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
New Resources
Additionality: How to Ensure Your Renewable Electricity Procurement Strategy Has Real Climate Impact
- University of Dayton (OH)
Many higher education institutions are pursuing active decarbonization programs to demonstrate climate leadership. A key element in these programs is eliminating the climate impact of an institution's electricity procurement ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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From Pledge to Plan: Two Case Studies of Public University Decarbonization Plans
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- University of Oregon (OR)
Join two Sustainability Directors as they tell their stories about how they led decarbonization planning efforts on their campuses. UMass Amherst and the University of Oregon are both large R1 ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Governing Change: Academic-Operational Cultures of Sustainability Governance at 10 Universities Around the World
- University of Toronto (ON)
In recent years, universities around the world have sought to integrate and embed sustainability into their four primary domains of activity: education, research, campus operations, and community engagement. This session ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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The Future is Being Resilient to Climate Emergencies
- Rice University (TX)
- Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (MA)
Resiliency to climate emergencies is necessary to respond to extreme weather events that are occurring more frequently as the climate changes. A climate emergency does not always mean there will ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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From Vision to Action: Lessons in Implementing Sustainability Plans
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
The role of a sustainability professional spans the spectrum from educator, planner, fund raiser, project manager, program designer, plan implementer, to progress reporter. Methods for partnering for and achieving success ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Sustainability Micro-credentials for Higher Education Employees
- Southern New Hampshire University (NH)
Micro-credentials have become an important part of learning for adults and workers who need to acquire specific job-related skills (Gibson et al., 2015). Defined as "a visual representation of your ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Regional STARS: Challenges and Opportunities
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
- Indiana University Southeast (IN)
Do you work at a regional campus whose main campus has a STARS designation? Does your regional campus intend to pursue a STARS designation of its own? Should you? Hear ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Sustainability Advisory Council - Lessons Learned in Setting a Sustainability Strategy
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
The UW-Madison Sustainability Advisory Council (SAC) convened in the fall of 2020 in order to leverage the results of the University's first STARS report to develop strategic sustainability recommendations ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Towards Sustainability Maturity: A Local-to-Global Approach at a Learning Community
- Bucknell University (PA)
An innovative simultaneous planning/implementation process for sustainability maturity/resiliency has been deployed. Sustainability is the ability of a community to endure and remain resilient socially, technologically and environmentally. At ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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The Future is Collaborative: Outcomes From a Network of Sustainability Professionals in Virginia
- James Madison University (VA)
- Radford University (VA)
With an average of just 1.5 - 2.1 paid non-student sustainability staff positions at institutions of higher education, access to a broader network of sustainability professionals with common goals ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Lessons Learned from a Homegrown STARS Support Group with Peer Institutions
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (WI)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (WI)
Staring fixedly at new STARS credits? Not sure where to start? Need to assign the daunting task of completing STARS to a student but can't provide all of the ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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The Future is Co-Created: EfS Through Relationship Building in the Delaware Valley
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- PHENND (PA)
This session will introduce the new PHENND Sustainability network. Starting as a community of practitioners interested in finding partners for real-world Education for Sustainability (EfS), PHENND Sustainability has grown into ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Creating Sustainable Curriculum Processes for a Sustainability Outcome
- Fleming College (ON)
In 2018, Ontario Colleges Quality Assurance Services (OCQAS) conducted an institutional level quality audit of Fleming College, Ontario, Canada. This audit involved a comprehensive review of the College's quality ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Advancing Indigenization Through AASHE STARS Adaptation
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) provides a Sustainability Tracking and Reporting System (STARS) to measure progress by participating post-secondary institutions in their sustainability efforts ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Resiliency Planning Through Relationship Building and Appreciative Inquiry
- Bemidji State University (MN)
Located in Northern Minnesota, Bemidji State University (BSU) operates within a dispersed, rural, and diverse community. Bemidji State staff and faculty will be joined by planning consultant Precipitate and a ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Assessing Campus Sustainability Literacy and Culture: How Are Universities Doing It and To What End?
- George Mason University (VA)
Assessing student, staff, and faculty sustainability literacy and culture poses a challenge to many higher education institutions (HEI). The assessments are essential for providing an understanding of campus sustainability knowledge ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads!
- University of Kentucky (KY)
The future of transportation is not going to be found in a parking lot. COVID-19 disrupted the transportation sector across the country, leading to a drop in traffic and a ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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CSU Building Decarbonization: A Framework for Decarbonizing Existing Fossil Fuel Infrastructure on Higher Education Campuses
- California State University, Chancellor's Office (CA)
- Glumac (OR)
The California State University (CSU) provides high quality, affordable and inclusive public higher education throughout California. The CSU system has made significant strides to reduce its impact on the environment ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Using the Pursuit of Equitable Tree Canopy to Combat Effects of Redlining in Lexington, Kentucky
- University of Kentucky (KY)
The historical housing policy of redlining reflected systemic racism in the home lending industry; it disproportionately impacted people of color and created socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods in intentional and negative ways ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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A Campus Framework for Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion-Centered Climate Resilience Planning
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
- Integral Group (CA)
"Climate resilience planning" has been a growing buzz phrase across the country for years. Although many municipalities are beginning to incorporate current and future climate realities into their planning efforts ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business Principles of Responsible Management Education Report
- University of Iowa (IA)
The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business became signatories of the Principles of Responsible Management Education. As part of that commitment, the college reports on progress every two years.
- Posted Jan. 13, 2022
- Publications
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CSUF Food Pantry
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Addressing food insecurity among college students has been a CSU system-wide effort for a number of years. The Pantry is a new and permanent program to the CSUF campus that ...
- Posted Dec. 9, 2021
- Photographs
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Summarizing Your STARS Report for Senior Leadership
- Boston University (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
Building off of the “Conversations on STARS as a Strategic Tool for Advancing Sustainability” 2020 GCSHE presentation, this webinar will dive into the creation of the STARS Report Summary (presented ...
- Posted Dec. 9, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Ditching Desktop Printers: A Behavior Change Guide to Cutting Paper Use, Energy Consumption, and Costs
- AASHE (MA)
- Root Solutions (CA)
Replacing individual desktop printers with a shared office or department ‘multi-function’ printer (MFP) is one of the most impactful ways campuses can reduce paper use. It also generates a suite ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2021
- Publications
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Biosequestration at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Biosequestration Internal Analysis Team. The Biosequestration ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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Building Standards at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Building Standards Internal Analysis Team. The Building ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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Campus Culture and Communication at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Campus Culture and Communication Internal Analysis Team ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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Commuting at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Commuting Internal Analysis Team. Through its ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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Energy Consumption Policies at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Energy Consumption Policies Internal Analysis Team ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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External Collaboration at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the External Collaboration Internal Analysis Team. Through ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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Mobility Electrification at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Mobility Electrification Subgroup. Through its work ...
- Posted Nov. 16, 2021
- Publications
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Final Report and Recommendations, U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
The President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality, charged with recommending scalable, transferable, and financially responsible strategies for U-M to achieve net-zero emissions, recently submitted its final report and recommendations to ...
- Posted Nov. 16, 2021
- Publications
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The First TRUE Zero Waste Certified Academic Building: A Case Study
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Throughout the two years of working toward zero waste at Chou Hall at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, the Chou Hall Zero Waste Initiative team has learned a ...
- Posted Nov. 16, 2021
- Case Studies
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How Higher Education Can Partner with Fortune 500 Companies to Advance Sustainability
- Unilever
The Unilever Compass articulates Unilever's vision to be the leader in sustainable business globally. Building on a decade's worth of lessons from implementing the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Better Together: Co-designing Student Engagement with Residence Life
- Boston University (MA)
Lasting culture change around sustainability is key to making your climate action plan goals a reality. The Eco-Rep model has been an effective tool for reaching students at many institutions ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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International Networking Meeting
- Portland Community College (OR)
Members of the international community and anyone interested in international issues or collaboration are invited to join in a networking meeting to share resources, challenges, and ideas from our countries ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Campus Move-Out Programs
- Carleton College (MN)
Campus move-out can be a busy time for college campuses and its students. What do you do with items left behind from students? Join this networking session to share your ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) Networking Session
- Central College (IA)
This is an opportunity to network with others from the Upper Midwest, including Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Learn about upcoming regional events and discuss regional collaborations ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Opportunity in Disruption: Strategic Sustainability Planning During and Post COVID-19
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- Cumming (CA)
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be disruptive and challenging for institutions of higher education, businesses, and community organizations. Entities with strategic sustainability plans now face operational and budgetary obstacles to ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Accelerating Higher Education's Role in Meeting Global Decarbonization Targets
- Second Nature (MA)
- Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) (Gloucestershire)
- United Nations Environment Programme
The Paris Agreement establishes a framework for keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 - 2 degrees C. While much of the focus has been on the parties to the Agreement ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Optimization of Environmental Communication Through the Analysis of Media Engagement
- Hope College (MI)
This presentation aims to explore the relationship between communication medium and effectiveness in the digital landscape during COVID-19. The presentation explores video, graphic, and photo as communication methods for different ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Leveraging Culture Competency for Organizational Change: Conditions for Excellence & Innovation
- Aquinas College (MI)
- 122 Consulting Group (PA)
Organizations have historically struggled with the effective implementation and integration of sustainability into over arching strategic planning. This challenge not only inhibits the progression sustainability throughout the organization, it also ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Leading with Social Justice to Advance Sustainability: Learning from Indigenization
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)
Early in 2020 the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) adopted its first Sustainability Vision. Building on a sustainability policy adopted in 2014, the vision leads with social justice and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Stronger Together: Merging the Sustainability Office and the Office of Inclusive Excellence
- California State University, Monterey Bay (CA)
In summer 2020, California State University Monterey Bay reorganized its Sustainability Office. Moving it from Facilities Management to the Office of Inclusive Excellence. This was done in recognition of the ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The intersection of sustainability and energy master planning: actionable carbon neutrality at Vassar college
- Vassar College (NY)
- Ecosystem (QC)
Energy master plan firms often spend months -- and sometimes years -- developing numerous technical solutions, simulations, and scenarios, without effectively engaging key stakeholders. As a result, it is hard to build ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Bridge Builders: Sustainability Staff as Mission-Tied Project Developers
- Arizona State University (AZ)
How do you go about developing a sustainability initiative that hits on all four cylinders, university operations, academics, research and community impact? This session will provide a methodology, tools and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond Diversion: The New Zero Waste Roadmap Strategy - PLAN's Atlas Project
- Colby-Sawyer College (NH)
- Williams College (MA)
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
While diversion has been the go-to metric for evaluating our waste reduction efforts, it skips over several levels of the waste reduction hierarchy, resulting in the prioritization of recycling and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Getting our Sh*t Together BEFORE it Hits the Fan
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
This presentation will provide a practical follow-up to a well-received session I led at the 2019 AASHE conference titled, 'Envisioning Higher Education for Sustainability AFTER the Sht Hits the ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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PLASTIC - How to Organize a Movement to Ban Disposable Plastics on Campus!
- Eckerd College (FL)
- The Student PIRGs (OR)
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
Coffee cups, bags, straws, take-out containers, swag, etc. Let's talk about how to build a movement to eliminate all disposable items from campus! Organizing around eliminating disposable plastics can ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Catalyzing Sustainable Communities through Change Management
- Oberlin College (OH)
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Trust (MA)
Sustainability practitioners are at the forefront of building just, sustainable communities. But how many of us have research-backed tools and principles to help us be effective change makers? Join us ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- 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.