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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Advancing Sustainability in Student Activities
- Green Mountain College (VT)
The National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) advances campus activities in higher education through a business and learning partnership, creating educational and business opportunities for its school and professional members. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Competitive Campus Greening Funds: An evaluation of successes and challenges for an emerging sustainability strategy
- New York University (NY)
This briefing will share the major findings of a nation-wide survey of campus greening grant programs in the United States. A selection of thirteen established university programs that provide grants …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Challenges and Solutions at CU-Boulder: Inception to Implementation
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Implementing sustainability initiatives in large universities is a challenge. Taking an idea from the brainstorming period, through the many different departments, to implementing the projects, to finally measuring the effectiveness …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Degrees Cooler - a behaviour change programme that resulted in institution-wide sustainability
- National Union of Students
The National Union of Students UK (NUS) was selected as part of the UK Government's Third Sector Strategy to promote greener living across England. Our two-year flagship programme, called Degrees …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Current Drivers and Barriers for the Implementation of Sustainability in Germanys Higher Education System
- University of Vechta
Sustainability was meant to be implemented into all levels of the educational system in Germany within the UN-Decade 'Education for Sustainable Development', driven by the governmental level with research programs …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Focus on the Near-term: Analysis and Prioritization of Actionable Carbon Reduction Strategies
- Carleton College (MN)
XYZ College's Climate Action Plan was the product of an enthusiastic committee effort involving students, faculty and staff. The CAP goal was to prioritize actions for the near-term that would …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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STARS: Challenges and Opportunities for Implementation
- American University (DC)
The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) is rapidly becoming the leading sustainability reporting tool for higher education. This research presents an analysis of STARS' strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Framework for Integrating Sustainability Education, Research, Engagement, and Operations through Experiential Learning
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
- CHA (NY)
This paper summarizes the University of Illinois' four-step strategy for experiential learning, integrating research, education, engagement, and operations. As a first step in this strategy, a task force created a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Sustainability XLR8R: Zero to Sixty in Twelve Months
- George Washington University (DC)
"Campus Sustainability XLR8R: Zero to Sixty in Twelve Months" will be a combined field report and a series of take-away recommendations for attendees to put toward practical use. The session …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating a Water Action Plan: Water Footprinting at Higher Education Institutions
- George Washington University (DC)
Universities are increasingly well versed in the measurement and tracking of their carbon emissions. While it is important for institutions to continue to tackle global climate change, water scarcity is …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Destination Green: Its Within Reach
- University at Albany (NY)
Transportation choices will continue to play an important role in the development of a carbon neutral society. Like many other institutions, single occupancy vehicles account for the third largest piece …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Program Recognizing Offices Practicing Sustainability: A New Approach to Green Office Certification
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
By applying research of community based social marketing techniques and utilizing funds from grants produced through student fees, students and staff housed under the campus sustainability office have developed Program …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Cities Network: Bridging the University with Arizona Communities
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The Sustainable Cities Network was created to be a bridge between Arizona State University's (ASU) research and technical capabilities in sustainability and the front-line challenges facing Arizona communities. Convened by …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using STARS to transform sustainability pedagogy
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
STARS is being adopted across the country by institutions wishing to assess sustainability initiatives in education, operations, and research. A key attribute of STARS educational assessment is the classification of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Changing Travel Behavior One Trip at a Time: Meeting the Challenge of the Large Suburban Campus
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
In the late 1950s, a small suburban university was built on old farmland. It was envisioned that this school would primarily serve students in the region and would operate as …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Understanding, teaching, and influencing campus sustainability from a systems perspective
- University of Vermont (VT)
One of the first steps in developing a campus sustainability program is to assess the degree to which sustainability currently exists on campus and trends toward or away from this …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A New Approach to Offsetting: The College of William and Mary Carbon Offset Program
- College of William & Mary (VA)
Carbon offsets are a means by which individuals or groups (i.e. corporations) compensate for their carbon footprint. These parties donate a calculated proportion to a project that reduces carbon emissions …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability in Campus Operations at Three Higher Education Institutions in Tompkins County, New York.
- New York Institute of Technology - Manhattan Campus (NY)
This paper demonstrates how the three higher education institutions in Tompkins County, New York are making good progress in the planning and implementation of actions to make campus operations more …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fostering a Culture of Sustainability in a Japanese University
- Hokkaido University (Hokkaido)
Hokkaido University is committed to the creation of an environmentally friendly campus. Its 65,000 hectares of campus resources, which include experimental forests and a variety of other facilities, are used …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Values-Based Revolution
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
The Values-Based Revolution
This presentation could have been titled From Green to Gold to Platinum, as the 2008 book written by David C. Etsy and Andrew S. Winston titled Green …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Strengthening student grassroots networks
- University of Virginia (VA)
This big-picture survey of different initiative types examines student engagement. Presenters will use two detailed diagrams to explain how they worked to strengthen all areas of student engagement. The first …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Town-Gown Sustainability Partnerships: How to leverage efforts for mutual support & improved relations.
- Northwestern University (IL)
How can institutions of higher education partner with host cities to further sustainability efforts? From a landfill gas-to-energy project to a community reuse sale to a Green Ribbon Committee campuses …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Investment Engagement on Campus
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
The panel will examine: 1) the case for encouraging schools to take action on issues affecting companies in which their endowments own stock, 2) the range of additional options schools …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Bridging Operations and Academics: Princeton University Sustainability Working Group Initiatives and Collaborations
- Princeton University (NJ)
Are sustainability endeavors with inclusive and comprehensive scope - bridging across operations, administration, academics and student life - more effective at accelerating culture change than those that are focused on …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Straight to the Top: Why Sustainability Officers Should Report to the President
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
According to AASHE's 2010 Higher Education Sustainability Staffing Survey, 28 of the 433 respondents report directly to the president at their colleges and universities. We maintain that successful sustainability work …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Implementing Clean and Green Campus Action
- Cramer-Krasselt (IL)
The higher education sector has always taken the lead on social change. And just as campuses and students are often society's most outspoken critics, fighting for campus settings that are …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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STARS at Hartwick College: Classroom Leadership for Campus Change
- Hartwick College (NY)
Hartwick College students enrolled in an Honors Mini-Seminar "The Sustainable Campus" utilized the STARS reporting tool to evaluate campus sustainability efforts. Students undertook a three-fold approach to measuring sustainability: they …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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STARS as a tool for planning
- University of Mount Union (OH)
AASHE's STARS program is a valuable resource for planning and implementing a campus sustainability program. Our campus worked with the STARS pilot program and used the organizational structure of that …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Sustainability Stewards: Low-Cost Change Agents with Value-Added Professional Experience
- Daemen University (NY)
As academic institutions focus on meeting sustainability goals, they face challenges in funding for programs and staffing to address them. Creating a student internship program can meet some of the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Next Big Thing: Sustainability as a Core Strategic Imperative
- Second Nature (MA)
The campus sustainability movement has been gaining momentum for more than a decade and yet it still adds up to little more than an itemized list of ad hoc actions …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Training Needs of University Sustainability Managers
- Kent State University (OH)
As colleges and universities continue to increase their engagement with sustainability, questions arise concerning the hiring requirements and professional support for the jobs of Sustainability Managers and Sustainability Coordinators. This …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The NSSE Sustainability Education Consortium: A First Year Report
- Green Mountain College (VT)
In fall 2010, eight institutions formed a consortium to assess student engagement in sustainability education across the curriculum. The consortium adds 20 sustainability questions to the National Survey of Student …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Short-term intervention, long-term change: two case studies from the University of Toronto
- University of Toronto (ON)
The duration of campus sustainability campaigns is often limited by available staff, student, volunteer hours and/or funding. As a result, many programs can only run for short periods of time, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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State-funded, but not a Flagship: Is Sustainability Possible?
- Appalachian State University (NC)
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
Sustainability has become a key initiative at many campuses nationwide, as evidenced by the number of campuses enrolled in reporting systems like AASHE STARS or evaluated on lists such as …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Certified Paper: An Integral Part of Sustainable Practices on Campus
- University of San Diego (CA)
- Domtar Corporation (SC)
Forest certification was launched over a decade ago to help protect forests from destructive logging practices and demonstrate to consumers that a wood or paper product comes from forests managed …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Holisitc Approach to Rio+20
- AASHE (MA)
Join the discussion about the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD.
The Conference will take place in Brazil on June 4-6 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Green Book: The National Academy of Science Framework for Sustainability at EPA.
- AASHE (MA)
In 2010 the US EPA asked the National Research Council's Science and Technology for Sustainability Program to convene a committee to provide an operational framework for integrating sustainability as a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Sustainability Officers Workshop Part II
- AASHE (MA)
Reflection on the learning that took place in Part I.
A presentation and discussion about the nature of the campus sustainability profession, its evolution over time both generally and within …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) 101 (2011)
- AASHE (MA)
Since 2006, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has engaged in a broadly participative process with the higher education and sustainability communities in developing the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Developing and implementing a stakeholder engagement process for redesigning your website - lessons from the AASHE.ORG redesign
- AASHE (MA)
In January 2011, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) relaunched its website with a major reorganization of content and a new design. One of our …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Designing Spaces That Support Cultural Change
- AASHE (MA)
Intelligent, connected, and wireless. Our culture is changing rapidly and Generation Y is in the driver's seat. The fast-paced, interactive discussion Designing Spaces That Support Cultural Change explores the top …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Habitat Preservation in Agnes Scott's Urban Forest: Arboretum Guide
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
Striving to sustainably maintain a campus landscape is on the horizon for all college's and universities' agendas. The Arboretum Guide will educate the wider community about the many assets that …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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GHG Inventories and the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment: Benchmarking and Analysis
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
The higher education field lacks benchmarking methods in the area of greenhouse gas emission inventories. This study establishes useful benchmarks by examining the measurable characteristics of climate zone, size, and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Academic Computing Through Centralized Virtualization
- Alfred State College (NY)
Computer and information technology students require 24 hour access to powerful desktop computer workstations in order to complete lab assignments that may involve several virtual client and server computers. The …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building a Broad-Based Campus Sustainability Council
- Appalachian State University (NC)
To institutionalize sustainability, these efforts need to empower the entire institution. One way to achieve this is to create a series of leaders who drive sustainability policy, goals, and progress. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Integrating Sustainability Principles in Human Resource Operations
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." In that spirit, Human Resource Services and the Office of Sustainability set …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Transitioning Sustainability/STARS Data Into Institutional Data
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The AASHE STARS program has given sustainability directors and coordinators a great tool to legitimize their efforts in diverse and hard-to-reach corners of campus operations and academia. For many colleges …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Staff Sustainability Literacy - Developing the Training Module
- Arizona State University (AZ)
An informed staff is a key component for the successful implementation of a comprehensive sustainability practices vision. In today's work environment, a university often requires fire safety training, defensive driving …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Future Planning for a Sustainable Campus
- Arup (NY)
Colleges and universities operate like cities at a much smaller scale. They are faced with similar complexities such as providing their communities with an appropriate housing mix, green spaces and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Down to Zero: a 5-part strategy to achieve your GHG reduction goals at any scale
- Arup (NY)
A "green" reputation is increasingly seen as a differentiator for schools to attract funding, faculty, staff and students. 66% of college applicants search for information on a prospective school's commitment …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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.