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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Framing a research agenda for Campus Sustainability
- Yale University (CT)
What kind of research is needed to advance sustainability on our campuses? What are the research opportunities that can bridge faculty expertise and campus sustainability efforts? How can we use …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Addressing Land, Water & Biodiversity on an Urban Campus
- Yale University (CT)
Many urban campuses are intertwined with the layout of the surrounding city. Sharing streets, neighborhoods, and green spaces requires that we manage the physical campus in a locally, integrated way. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Identifying Change Management Strategies for Sustainability: Building on lessons from Public Health, Ecology, and Business Management
- Yale University (CT)
Efforts to improve sustainability at higher education institutions often require challenging shifts in organizational priorities, patterns of behavior, management strategies, and community expectations. In guiding these shifts, sustainability leaders must …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Comprehensive Approach to Sustainability on Campus: Stories from the Field
- American University (DC)
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
With students and college presidents alike making commitments to go green, higher education is institutionalizing a culture of sustainability like never before. Developing a comprehensive plan for sustainability on campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Comparing Methods of Estimating GHG Emissions from Air Travel
- University of Arizona (AZ)
This talk presents the results of different methods used to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from official air travel by the University of Arizona, and discusses improving estimates through improved …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Transportation at Stanford University: The Role of TDM
- Stanford University (CA)
Stanford has achieved various transportation related sustainability milestones in 2010 through its Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program. This year, the university estimates an employee drive alone rate of 48%, dropped …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Commitment and Action through Staff Engagement
- Macquarie University (NSW)
Abstract: To achieve cultural change towards sustainability requires more than implementing resource efficiency initiatives. It requires the engagement of those who interact with the campus on a regular basis. This …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Strategic Community Based Approach to Implementing Campus Sustainability
- University of Ottawa (ON)
One of the greatest weaknesses to sustainability is the fact that it is not only multi-dimensional but also conceptually convoluted; demanding that practitioners juggle a myriad of concepts while balancing …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Institutionalizing sustianability within Student Government
- University of Florida (FL)
Institutionalizing Sustainability and infiltrating into your universities Student Government can open up many doors and opportunities for campus, local, and national sustainability campaigns. In 2009, the University of Florida founded …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Graduates Achieving Global Learning Outcomes Through Innovative Curricular Design
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
- Haley & Aldrich, Inc. (MA)
In spite of challenges that many are facing with integrating sustainability into curricula, Northern Arizona University (NAU) has tackled this on an even larger scale by purposefully infusing environmental sustainability, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Transportation Planning at an Urban University
- Portland State University (OR)
As an urban campus, Portland State University is ideally situated to take advantage of Portland's mass transit infrastructure. Additionally, the popularity of biking and the high cost of parking have …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Turning Indicators Into Reality: Methodology and Results on Assessing the Sustainability of Large Campuses
- University of British Columbia (BC)
Large university campuses are often comprised of thousands of students and hundreds of employees spread out over dozens of different departments and administrative units. Much of the administration is decentralized, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Planning and Integrating Sustainability at Universities
- DePaul University (IL)
- Duquesne University (PA)
- Illinois Institute of Technology (IL)
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
Sustainability faculty from DePaul University (lead), U of Wisconsin, and the Illinois Institute of Technology business school will discuss how sustainability is being integrated into community outreach, curriculum, and governance …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Environmental Caucus: Breaking Down Silos to Create a Culture of Sustainability
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
In 2008, the Environmental Caucus formed to facilitate creative and strategic communication across campus. The caucus is a voluntary association of faculty, staff, students and administrators, not an appointed body …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Are We Really Becoming More Sustainable? UMaryland Sustainability Metrics
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
How does a university measure its progress at becoming a more sustainable campus? How can the exercise of creating sustainability metrics engage stakeholders in developing a vision of a sustainable …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Mobilizing the Mission: Sustainability on Faith-Based Campuses
- Santa Clara University (CA)
- University of Notre Dame (IN)
For faith-based colleges and universities of all denominations, the institutional mission is a powerful but often untapped resource for building a widespread sustainability movement on campus. Most religious denominations place …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Tales from Year One: Launching a Sustainability Office in Lean Times
- Appalachian State University (NC)
In July of 2009, Appalachian State University created the Office of Sustainability on recommendation from the University's Sustainability Council and with broad support from the campus community. In establishing this …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Global Bridges to Sustainability Research/Collaborations in Higher Education
- University of Nevada Las Vegas (NV)
The institutional repository (IR) concept was designed and created by faculty and librarians to showcase scholarly activity at the academy. The Open Access (OA) model upon which IR's are built …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaging Staff and Faculty through Green Office Certification Programs
- Pomona College (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Pomona College, University of Southern California, and University of California - Berkeley have launched Green Office Programs, which certify campus departments/offices/groups as "green" for various behaviors and programs. These programs …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Leadership In Action at the University of Washington
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
Sustainability leadership at the University of Washington is demonstrated through institutional collaboration, leadership excellence and a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship.
The University of Washington is a charter signatory of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Humility: How Awareness of Past Missteps Improves Sustainability Planning
- Maryville College (TN)
Campus sustainability plans do not emerge overnight, and rarely are they crafted easily from whole cloth. Instead, schools hailed for efforts leading to a successful record of environmentalism can find …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Getting Specific with Sustainability Policies
- Broward College (FL)
Broward College has recently completed a collaborative process to formulate sustainability policies specific to different divisions of the college. As a recommendation from the Collegewide Sustainability Committee and with strong …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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How Institutional Factors are Related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
Increasingly, institutions are reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a measure of sustainability. Higher education institutions are taking a leadership role as demonstrated by the American College and University Presidents …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Leading the Way: How CUNY is shaping sustainability in NYC
- The City University of New York (NY)
As this nation's largest urban university, the City University of New York (CUNY) plays a transformational role in New York City's sustainable future with an educational footprint that spans 23 …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Quantitative Measure of the Culture of Sustainability at Santa Clara University
- Santa Clara University (CA)
As Santa Clara University (SCU) works to become a leader in sustainability, it is vital to understand the culture of sustainability in the community. A previous study found undergraduate students …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Sustainability Education Programs - Where do we go from here?
- Barnard College (NY)
- Brandeis University (MA)
- Elon University (NC)
- Ithaca College (NY)
- University of Vermont (VT)
With now over 50 student sustainability education "Eco-Rep" Programs across the US and Canada, several of which are 5-10 years old, it is time to step back, reflect on where …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Making Sustainability Sustainable: The Dollars and Cents of It
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
Sustainability at GVSU has become the 7th value for the University and embraces the triple bottom line of environmental, economic and social impacts on campus and in the community.
Sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Implementing a Climate Action Plan with a Campus-wide Committee
- University of Wyoming (WY)
The University of Wyoming Campus Sustainability Committee (CSC) was established in 2006 by President Tom Buchanan after students from the Campus Sustainability class (ENR 4600/5600) garnered support and proposed such …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Tackling Barriers for LEED EBOM in Unique University Buildings
- Colorado State University (CO)
Colorado State University has a long history of leadership in environmental stewardship. A grant from the Governor's Energy Office provided the perfect opportunity for CSU to extend that leadership into …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Climate Action Plans from Existing Plans, Targets and Laws
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh submitted its first Climate Action Plan (CAP) to ACUPCC in 2009. The Director of Sustainability (author) was asked to develop the CAP in approximately one …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability planning within broader university planning - collaboration around collective goals
- Vancouver Island University (BC)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is located on Canada's West Coast and includes campuses in four communities as well as other research and teaching sites. Previously called Malaspina University-College, the BC …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Higher Ed in the Green Economy
- College of Lake County (IL)
- Harvard University (MA)
- Heartland Community College (IL)
- Moraine Valley Community College (IL)
This panel presentation will address the role of higher education in the emerging green economy. The lessons learned greening our own campuses are helping us to understand the common barriers …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Portland Community College-Measuring Progress of Climate Action Plan Implementation
- Portland Community College (OR)
Portland Community College (PCC) developed a Climate Action Plan (CAP) adopted in September 2009. The PCC CAP sets forth broad objectives and specific strategies for achieving the college's greenhouse gas …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Forgotten Art: Art Toxins and Safety
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Dining plays a central role in campus life, as has been reflected in a plethora of recent dining-related initiatives—from trayless cafeterias to composting to community gardens on campus. A perennial …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building the New Green OR Greening the Already Built: Evaluating the optimal strategy for your campus
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- Western Michigan University (MI)
- Second Nature (MA)
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
Many higher education institutions across the country are investing efforts and resources in promoting and implementing sustainable practices on their campuses. However, while addressing the infrastructure, these institution often run …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Small is Beautiful: Climate Action Planning Opportunities for Small Colleges
- Randolph College (VA)
Randolph College is a Charter signatory of the ACUPCC. Developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a major undertaking. Many institutions hire consultants to carry out the task, but other …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Portland Community College - Walking our Talk on Sustainability
- Portland Community College (OR)
This presentation will describe actions being taken to implement the Portland Community College (PCC) Climate Action Plan. The panel will describe the background and structure of the PCC Climate Energy …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating a Green Campus Action Plan
- Texas Tech University (TX)
Texas Tech University successfully pulled its community together to develop a plan of action in the spring 2009 after receiving consecutively dismal scores from the Campus Sustainability Report Card. One …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Expanding Campus Initiatives to Include a Water Action Plan
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
Colleges and universities are the model for environmental stewardship across the nation. At the forefront of sustainability, institutions that sign the ACUPCC have made it clear that a reduction in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaging Students: Creating a Sustainability Internship Program
- Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)
Most campuses engaged in sustainability efforts have ambitious goals yet lack the resources and personnel to reach these goals. Students can help with sustainability activities by participating in a carefully …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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STARS Town Hall Meeting (2010)
- American University (DC)
- Furman University (SC)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- AASHE (MA)
This interactive session will feature a small panel of STARS Steering Committee members, Technical Advisors, and STARS staff who will address key topics related to STARS. More importantly, this session …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Global Green in the 21st Century: Macalester College, Student Networks, and LEED Platinum
- Macalester College (MN)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- Bruner/Cott Architects (MA)
This panel presents different sustainability initiatives that build on the institution's academic mission with a special emphasis on internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society. The College's Sustainability Manager will discuss …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Behavior Matters: Program Results from Stanford, MIT, Princeton, and Cornell
- Cornell University (NY)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- Stanford University (CA)
Sustainability communication, education, and implementation tools that address the triple bottom line of sustainability- environment, economy, and social equity—behavioral programs at Stanford, MIT, Princeton, and Cornell showcase the importance of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Is it Time for a Revolution?
- Dickinson College (PA)
- Ithaca College (NY)
- Pacific University (OR)
- Second Nature (MA)
We've come a long way baby... but are we moving fast enough? Although great strides have been made in the sustainability movement in higher education, is the pace of program …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives
- Furman University (SC)
- Luther College (IA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- AASHE (MA)
This panel highlights inspiring examples from the book, "Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives," a collaborative project by RMI and AASHE. Panelists from Furman University, Luther College, and University of Colorado at …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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STARS 101 (2010)
- Delta College (MI)
- State University of New York at New Paltz (NY)
- AASHE (MA)
Since 2006, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), a membership organization of colleges and universities committed to building a sustainable world, has engaged in a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Leadership -The Ohio State University Sustainability Plan and Process
- The Ohio State University (OH)
- Mithun (WA)
- Heapy Engineering (OH)
As interest in organizational impacts on climate takes hold, sustainability must be seen as increasingly comprehensive and not just focused on individual buildings. In the university world, how is the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Same Goal, Different Models: Leading Sustainability in Different Colleges in a Multi-College District
- Dallas College (TX)
As the sustainability movement in higher education has gained momentum, various approaches to leading efforts to integrate sustainability into the fabric of an institution have emerged. At some colleges, sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaging Students in Measuring Sustainability: Aligning STARS with People, Planet, Purpose
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)
The role of higher education is to provide education and research as well as leadership by example. With regard to such an important issue as sustainability, it is vital that …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Climate Neutrality & Land Grant Universities: Resources, Challenges, and Cooperative Solutions
- Auburn University (AL)
- University of Florida (FL)
- Second Nature (MA)
This workshop will focus on the unique resources and challenges faced by the Land-grant Universities (LGU) as they commit to, and develop plans to become carbon neutral. There are 106 …
- 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.