribution and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Eastern Mennonite University (VA)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA and Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, VA are presented with a number of bikes abandoned by students each year. As cycling gains …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Resiliency: A Platform for Institutional Change, Case Study Cal State University San Bernardino
- California State University, San Bernardino (CA)
Historically, California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) has embraced sustainability through faculty curriculum, students initiatives, and facilities management retrofitting projects, however, sustainability efforts are not coordinated and transformational change is …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Institution Nitrogen Footprints in SIMAP: Updated Results and New Insights
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- University of Virginia (VA)
Seven campuses that participated in the development of the nitrogen footprint tool (NFT) published findings from their initial nitrogen footprint calculations in the April 2017 special issue of Sustainability: The …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process to Perform a Materiality Study on the SDGs
- Villanova University (PA)
To effectively 'ignite change' in regards to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a university must first determine which of them are applicable and material to the organization. This process …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Organizational Transitions and Continuity in a University Setting
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
Turnover is the cardinal issue that plagues collegiate organizations because of the ever changing minds of the student population as well as the traditional four year system of undergraduate education. …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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How to Overcome Challenges at Large, Urban Campuses
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
This will provide a space for large urban campuses to discuss challenges and accomplishments of working on sustainability on Urban campuses. AASHE has lacked the spaces for these types of …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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The Design Thinking Process: User-Centered Solutions to Complex and Confounding Problems
- University of Denver (CO)
Coming out of Stanford's Institute of Design, the Design Thinking (DT) framework has taken the Architecture, and now the business world, by storm. However, this solution- and user-focused design process …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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How a Team of Student Ambassadors Can Amplify and Accelerate Wins for a Small Sustainability Staff
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
Facing the Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals of campus sustainability work with small offices can feel impossible; however, despite having a small staff, college and university sustainability offices can effect real …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Top Down and Bottom-Up: The Pitt Sustainability Planning Process
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
- SmithGroup (MI)
In 2017 Pitt embarked on their first comprehensive sustainability plan which launched early this year. This session outlines the top-down approaches to connect with leadership and link this planning effort, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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International Networking Meeting
- Portland Community College (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
Members of the international community who are attending the AASHE conference and those who are interested in international issues are invited to join in a networking meeting to share resources, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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How to Design an Annual Report People Actually Read
- Pomona College (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
Have you struggled with keeping up with annual reporting for your sustainability program? Are you somebody who's on top of their annual reporting but feel like nobody reads your report …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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ISSP Networking Session: Do You Have All It Takes to Be an Effective Sustainability Professional?
- Auburn University (AL)
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of Richmond (VA)
- International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) (OR)
Calling all active and aspiring sustainability professionals: come learn about the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) community and earning ISSP's sustainability credentials. Meet with ISSP members and hear sustainability …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals: An Insiders' Account of change in a UK University
- De Montfort University
Higher Education institutions have a crucial role to play in catalysing action to address the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The call to action that the Goals represent can …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Leverage Key Facilities Metrics to Advance Sustainability - Survey Could be 'Gateway Drug' to STARS
- National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO) (DC)
Most participants know that STARS is a holistic value laden intensive survey that has produced fantastic results and encouraged sustainability success from campuses. Overall, by reviewing and implementing the AASHE …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Campus Central Plants - Assets or Liabilities in Achieving Carbon and Resiliency Goals
- Pratt Institute (NY)
Pratt Institute along with many other Colleges have central plants that provide power and HVAC to campus buildings. How do these plants fit into the new carbon restrained world with …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Extending Sustainability Practices to Tenant Spaces: Green Leasing at Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
Portland State University (PSU) is home to approximately 60 commercial tenants. Tenants range from food service and retail, to offices, banks, ATMs, and advertising. To encourage sustainability practices and behaviors …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Resiliency in the Face of Global Change: Developing a Sustainability Program That Thrives
- Dartmouth College (NH)
In December 2017, China announced a waste importing ban that upended the global recycling markets. In January 2018, the U.S. imposed a 30% tariff on solar equipment manufactured abroad. In …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Three Zeros Environmental Initiative at UNC Chapel Hill: The Chancellor's Sustainability Charge
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
- SmithGroup (MI)
The University of North Carolina (UNC) has set a new global standard for sustainability in higher education's constantly evolving environment. UNC is scaling its impact through the Three Zeros Environmental …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Designing a Realistic, Challenging, and Effective Climate Action Plan: Options and Best Practices
- Concordia College - Moorhead (MN)
This session will present the results of a research project aimed at understanding how institutions of higher education have developed and structured their Climate Action Plans. The goal of the …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Organizing a Campus-Community Resilience Building Workshop
- Second Nature (MA)
- The Nature Conservancy (VA)
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. 5, 2018
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Projection and Scenario Analysis for Climate and Nitrogen Action Planning
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- University of Virginia (VA)
Campuses are now calculating their carbon and nitrogen footprints together in SIMAP, a web-based platform launched in fall 2017. Once you have calculated your campus' footprints, how might you use …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Achieving SDG Targets: The European Approach: Compliance - The Case of Energy & Irish Universities
- Chatham University (PA)
- Technological University Dublin (Dublin)
Ireland, as a nation, has signed up to the SDGs. The main drivers in reaching these targets will be through a set of interventions that are encompassing - legislation - …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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How Do Sustainability and Resilience Work Together in Practice?
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
Resilience and sustainability have had a confusing relationship over the past decade. While resilience has long been an important element of sustainability, for example going back to the work of …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Resilience Bootcamp - Turning Threats into Opportunities
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
- St. Lawrence University (NY)
- Second Nature (MA)
Resilience is a hot topic for those who work within the campus operational and built environment. But what does it really mean for a campus community and how does it …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Leading and Integrating Sustainability 2.0: A Discussion About Deep Organizational Change
- University of Vermont (VT)
Many institutions are entering a 'Sustainability 2.0' phase, where offices have been established for up to ten years and topics such as recycling, composting, Eco-Reps, and active transportation plans have …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Creating a Sustainability Director Position for the Student Body Government (presentation)
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
In the spring of 2017, University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) student Dave Herrera proposed to UMD Student Association (UMDSA) to create a Student Director Of Sustainability. After much discussion and …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Creating Sustainability Director Position for Student Body Government (poster)
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
In the spring of 2017, University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) student Dave Herrera proposed to UMD Student Association (UMDSA) to create a Student Director Of Sustainability. After much discussion and …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Fostering Sustainability Culture on an Irish Campus, Lessons Learned from UCC's Green Campus Journey
- University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork (Co. Cork)
This session will tell the story of University College Cork's experience in embedding sustainability on campus over the last decade. This journey has taken UCC from a student-led campaign to …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Facilitation for Organizational Change
- GreenerU (MA)
One of the most important, yet often under-appreciated, skill sets of any profession is the ability to be a strong group meeting facilitator. Whether it is a small staff meeting …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Partnering With Purpose: Curating Sustainability Leadership With Staff, Students, and Faculty
- Gonzaga University (WA)
During the 2017 academic year, the Office of Sustainability at our university partnered with two AmeriCorps volunteers to create the Student Sustainability Leadership Program and the Employee Sustainability Ambassadors Program. …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Wrestling With the Invisibility Cloak: Catalyzing Student Action and Creating Office Recognition
- Amherst College (MA)
- Boston University (MA)
- Smith College (MA)
- University of Southern Maine (ME)
- Villanova University (PA)
As sustainability officer's we often lead from behind, supporting students as a silent or invisible partner. This enables them to bring awareness to issues and take ownership over the changes …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Green in a Red State: Working Towards Sustainable Development Goals in a Conservative Environment
- University of Central Oklahoma (OK)
The era of Trump may have officially begun on in 2017, but Trump era ideas on issues of sustainability, inclusion & equity have existed in parts of the country for …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Campus Controversies: How Should Sustainability Offices Respond?
- Dartmouth College (NH)
Election results, sexual misconduct allegations, racist graffiti, controversial op-eds, poorly worded emails are resulting in cycles of anger, backlash, emotional release, exhaustion and division on many of our campuses. At …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Undergrads as Consultants: Sharing Strategies and Experiences From a Student Intern Program
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
The UW-Madison Office of Sustainability (OS) employs student interns year-round to work on campus sustainability projects. The model for their efforts is one of consultation; the students serve as a …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Graphic Design Strategies for Sustainability
- Western Michigan University (MI)
Graphic designers can create positive change by integrating sustainability into their work. Graphic design is often not a sustainable practice, even so, sustainable design guidelines can reduce its impact. Energy, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Instilling Professional Development Into Eco-Reps Programs
- University of Southern Maine (ME)
This presentation will present key areas where you can grow professional development within your Eco-reps program, drawing on experience at four institutions of higher education. We will cover why it's …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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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.