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
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Video Library: Sustainability in Action
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Check out our growing library of films on Facilities Management sustainability.
- Posted Jan. 13, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Top-Performing Institutions for Sustainability, 2016
- Chronicle of Higher Education (DC)
The 2016 Sustainable Campus Index, published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or Aashe, recognizes top-performing colleges and universities in 17 distinct aspects of sustainability …
- Posted Jan. 5, 2017
- Publications
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UIC Aims for More Sustainable Campus
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
The University of Illinois at Chicago is launching an ambitious effort to drastically cut energy use, water consumption and waste on its Near West Side campus in hopes of helping …
- Posted Jan. 3, 2017
- Publications
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The Future of Sustainability Leadership Rests with Higher Education
- AASHE (MA)
Higher education institutions are poised to be leaders on the sustainability front. Not only are they able to develop responsible environmental policies and procedures for their campuses, but they are …
- Posted Jan. 3, 2017
- Publications
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Sustainability in Higher Education: How Does the Process of Campus Greening Trigger Adaptive Social Learning
- North Carolina State University (NC)
The purpose of this dissertation was to answer the research question: Does the presence of a balance of social, economic, and ecological dimensions during an implementation of campus greening trigger …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2016
- Publications
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Applied Sustainability Education with a Systems Science Emphasis at a STEM University
- Florida Institute of Technology (FL)
In the southeastern U.S., the Sustainability Studies bachelors program at F.I.T. is one of the first of its type among STEM universities. A preliminary case study is constructed from recent …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2016
- Publications
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Managing Organizational Sustainability: Demonstrating the Business Case for Sustainability Professionals in the Workplace
- University of Michigan (MI)
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
- McGraw-Hill (NY)
The report provides a preliminary exploration of the relationship between the fast-growing new job class of sustainability professionals and performance. The report uses original research and literature review to find …
- Posted Dec. 19, 2016
- Publications
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Towards a Sustainable University: The Ca’ Foscari Experience
Towards a Sustainable University tackles the challenge of sustainability in universities. Universities are a working environment and an organization in which sustainability can be experienced. This book shows how a …
- Posted Dec. 16, 2016
- Publications
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A new taxonomy for examining the multi-role of campus sustainability assessments in organizational change
- Université du Québec à Montréal (Québec)
The role of higher education institutions in the transition to a more sustainable society has been highlighted for almost three decades and the role of environmental management accounting and control …
- Posted Dec. 16, 2016
- Publications
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Do sustainability projects stimulate organizational learning in universities?
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the preparation of a sustainability report and a large‐scale energy‐saving campaign with regards to their role for organizational learning (OL). Similar …
- Posted Dec. 16, 2016
- Publications
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Systemic Structural Constellations and Sustainability in Academia: A New Method for Sustainable Higher Education
This book argues that to create truly sustainable universities, we require new methods of visualising and interpreting them holistically as institutions built on complex relationships and systems, rather than as …
- Posted Dec. 16, 2016
- Publications
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Realization of a Low Emission University Campus Through the Implementation of a Climate Action Plan
The Climate Action Plan (CAP) experience started a few years ago with the aim to manage carbon and energy more efficiently. CAP is a roadmap to get Universities to the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2016
- Publications
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Implementation of a zero waste program at a university campus
- Massey University
A zero waste program was established at a university campus in response to grassroots student concern over environmental management issues. The implementation procedure consisted of initial discussions with academic and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2016
- Publications
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Sustainability in Higher Education: An Assessment of Washington State Colleges and Universities, 2005-2016
- Evergreen State College, The (WA)
The purpose of this research project was to assess the integration of sustainability in Washington State higher education from 2005 to 2016. Both the extent of integration and the focus …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2016
- Publications
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Factors encouraging sustainability integration into institutions of higher education
- University of Malaya
In view of the mountainous evidence on destruction of environmental quality and societal well-being as a consequence of rapid economic development, sustainability has gained vast attention from the community and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2016
- Publications
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Handbook of Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development in Higher Education: Volume 2
- RMIT University
This Handbook offers an overview of what universities around the world are doing to implement sustainable development (e.g., via curriculum innovation, research, activities, or practical projects) and how their efforts …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2016
- Publications
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Handbook of Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development in Higher Education: Volume 1
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
This Handbook offers an overview of what universities around the world are doing to implement sustainable development (e.g., via curriculum innovation, research, activities, or practical projects) and how their efforts …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2016
- Publications
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Using STARS to Drive Change on Campus
- AASHE (MA)
AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS provides a number of opportunities for students …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The University of Thriftsburgh: We Work With More Than Just Ugly Sweaters
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
The University of Thriftsburgh, a non-profit, student-run thrift store, opened on the University of Pittsburgh's campus on March 18, 2015. The store was the result of year and a half …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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TailGator: Game Day Recycling at the University of Florida
- University of Florida (FL)
For the last ten seasons the TailGator Game Day Recycling Program, the longest running program of the University of Florida's Office of Sustainability, has educated fans on properly sorting waste …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Experiences and Strategies of a Student-Run Massive Monarch Restoration on Off-campus Sites
- University of Kentucky (KY)
The White House recently released the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators. One of its primary goals is a national effort to increase the …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Revolution May Be Composted: The UA Compost Cats as a Model for Transformational Pedagogy and Student Empowerment
- University of Arizona (AZ)
The Compost Cats program provides a model for how institutions of higher education can equip student environmental leaders for the great social and environmental challenges we face, engage deeply with …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Student-led Technical Design Projects: From Conception to Implementation
- Engineers for a Sustainable World (CO)
Engineering students are often interested in contributing directly to sustainability in their communities by conducting local technical projects. In this interactive workshop, Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW), a non-profit …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging your community to design tomorrow's campus: resiliency, vulnerability, and adaptation
- Boston University (MA)
- Cornell University (NY)
- Smith College (MA)
Scholars and practitioners have been arguing in favor of more holistic approaches to campus sustainability that would incorporate complex aspects of climate change. In order to address those multifaceted problems, …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustaining Ourselves - A Collaborative Retreat for Sustainability Professionals
- College of Saint Benedict (MN)
- Hamline University (MN)
- Macalester College (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Join us 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 team from the …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Programs: Examining Why Typical Approaches Have Little Impact and a Transformational New Model for Making Change
- McMaster University (ON)
- Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) (ON)
Reporting standards like the GRI, STARS and Carbon Disclosure Project are valued for being comprehensive, attracting participation and pushing the sustainability agenda forward. We will examine the benefit and limitations …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Senior Leadership Summit: Positioning Sustainability as Your Ultimate Innovation Driver
- Harvard University (MA)
AASHE presents its 2016 Senior Leadership Summit on Positioning Sustainability as An Innovation Driver for senior leaders and leadership teams. To date, the most prevalent senior leadership response to sustainability …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Scaling applied learning programs for sustainability
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
Applied learning opportunities, from internships, to community-based learning courses to student research provide training for students in addressing complex societal challenges. These endeavors are mostly designed to optimize the student's …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Natural Organizational Design for Sustainability: A New Role for Sustainability Change Agents
- Harvard University (MA)
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- University of British Columbia (BC)
The organization model underpinning patterns of resource allocation & decision-making across higher education, is incapable of the pace & depth of change that the sustainability agenda requires. All around us …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Learning the Language of Executive Leadership to Increase Sustainability's Value
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- Purdue University (IN)
With higher education facing ongoing budget cuts, top to bottom reviews of programs and policies, and critical questions regarding the value of a college education, we must be able to …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Galvanizing Gaia: A Social Incubator for Women Leaders and Innovators
- Prescott College (AZ)
Two ecopreneurship professors create a supportive context for women sustainability entrepreneurs and campus program innovators to move from idea to action with their regenerative project ideas. This dynamic half-day workshop …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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EcoVate - Design Thinking for Sustainability in a Changing World
- Dartmouth College (NH)
Sustainability is about tackling old, resistant problems in new ways to develop solutions that work. Design thinking is a tool that can help us meet the challenge of tackling big, …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Creating a Living, Regenerative Campus Companion to STARS
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Praxis | Building Solutions, LLC (PA)
Leaders in campus sustainability, green building, and related fields are looking for ways to push beyond current practice into the realm of regenerative design and living environments. There is a …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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NWF EcoLeaders Helps Students Gain Project-Based Leadership Skills and Explore Career Pathways
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
National Wildlife Federation's EcoLeaders Program is a career and leadership development program for college students and young professionals. NWF's EcoLeaders provides students with the virtual space to initiate projects on …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Herding Cats? How to Engage Your Whole Campus Community in Sustainability
- National Union of Students
Sustainability is engaging, empowering & enabling, but sometimes getting other people on board is a bit like herding cats - frustrating, resource intensive, and with no one correct way of …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Future of Sustainability Workforce Preparation and Hiring: A Networking Session
- The GREEN Program (PA)
The GREEN Program will be hosting this networking session. The GREEN Program offers short term, career accelerating, abroad opportunities on topics connected to sustainability and sustainable development for students & …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond the Library: Librarians Team up With Campus Partners for Sustainability Education and Outreach
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Collaborate with your library to disseminate and implement sustainability solutions - on campus and beyond! Join us in this networking session to share your ideas and experiences and learn about …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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10 Years Old, 1 Year New: Climate Leadership Commitment signatory networking session
- Second Nature (MA)
Climate Leadership Commitment Implementation Liaisons and those interested in learning about the Climate Leadership Network will hear from Second Nature staff about the accomplishments, progress, and activities over the past …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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US EPA - NEW Organics Recovery Program Development Toolkit
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
- Keep America Beautiful (CT)
US EPA Region 4 will unveil the working draft of its Organics Recovery Program Development Toolkit developed specifically for colleges and universities. The toolkit is intended to guide campuses looking …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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AASHE International Networking Meeting
- Portland Community College (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
Members of the international community who are attending the AASHE conference are invited to join in a networking meeting to share ideas and successes in their countries. Let's discuss ways …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Scaling Applied Learning for Sustainability Programs: Building a Community of Peers
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
This meeting brings leaders of applied learning programs for sustainability outcomes together-catalyzing the development of a group of peers interested in collaborating on this topic. Scaling applied learning programs means …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Procurement Leaders Talk Sustainability: Strategies & Case Studies
- Emory University (GA)
- George Washington University (DC)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
Many sustainability goals - from climate change to zero-waste to water conservation to green dining - can be advanced cost-effectively with the strategic engagement of an institution's procurement professionals. But …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Physical and Behavioral Impacts of Campus Transportation Amenities
- University of Georgia (GA)
- Yale University (CT)
- Nelson/Nygaard (CA)
This panel discussion explores the kind of transportation services that best meet students' transportation needs. Their expectations around transportation are being shaped by what they experience on their campuses and …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Identifying alignment between common institutional priorities and sustainability objectives: one higher ed network's findings
- Dartmouth College (NH)
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- GreenerU (MA)
As higher education grapples with a shifting landscape of priorities for the 21st Century, common themes across institutions are emerging. Simultaneously, regional or peer-group sustainability networks continue to seek effective …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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STARS; the Canadian experience
- University of Calgary (AB)
- Dalhousie University (NS)
STARS can be a powerful program for engaging the campus community, measuring progress in campus sustainability practices and benchmarking comprehensive sustainability reporting, but how well is the program designed for …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Finance 201: Financial Analysis and Your Campus Projects
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
- Second Nature (MA)
Campus sustainability professionals must frequently build the business case for their work. While they are well versed in environmental issues, knowledge of financial terms may be necessary to write a …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Environmental Health and Sustainability: Collaborating with Local Environmental Health Professionals for Sustainable Solutions
- The University of Findlay (OH)
- National Environmental Health Association (CO)
Environmental health (EH) professionals have an opportunity to reach out to higher education as the next step to disseminate and implement sustainable solutions in communities. There is not always a …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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STARS Town Hall
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
This interactive session will feature a small panel of STARS Steering Committee members and AASHE staff who will facilitate a high-level discussion about potential improvements to the STARS program. This …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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STARS 101: The Basics of Conducting a Campus Sustainability Assessment
- AASHE (MA)
AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. With more than 750 registered institutions on six …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Building Climate Resilience: A Planning Framework and Early Experiences
- Western Technical College (WI)
- Second Nature (MA)
This session will give an overview of the resilience planning framework available through Second Nature Climate Commitments and highlight innovative climate resilience efforts already underway. Institutions across all U.S. states …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- 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.