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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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
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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 team …
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
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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 Standards …
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
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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. In …
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
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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 work, …
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
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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. Through …
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
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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 its …
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
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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, the …
- 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 President …
- Posted Nov. 16, 2021
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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 great …
- 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, this fully …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 …
- 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
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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 be …
- 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
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Biodiversity Assessment for Non-Biologists: Tools for Completing the STARS Credit
- University of Dayton (OH)
Are you intimidated by the STARS Biodiversity Assessment credit? If so, you're not alone. Thirty percent of STARS reporters do not complete this credit. And yet biodiversity loss and habitat …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Learning from Nature to Become a Better Change Maker
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
As sustainability staff, building relationships between other staff and students can be critical to making change. Pulling from the lessons learned in adrienne maree brown's book, Emergent Strategy, this session …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Tackling Plastic from Policy to Implementation
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
Recent changes in the recycling markets have made it more important than ever to prevent waste from being generated before it needs to be managed at the end of life. …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Not Just an Efficient Toilet: Shifting from Water Management to Water Stewardship
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
- Alliance for Water Stewardship
Universities have employed traditional water efficiency strategies effectively. But what if your institution's water is sourced from communities adversely impacted by water withdrawals? Or if rainfall on your campus contributes …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The Roadmap to Zero: Decarbonizing Swarthmore's Energy Systems
- Swarthmore College (PA)
Climate change poses a grave threat to human health, safety, and well-being. Building on Swarthmore's mission to educate for the common good, the College seeks to model the transformation that …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Conversations on STARS as a Strategic Tool for Advancing Sustainability
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Boston University (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
- GreenerU (MA)
This panel will dive into the different opportunities that exist to use AASHE's STARS as a tool to advance sustainability within an institution. Each panelist will dive into their work …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Your Mileage May Vary: Creating Your Institution Roadmap to Just Employment
- Saint Joseph's University (PA)
An increasing number of institutions have adopted living wage policies or practices to ensure that their employees (and in some cases contractors' employees) are paid an adequate income to make …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Facilitation for Organizational Change
- Trust (MA)
One of the most important, yet often underappreciated, skill sets of any profession is the ability to be a strong group meeting facilitator. Whether it is a small staff meeting …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Leveraging the Buying Power of Universities for Sustainable Procurement and Market Transformation
- Boston University (MA)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
College campuses are seeking to use purchasing power to drive sustainability goals, yet lack the leverage, as single institutions, to shift supplier behaviors. This session will begin with the compelling …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Student Club Revolutionizes the Meaning on Green at a Community College in Dallas
- Dallas College (TX)
The Green Club is a group of Cedar Valley College students who are spreading awareness of the importance of taking care of our environment by being involved with the external …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Integrating Sustainability and Development With Gala at the University of Michigan
- University of Michigan (MI)
Sustainability is a necessary transition that poses unprecedented challenges for ensuring widely shared well-being and prosperity. Sustainable development seeks to illuminate specific pathways to sustainability, especially in geographic areas that …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Community College Partnership: Forty-Eight Members in One State
- Illinois Green Economy Network (IL)
The Illinois community college system is the third largest in the United States, educating nearly one million students each year. The Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) is a consortium of …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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From 'I Guess I Recycle' to Organizing for Action - Cultivating a Culture of Student Leadership
- Boise State University (ID)
As the first full-time Sustainability Coordinator at Boise State, I started my role as a department of one with no budget, no staff, and the guiding mission of my day-to-day …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Northern Arizona University Green Fund: Successes and Struggles
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
This 40 minute session would cover how Northern Arizona University's Green Fund operates, what it has had success doing, what it has struggled with, and what it looks to accomplish …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Institutional Implications on Promoting Education in Sustainability: Student Learning Outcome
- California Polytechnic State University (CA)
California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (herein referred to Cal Poly), was awarded the silver STARS rating in 2017. In all evaluated categories, Cal Poly received lower scores …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Inputs to Outputs: Taking an Event Beyond Zero-Waste to Green Certification
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
The University of Pittsburgh has a strong hold on zero-waste. This presentation would include an introduction to our zero-waste infrastructure and the progress we have made, while the bulk of …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The Voluntary University Review: Linking AASHE STARS to the Sustainable Development Goals
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
This session will consist of a presentation from Alexandra Hiniker, the Executive Fellow for Sustainability Initiatives at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), who will share her experience developing the Voluntary University …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Whole is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts : Creating Synergy through a Network of Small Colleges
- Eastern Mennonite University (VA)
The fundamental challenge for smaller colleges is how to maintain momentum with sustainability efforts in the face of limited resources, and limited numbers of personnel and students committed to sustainability. …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Jungle Navigation: Leadership Engagement Without Process or Procedure
- University of Delaware (DE)
One of the most common challenges for Sustainability Professionals is opening lines of communication and engagement with campus leadership in institutions where such processes and procedures do not exist. How …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Empowering and Transforming Universities through Sustainable Grant Projects
- University of Northern Colorado (CO)
This session is for university affiliates looking for ways to create a more sustainable campus through capital projects. For the past three years, I have served on my university's sustainability …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Making Room for Millennials: Strategies for creating an office culture that we want to work in
- University of Florida (FL)
Standard values for workplaces are shifting and members of the emerging workforce are expecting more from their office culture. At the University of Florida (UF) Office of Sustainability, our team …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Looking ahead to 2030: Updating the University of California Sustainable Food Policy
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
In 2009, the University of California (UC) developed a goal to meet 20% sustainable food by 2020, asking each UC campus to integrate sustainable food into their menus while remaining …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Climate Action Planning: How to build momentum for a new plan despite missing the deadline
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
Northern Arizona University (NAU) launched an ambition Climate Action Plan in 2010 with the target date of Carbon Neutrality of 2020. This set in motion a series of efficiency upgrades …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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.