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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Sustainable Citizens, Governments, and Colleges 2.0: Engaging in the Twitterverse and Beyond
- Presidio Graduate School (CA)
"Creating Sustainable Campuses and Communities" goes far beyond student recycling campaigns, and Earth Day fairs; nowadays, social media is engaging others in the best sustainability practices. This study summarizes the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Evaluating Your University's Waste and Recycling Billing Rates
- CHA (NY)
Today, universities are grappling with how to fund ever expanding and much sought after recycling programs. As university waste management programs grow to include larger volumes and additional types of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Revamping Your University Waste and Recycling Program
- Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) (MI)
Creating sustainable waste and recycling operations throughout large universities is a daunting task as you deal with a variety of audiences and system users. This task can be especially challenging …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Gateway to Green: Sustainability Transformation at the Speed of Light
- Saint Louis University (MO)
For nearly 200 years, Saint Louis University has played a role as Wal-Mart-like greeters in the "Gateway to the West". Unfortunately, those welcomed were actually entering the "show me" state, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Sustainability and student engagement: how to institutionalize and grow student engagement in the campus sustainability movement; and why we must.
- Simon Fraser University (BC)
Achieving campus sustainability is a complicated objective, and it involves major shifts in the traditional framework within which these institutions are set. One of the most important factors in achieving …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Tracking Campus Energy Use: Building a Database from the Ground Up
- Skidmore College (NY)
Some college campuses use networked electricity meters, so that power consumption data can be read online. However, at the presenters' institution, the system was fraught with multiple problems: memory space …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Opportunities for Engagement While Conducting a GHG Inventory: Learning More Than Just Carbon Calculations
- Slippery Rock University (PA)
In this paper we will discuss some of the unexpected lessons learned and opportunities leveraged during the GHG data gathering and analysis process. The processes of performing GHG inventories and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Implementing a Sustainable Campus Master Plan
- SmithGroup (MI)
A major state university's 2010 Campus Master Plan establishes an innovative approach to environmental stewardship that minimize the effects on natural resources by mandating sustainable design strategies for all new …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Developing a Framework for Sustainability Literacy Assessments in Higher Education
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale (IL)
Higher educational institutions continue to expand the scope at which sustainability is addressed within the campus community. Interdisciplinary programs developed within academic institutions to address complex systematic socio-ecological problems have …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Connecting Campus and Community: The Nature Preserve at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)
In the Fall of 2009, the new Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUe) launched a new initiative to create a space where …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Saving Paper with LEAF: Creating and Implementing a Green Education Program
- Southern Methodist University (TX)
What do a cardstock placard, a one-hour discussion, and a "green certification" all have in common? They are all simple ways to transform your campus into a sustainable community. An …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cardinal Green Campaigns: Tackling Environment, Economy and Social Engagement at Stanford
- Stanford University (CA)
Behavior-based conservation programs with attractive incentives and attainable goals yield impressive results. Stanford's Office of Sustainability has formulated an annual series of goal driven campus campaigns in a 6-pack format …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Are Green Campuses Walking the Talk? Providing Underrepresented Students with Access to Sustainability
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
Have you had a difficult time articulating why sustainability assessments such as STARS include diversity as an indicator? This presentation will offer a few explanations through a brief review of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Reaccreditation at its Best - Completing a Special Focus on Sustainability in Tandem with STARS
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) is currently undergoing a reaccreditation effort through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. As part …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using Planning to Integrate Sustainability across the Campus
- Stockton University (NJ)
The submitting College, located in the Pinelands of southern New Jersey near the Atlantic shore, has had a distinct sustainability orientation since its founding in 1969. For example, the College …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Overcoming Challenges in Capturing & Collecting GHG Data and Streamlining the ACUPCC Reporting Process
- Stony Brook University (NY)
At Stony Brook University, responsible environmental stewardship is in its DNA. As an early reporting member of the ACUPCC, Stony Brook University has completed comprehensive inventories of all greenhouse gas …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Expanding the STARS 1.1 Technical Manual - Re-evaluating "Design" in Category 2: Operations (OP)
- Technische Universiteit Delft
Category 2 of the STARS 1.1 Technical Manual provides a total of 100 points towards a Universities Operations (OP) and a total of 13 credits towards buildings. In general, the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Turnkey: Creating a Green Fund
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Student-led green funds are on the rise at institutions across the nation. There are many green fund models to study and select a best fit for creating your campus green/environmental …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Students Take the Lead for Innovative Sustainability Programs at America's most Northern University
- University of Alaska Fairbanks (AK)
The students of University of Alaska Fairbanks, in 2009 voted a $20 dollar sustainability fee, which is matched by the Chancellor and anticipated to raise $5,000,000 over its 10-year initiative. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Going carbon neutral: What an experience!
- University of Alberta (AB)
Becoming a carbon neutral campus not only demonstrates excellent progress towards sustainability but is also a phenomenal learning tool for students, faculty, staff and the greater University community. Energy management …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Embedding Sustainability into Institutional Governance
- University of Calgary (AB)
In four short years the University of Calgary has evolved from implementing ad-hoc green initiatives to embedding sustainability into institutional governance and emerging as one of Canada's leaders in campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Making Short Work of a Tall Order: Maximizing Resources with STARS
- University of Calgary (AB)
How nice would it be to deliver STARS with no deadlines and unlimited resources? We all know, however, each institution is faced with its own unique constraints when implementing STARS. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Role of the LEED Rating System in Higher Education: Recent Trends and Status
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
This study is an update to the report, "To LEED or Not To LEED," published in August 2009, and examines the degree to which various top universities in the United …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Crisis Into Opportunity: Can sustainability programs and budget cuts be mutually supportive?
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
When budget cuts are a university's priority in a time of fiscal crisis, how can sustainability programs turn that crisis into an opportunity? Doing so not only is necessary for …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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UC, Santa Cruz: Sustainabilty Project Clearinghouse 1.0
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
The web-based Sustainability Project Clearinghouse 1.0 was created to track completed, ongoing, and proposed high quality sustainability projects that have been vetted by UCSC faculty and staff. The creation of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Capacity: Attracting and Retaining a Network of Sustainability Project Mentors
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
IDEASS (Impact Designs: Engineering and Sustainability through Student Service) is an upper-division university program that supports collaborative service-learning projects. IDEASS students learn not only about the technical, humanistic and societal …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Developing a Sustainability Literacy Assessment: Strategy and Methodology
- University of Florida (FL)
This session will discuss the University of Florida's progress towards a comprehensive student sustainability literacy assessment including attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge. Basic research methods, general topic selection, and question testing …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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How to (Not) Build a Wind Turbine
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
On-campus wind energy is a strategy often considered by institutions in plans to reduce carbon emissions, hedge against volatile energy costs and meet renewable energy goals. However, such projects can …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Taking stock of iCAP: promises, promises, promises
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
Most member institutions of AASHE are also signatories of the American Colleges and Universities President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). ACUPCC requires signatory institutions to conduct a climate assessment, prepare a climate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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EMpowered: Using Web-Based Energy Dashboards as a Delivery Platform for Culture Change Programming
- University of Kentucky (KY)
Energy dashboards have become a common tool for providing feedback regarding resource consumption and conducting energy reduction competitions. Our approach in developing the EMpowered project was to significantly broaden this …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Let's Get Serious about Integrating Sustainability into General Education: Strategies for Staff and Faculty
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
This session addresses the need to integrate sustainability into the compulsory curriculum of colleges and universities. Speakers - including sustainability officers and professors - will present proven strategies for changing …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Applying Integrated Assessment to Establish Campus Sustainability Priorities at the University of Michigan
- University of Michigan (MI)
Some research is conducted solely to gain knowledge or understanding, while other research is conducted with a specific use in mind. Integrated Assessment begins with a structured dialog among scientists, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Does Your Campus Recycling Program Need Recharging?
- University of Missouri (MO)
According to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, universities throughout the country have expanded their recycling efforts contributing to an 11.5 percent decrease in overall campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Integrated Climate Action Planning on a Budget
- University of Missouri (MO)
Of the close to 700 signatories of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), less than half have completed their Climate Action Plans. Those that have submitted plans …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Establishing a Fund for Implementing a Climate Action Plan at the University of New Hampshire
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
This presentation discusses the establishment of a revolving fund using an initial investment to implement a portfolio of projects yielding energy savings that will then fund future projects directly tied …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Capping campus energy consumption despite massive growth: The Oregon Model for Sustainable Development
- University of Oregon (OR)
The Oregon Model for Sustainable Development is a new policy that places a firm ceiling on campus energy consumption. To achieve it, new construction projects must meet aggressive energy efficiency …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Funds: Expanding the Students' Role in Shaping More Sustainable Universities
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
Universities must consider all facets of the institution in their quest to promote and incorporate sustainability. Co-curricular programs, such as Green Funds, can complement sustainability education in the academic curriculum …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Master Planning and Sustainability: Building Consensus From (Under) the Ground Up
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
As colleges and universities strive to plan for a more sustainable future, many, like the large public university presented in this case study, face accelerated growth combined with increasingly acute …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Challenges when NOT Preaching to the Choir: Gaps in Faculty Salience towards Environmental Sustainability.
- University of Southern Indiana (IN)
The foundation of catalyzing an awareness of environmental issues can be established in understanding the currently held beliefs and behaviors toward environmental sustainability within the campus population. Many university wide …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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On the CUSP: Washington, DC's College and University Sustainability Pledge
- University of the District of Columbia (DC)
"On the CUSP: Washington, DC's College and University Sustainability Pledge" will feature a panel of representatives that have worked to develop a higher education sector-wide compact to promote environmental stewardship …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Allocating a Student Green Fund - First year experience
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI)
This informational presentation will provide an overview and go into detail about our first year of experience with our University's student green fund. The presentation will cover the structure, and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Education through Restoration: The Campus Landscape as a Living Laboratory
- Wellesley College (MA)
"Campus," from Latin, translates as field or open plain. In support of sustainability initiatives, some colleges and universities have undertaken the restoration of campus open spaces as a "living laboratory," …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Campus Cultures of Sustainability - Part I: Systems Structures and Administration
- Western Michigan University (MI)
As a gathering, we believe the AASHE Conference has tremendous potential to help build campus cultures of sustainability. The goal of our session is to help realize this vision by …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Beyond Sustainability: Fostering Resilience
- Western Colorado University (CO)
Organizations that are not actively crafting and implementing a Sustainability Strategic Plan (SSP) will not be equipped to effectively serve their clients and employees in the future. Emerging challenges such …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Bridging the divide: empowering student leaders to promote sustainability through academics and student life
- Western Colorado University (CO)
In Spring 2011, Western created student Sustainability Coordinator positions on campus. The Western student sustainability coordinator program is designed to increase sustainability awareness and inspire behavior change through peer-to-peer leadership …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Pyramid Scheme for Student Sustainability Leadership
- Westminster University - Utah (UT)
Which students are the champions of sustainability your campus? When they graduate, will there be a new crop of eager leaders in line? Quality student leadership isn't just luck; it …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Students Leading STARS
- Westminster University - Utah (UT)
Westminster College has taken a unique approach to completing the STARS program. Instead taking the usual method to STARS through professional or administrative initiatives, Westminster has utilized students as the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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To LEED or not to LEED: University Makes the Case for Third Party Verification
- WRNS Studio (CA)
Today, when everyone is claiming green from cereal brands to coal companies, can we really say that we are building sustainably outside a framework of industry-accepted standards and objective third …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Achieving Sustainable Goals in an Urban Center Environment
- WTW Architects (PA)
A growing campus in a downtown district faces unique opportunities and challenges in achieving sustainable goals. An urban campus can define itself as a village within the larger city. The …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Sustainability Officers Workshop, Part I
- Yale University (CT)
A morning presentation and discussion addressing issues around managing institutional change, including utilization the newly developed APT (Awakening, Pioneering, Transforming)change management framework for better understanding the key stages of engagement …
- 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.