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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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Staffing Survey Cover

2017 Higher Education Sustainability Staffing Survey

  • AASHE (MA)

The 2017 staffing survey report examines the nature of sustainability positions at colleges and universities, providing insights into salaries, funding, supervision, job satisfaction, challenges and more. This year’s survey and …

  • Posted Sept. 1, 2017
  • Publications
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Walking the Eco-Talk Movement: Higher Education Institutions as Sustainability Incubators

  • Edgewood College (WI)

Management scholars can have a major impact on advancing environmental sustainability by focusing on their own home institutions. A “four-type” sustainability action model is presented to foster thinking about how …

  • Posted Aug. 28, 2017
  • Publications
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From Talloires to Turin: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Declarations for Sustainability in Higher Education

Declarations for sustainability in higher education are often seen as a set of guiding principles that aid institutions of higher learning to incorporate the concept of sustainability into their various …

  • Posted Aug. 28, 2017
  • Publications
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Assessing the Higher Education Sector’s Use of Renewable Energy

  • University of New Hampshire (NH)

This article explores the extent to which U.S.-based institutions of higher education have engaged in voluntary purchases and production of renewable energy. Understanding these efforts is important in order to …

  • Posted Aug. 28, 2017
  • Publications
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Mapping Sustainability Assessment and Reporting in the UK Tertiary Education: A Whole-institution Perspective on Sustainability Assessment and Reporting Tools

  • Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) (Gloucestershire)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A plethora of assessment and reporting ‘tools’1 has become available for the improvement of sustainability performance in Further and Higher Education(FHE). As the profile of sustainability reporting and …

  • Posted Aug. 28, 2017
  • Publications
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Assessing sustainability in higher education curricula: A critical reflection on validity issues

While curricular assessments can give insight as to the extent sustainability is integrated into higher education study programs, issues remain regarding how assessments are conducted. Previous research has identified and …

  • Posted Aug. 28, 2017
  • Publications
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Introduction to Watershed Studies

Parks and Sustainability

  • Kent State University - Stark (OH)

Picture of a student in Kent State University at Stark's Introduction to Watershed Studies. This course was created through a park and campus partnership.

Talloires Declaration

  • Tufts University (MA)
  • Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (DC)

Composed in 1990 at an international conference in Talloires, France, the Talloires Declaration is the first official statement by university presidents, chancellors, and rectors of a commitment to environmental sustainability …

Overcoming Barriers: Organizational Effectiveness of College Sustainability Offices

  • Eckerd College (FL)

This study assesses the organizational effectiveness of six small colleges that have demonstrated a commitment to campus sustainability practices. Given the complex structures and competing demands within a small college, …

  • Posted July 13, 2017
  • Publications
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Using a class to conduct a carbon inventory: A case study with practical results at Macalester College

  • Macalester College (MN)

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the practical realities of using a college seminar to fulfill the carbon audit requirement for signatories to the American College and University …

  • Posted June 22, 2017
  • Publications
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Maximising the local economic, environmental and social benefits of a university: Lancaster University

The paper presents the main conclusions from an in-depth study of the local economic, social and environmental impacts of Lancaster University in 1991/92. The likely impacts of further expansion at …

  • Posted June 20, 2017
  • Publications
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Hot Air: University Climate Action Plans and Disarticulated Federalism

Individual states and academic institutions have taken leadership on climate change policy in the United States. Without unified national policy, a patchwork of state policies fosters geographic variation among climate …

  • Posted June 20, 2017
  • Publications
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Challenges in Higher Education for Sustainability

This book presents the latest advances on the incorporation of sustainability in higher education. Different aspects such as the environmental, economic and social are here discussed. Several examples illustrating how …

Local food cooking class

Earthday at Universidad de Monterrey

  • Universidad de Monterrey

University of California Climate Lab, Video Series Episode Six: Scientists really aren't the best champions of climate science

  • University of California, Office of the President (CA)

This is the sixth episode of Climate Lab, a six-part series produced by the University of California in partnership with Vox. Hosted by Emmy-nominated conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan, the …

  • Posted May 25, 2017
  • Videos & Webinars
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Schematic of the shadow price. In cost-benefit analysis, the "cost" used should include the lifecycle carbon emissions of all options.

Swarthmore Carbon Charge Program

  • Swarthmore College (PA)

Swarthmore’s Carbon Charge seeks to systematically incorporate the unfelt global impacts of our emissions into our decision-making, both individually and as a college.

The scope of the work necessary to …

Penstemon 2.0

  • Santa Clara University (CA)

From the outset, our goal has been to foster a culture of sustainability at the University by focusing on our curriculum as an interdisciplinary community of scholars. SCU has used …

Students Contribute Record-Breaking $6 Million to Student Green Energy Fund

  • University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)

The purpose of the Student Green Energy Fund is to provide an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to present formal proposals to a governing Fund Council with the goal …

Report of the Smith College Study Group on Climate Change

  • Smith College (MA)

In this report, the Study Group on Climate Change (SGCC) presents its recommendations for climate action by Smith College. By implementing these recommendations, the college will coherently integrate climate action …

First delivery day with Cycle Farm, Spearfish, SD

Black Hills Food Hub: rural food hubs serving a wider demographic

  • Black Hills State University (SD)

Black Hills State University (BHSU) and Spearfish community partners are seeking to create a culture that supports and values local food in order to expand the reach and depth of …

Cascadia Campus Climate Conversation (C4)

  • Cascadia College (WA)

-On October 25th, 2016, the senior cohort of the Bachelors of Applied Science in Sustainable Practices (BASSP) program at Cascadia College, Bothell, WA, held the first campus dialogue to discuss …

How Middlebury College Achieved Carbon Neutrality

  • Middlebury College (VT)

This past winter, Middlebury College achieved an ambitious goal of carbon neutrality that had been officially set in 2007. When it became clear that the College’s initial of goal recommended …

SFU’s 20-Year Sustainability Vision and Goals Case Study Submission

  • Simon Fraser University (BC)

On the 50th Anniversary of the institution, SFU launched an ambitious engagement process to map out and envision what a “sustainable SFU” would look like in 20 years. The yearlong …

Promoting Sustainability through Coordination of Campus-Wide Conservation Practices

  • University of South Alabama (AL)

While the University of South Alabama (USA) has a long history of independent sustainability ventures, it is only in last 18 months that sustainability as a program has become a …

Sustainability Assessment Report for Philadelphia University by using AASHE STARS Credit System

  • Philadelphia University (PA)

This project is a thesis research on sustainability at Philadelphia University. The University is known regionally for its sustainability initiatives and education. The university has won several awards and recognitions …

Student, Faculty & Staff Eco-Reps work together to map out a local adventure for their communities during a Sustain IT workshop with the Outing Club

The New Eco-Rep Model: Unifying Campus Audiences in Co-Curricular Sustainability Programming

  • Dickinson College (PA)

Dickinson College has innovatively reformed its Eco-Rep model into a combined student and employee peer-to-peer sustainability education program that creates co-curricular learning experiences aimed at unifying campus stakeholders while increasing …

Climate Change and the Canadian Higher Education System: An Institutional Policy Analysis

  • University of Rochester (NY)
  • University of Saskatchewan (SK)

Climate change is a pressing concern. Higher education can address the challenge, but systematic analyses of climate change in education policy are sparse. This paper addresses this gap in the …

Critical attributes of Sustainability in Higher Education: a categorisation from literature review

  • Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (Santa Catarina)

Sustainability in Higher Education has been investigated mainly through examining institutional approaches, curricula content, or students' and teachers' perceptions of sustainability in practice. However, a deep characterisation of the foundations …

SPF Project: McGill Farmers' Market

McGill University's Sustainability Projects Fund

  • McGill University (QC)

The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) is a crown jewel of McGill University’s sustainability efforts and a best-practice model for universities. The SPF’s main goal is to build a culture of …

McGill Students Lobby to Create Climate Officer Position

  • McGill University (QC)

In Spring 2016, Management PhD student Amir Nosrat, and other colleagues at the Post-Graduate Students' Society of McGill University, came up with the idea to create a Climate Officer position …

University of Saskatchewan Aerial Shot

The Campus Sustainability Plan: A Community Building Momentum

  • University of Saskatchewan (SK)

Progress on campus wide sustainability is not easy. It takes both planning and implementation to realize results. The University of Saskatchewan is realizing results from its Campus Sustainability Plan, developed …

Portland State University - All Gender Restroom Policy

  • Portland State University (OR)

In late 2015 Portland State University (PSU) administration officially adopted an all gender restroom policy (also sometimes referred to as gender-neutral, unisex, or universal) for the PSU campus. The all …

Fifteen buildings across campus host the 4.5 MW of rooftop PV

Stanford achieves dramatic greenhouse gas emissions reductions to surpass state, national, and international climate targets

  • Stanford University (CA)

Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI) is a new campus energy system powered by renewables, designed to meet the current and future energy needs of Stanford University in an environmentally, socially, …

Las Pintas Solar Experience group, 2013

Johnson County Community College Student Sustainability Committee

  • Johnson County Community College (KS)

As a broadly effective, innovative, engaging, and replicable project, Johnson County Community College’s Student Sustainability Committee [the SSC, the Committee] is a compelling and powerful tool for developing student leadership …

KMRB Energy Reduction Project

  • University of Rochester (NY)

The University of Rochester’s Medical Center operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week in a 5.4 million square foot complex. Facilities Operations is responsible for providing conditioned air for …

American University in Cairo 2017 Carbon Footprint Report

  • American University in Cairo (Cairo)

The first step of reducing a university’s carbon footprint is measuring its current size. The 2017 Carbon Footprint Report is the 4th in the American University in Cairo’s Carbon Footprint …

Solar panels on Shuford Stadium Parking Lot, Catawba College

Project Green Step 2030: Catawba College Campus Solar Energy Installation

  • Catawba College (NC)

Catawba College completed a solar energy project in 2016 that is projected to produce more solar electricity than all the other North Carolina colleges and universities combined. This was the …

Zero Waste Events Expanding Across Campus (Synchronized Swimming Athletic Tournament)

The Ohio State University Sustainability Goals Development Project

  • The Ohio State University (OH)

In November 2015, The Ohio State University announced the establishment of sustainability goals to guide the university as it develops durable solutions to the challenges of sustainability and in evolving …

Transition communities and the glass ceiling of environmental sustainability policies at three universities

  • University of Edinburgh

Purpose: This paper deals with the experiences of three European universities that have implemented transition initiatives, using the Transition Network’s methodology to promote their sustainability plans. The Transition Communities’ …

Linking Sustainability with Study Abroad

  • Delta College (MI)

This project describes the planning, development, and implementation of integrating sustainability into study abroad in existing travel and through establishing new destinations. It also constructs a model that includes a …

Campus Sustainability: A Lightbulb Moment | Caitlin Marsh | TED x Alma College

  • Alma College (MI)

As a sustainability expert, and Alma College alum, Caitlin opens up the conversation about what sustainability looks like on a college campus. And brings forward fresh implementation ideas.

After pursuing …

  • Posted May 15, 2017
  • Videos & Webinars
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Sustainability@BU / It's what you do.

  • Boston University (MA)

The video from Boston University highlights the impact that each student at BU has on the environment. This includes individual footprints on things like carbon, water, waste, and electricity. After …

  • Posted May 15, 2017
  • Videos & Webinars
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Leveraging college sports to advance campus sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and community inclusion

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • Bonneville Environmental Foundation (OR)

By launching from collegiate sports’ high profile platform, sustainability efforts have the reach to more broadly engage stakeholders on and off campus and enhance sustainable behaviors among fans such as …

  • Posted May 15, 2017
  • Videos & Webinars
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Recommendations on Campus Sustainability Development at Duke Kunshan University

  • Duke University (NC)
  • Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (Hong Kong)
  • Duke Kunshan University (Jiangsu)

As the Sustainable Duke Office at Duke University determines the next steps on how best to integrate a satellite campus such as Duke Kunshan University (DKU) into its Climate Action …

SFU Zero Waste Bin Buddy

Simon Fraser University’s Zero Waste Initiative

  • Simon Fraser University (BC)

SFU was one of the first universities to implement a standardized, 4-stream Zero Waste system (including composting) uniformly across all three of its campuses, each of which lies in a …

Next Generation Sustainability Strategy and Structure: Whole-Institution Approaches to Sustainability in Universities and Colleges

  • Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) (Gloucestershire)

Across the U.K. and beyond there is growing recognition of the important contribution that the post-16 education sector can make towards a more sustainable future, well beyond addressing the environmental …

Communication Network Among Campus Sustainability Influencers

  • Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Systems of all types require efficient communication between its parts and units in order to be successful and effective. It is thus important to understand a system's units in order …

Promoting Sustainable Transportation with Campus Car Policies and Public Outreach

  • California State University, Monterey Bay (CA)

In fall of 2016 at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), the Environmental Studies undergraduate program began offering its first group-based capstone course that was based on its first Projects …

Perspectives on the University as a Business: the Corporate Management Structure, Neoliberalism and Higher Education

  • Rider University (NJ)

In the past three decades, the administration of many institutions of higher education have progressed towards a corporate style management structure. What has been a collegial, collaborative approach to managing …

Catholic Universities and Social Action in the Context of the Transgressing of Planetary Boundaries

  • Creighton University (NE)

This paper will reflect upon Catholic universities’ mission of pursuing the truth and promoting justice in light of the ecological crisis. First, it will examine how the truth of our …

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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