Diversity & Affordability
Introduction
Higher education opens doors to opportunities that can help create a more equitable world, and those doors must be open through affordable programs accessible to all regardless of race, gender, religion, socio-economic status and other differences. In addition, a diverse student body, faculty, and staff provide rich resources for learning and collaboration.
Featured Resources
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New Resources
Green for All? Gender Segregation and Green Fields of Study in American Higher Education
- Cornell University (NY)
- Harvard University (MA)
Using the example of green fields of study in higher education, which emerged largely in response to the growing prominence of the environmental movement over recent decades, this article posits …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Publications
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SCORE! A free-cycling event at the University of Alberta – Augustana Campus
- University of Alberta (AB)
SCORE! is… A pop-up swap. A store where everything is free. A community marketplace of reciprocity. A redistribution of goods. Alternative economics. A party!! SCORE! is all of the above …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2018
- Case Studies
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Evaluating the Theory and Outcomes of the Teen Advocates for Sustainability Corps (TASC) Summit
- New York University (NY)
The attached research was written as my thesis for a Master of Arts in Environmental Conservation Education, from New York University. It analyzes an environmental advocacy program I developed for …
- Posted Jan. 5, 2018
- Publications
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Student Summit Opening Keynote Speaker: Lydia D. Avila
- Power Shift Network (DC)
Lydia D. Avila is the Executive Director of the Power Shift Network - a diverse, national network of youth-led and youth-focused climate justice organizations. Lydia is originally from a working …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Finding Your Voice: Understanding Otherness in Sustainability Education
- Texas A&M University (TX)
This presentation aims to examine the relationship between the pillars of sustainability, and the power based relationships that are created when a dominant culture subjects others to accept the status …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Emphasizing Diversity and Equity in Your Sustainability Narrative
- Chemeketa Community College (OR)
As practitioners of sustainability, too often we take an approach that applies the dominant cultural sustainability paradigm (personal sustainability efforts and outdoor activities) and excludes social inequity (human and environmental …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Lean Green Financing at MSIs
- Huston-Tillotson University (TX)
In the rapidly evolving field of sustainability, both new technology and financing mechanisms are opening possibilities for green projects on campuses previously perceived as unattainable. Over the past three years, …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Why a Social Justice Framework Is the Only Way to Collective Climate Justice and Deep Sustainability
- Hackman Consulting Group
This poster session lays out the rationale for the absolute need for a social justice framework when doing climate justice and sustainability work by making three essential points: 1. How …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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In Serving Solidarity, Let's Talk about Privilege: Critical Conversations About 'Unsustainable' Race, Class & Gender Privilege
- Hackman Consulting Group
While attention to the ways dynamics of racism, classism and gender oppression target people of color and native people, poor and working class people, and cisgender women and trans* folks …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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To Come Together, We Must Transform What's Divided Us: Utilizing a Social Justice Lens for Collective Campus Sustainability Work
- Hackman Consulting Group
As evidenced over the last 24 months, a lack of critical understanding of social justice issues makes collaborative work across multiple lines of identity near impossible, while thoughtful attention to …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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An Introduction to the Role of Race, Class and Gender Issues On Campus Sustainability Work
- Hackman Consulting Group
This introductory session explores the powerfully important ways that dynamics of race, class and gender (RCG) impact the efficacy of our campus sustainability work, and then suggests how a racial …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Street Harassment Assessment at the College of Charleston
- College of Charleston (SC)
Colleges and universities in urban areas are made up of many different types of environments. The nonprofit organization Stop Street Harassment, defines street harassment as 'unwanted whistling, leering, sexist, homophobic …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Social Justice Through a Sustainability Lens
- University of South Carolina (SC)
In this interactive session, participants will develop their knowledge of social justice and will be able to recognize the intersectionality of these issues with the pillars of sustainability. Participants will …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The Intersection Between Sustainability and Human Health
- University of Arizona (AZ)
The Environmental Health Committee is part of the University of Arizona's Students for Sustainability organization. It consists of thirteen students who work together to implement projects involving sustainability and the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Building Community through Intergroup Dialogue
- Lewis & Clark College (OR)
Intergroup dialogue (IGD) is a facilitated discussion between two or more identity groups that explores conflict and tension around issues of social justice, power, privilege, and bias. IGD is designed …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Familismo Teaching: Promoting Sustainable Development and Social Justice in a Hispanic Serving Institution
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
Higher education (HE) has started taking responsibility in teaching, training, and researching for sustainability. Thus, sustainability and the scholarly environments have become the basis of academic practice since the initial …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Build Environmental Equity, Sustainability, and Community Bridges PIEER internship: self-reflection and community engagement.
- University of Northern Iowa (IA)
The University of Northern Iowa has a unique environmental equity internship which is training students on multiple levels to revision sustainability from an equity perspective. This program is designed to …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Silence: a Luxury or Commodity
- Iowa State University (IA)
Today's luxury items are increasingly demanded with one caveat, that they are silent. Silent appliances, cars, vacations all come with a high price. While the upper middle class reach for …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability & International Service
- Utah State University (UT)
Cafe Femenino: This coffee empowers women In late May of 2017, 10 Utah State University (USU) students and 2 faculty leaders traveled to Peru to assist women coffee producers in …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Multiple Ways of Knowing in Sustainability Education: Stretching the Boundaries of Transformative Sustainability Learning
- Goucher College (MD)
This session focuses on how teaching for multiple ways of knowing can contribute to sustainability education by highlighting work done at the University of Saskatchewan which is encapsulated within two …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Women & Sustainability: Utilizing a Year-long Theme to Enhance your Sustainability Initiatives
- Clarkson University (NY)
Developing a consistent theme around your sustainability work can be an effective way of connecting and resonating with new audiences, deepening your commitments in sustainability and overall enhancing the efficacy …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Refugee Resettlement in Northern Colorado: A Social Sustainability Story
- Colorado State University (CO)
The topic of refugee resettlement in the United States (U.S.) is met with varying reactions from Americans. Generally mainstream media portrays two sides of American opinion, the far right, referring …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Designing Diverse Online Learning Environments as Laboratories for Connecting Across Difference
- Peralta Community Colleges District Office (CA)
How can community college online learning environments help motivate students to connect across differences and develop capacities as change-agents for a healthier world? Drawing from her experience teaching online humanities …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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AASHE International Networking Meeting
- Portland Community College (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
Members of the international community who are attending the AASHE conference and those who are interested in international issues are invited to join in a networking meeting to share challenges, …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The Lending Library: Addressing Textbook Affordability and Reducing Waste
- Connecticut College (CT)
As college textbook prices continue to rise, access to the resources needed to succeed in a course has become a social justice issue. The Lending Library, which was started in …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The High Touch Approach: Making Inclusivity and Social Sustainability Core to Mission
- Dartmouth College (NH)
A pressing issue facing university campuses is concern about social community. Dartmouth College and its peers is being held accountable for high-risk behavior and a lack of inclusivity. How can …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Welcome to College! Focusing on Identity + Justice + Sustainability in a First-Year Orientation Program
- Williams College (MA)
Root is a first-year orientation program that welcomes students to the Williams College campus and explores the intersection of justice, identity, and sustainability. The program is a collaboration between the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Towards Inclusive Sustainability: Fostering Solidarity in Environmental Work On and Off Campus
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
On the University of Arizona campus, the social justice (SoJo) committee of the student government-sponsored program Students for Sustainability works on projects that raise awareness for environmental justice issues; promote …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Diversity Social: Solidarity Can Be Fun!
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- Fair Trade Colleges & Universities
Continue the recent conversation on the GreenSchools listserv about diversity challenges facing our field and what your needs are as a sustainability professional striving to speak to social justice challenges! …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Translating sustainability education and community action into solidarity by engaging underrepresented students in living labs
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Dickinson College (PA)
Living laboratories are increasingly becoming an important part of sustainability education at all levels. Many living laboratories enable participants to show 'internal' solidarity with classroom learning and 'external' solidarity with …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Brave Together: Learning What We Don't Know About Diversity
- Bentley University (MA)
- Chemeketa Community College (OR)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- University of Missouri (MO)
- University of Virginia (VA)
The US current political climate is one of division and conflict. With the protests in Charlottesville and Boston the opportunity has presented itself to face injustice head on. College campuses …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Making College Affordable: Providing Low-Income Students With the Knowledge and Resources Needed to Pay for CollegeState Flagships
College can seem out of reach for many low-income students. Too often they believe college is unaffordable and unattainable. It is no surprise then that students from the bottom socioeconomic …
- Posted Nov. 16, 2017
- Publications
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A Deeper Solidarity: Sustainability Through a Social Justice Lens
- Hackman Consulting Group
AASHE 2017 Closing Keynote Speaker Heather Hackman is the founder of Hackman Consulting Group. She regularly consults on issues of deep diversity, equity and social justice with an emphasis on …
- Posted Nov. 4, 2017
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Portland State University All Gender Restroom Campaign
- Portland State University (OR)
In 2015 PSU implemented an all gender restroom policy. Working with a student in our College of Art + Design, a marketing campaign was established to advertise the policy.
- Posted Oct. 20, 2017
- Photographs
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The Kaleidoscope Project
- University of Calgary (AB)
The Kaleidoscope project at University of Calgary envisions a more pluralistic and inclusive campus community and invites students to engage in learning, conversation and action with others who may have …
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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Campus Engagement; Diversity & Affordability
- Northwestern University (IL)
The Change Makers program at Northwestern University allows professional staff and faculty members to engage in a personal journey to create a more inclusive environment at Northwestern University. Change Makers …
- Posted Oct. 11, 2017
- Photographs
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UConn Open Educational Resources
- University of Connecticut (CT)
The OER initiative at University of Connecticut has affected several thousand students through the adoption of open textbooks and course redesigns to increase affordability. In September 2016, the Provost provided …
- Posted Oct. 10, 2017
- Photographs
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The Relationship Between Academic Major and Environmentalism Among College Students: Is it Mediated by the Effects of Gender, Political Ideology and Financial Security?
- Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (PA)
Several studies have found a relationship between college students’ academic majors and their environmental attitudes and behaviors. Results from this study of incoming first-year students at a medium-sized public university …
- Posted Sept. 21, 2017
- Publications
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Affordability in Higher Education
The affordability of higher education is one of the most pressing challenges to college and university leaders and politicians. Meanwhile, students and parents face their own hurdles paying for college. …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2017
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The Alt-Right on Campus: What Students Need to Know
Taken from the Aug. 10, 2017 press release (linked at the bottom):
An old and familiar poison is being spread on college campuses these days: the idea that America should …
- Posted Aug. 31, 2017
- Publications
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Hear My Voice: Strengthening the College Pipeline for Young Men of Color in California
The Ed Trust–West report, Hear My Voice, examines the intersection of race, gender, and education and draws upon on-campus interviews with male students of color, parents, educators, and administrators, as …
- Posted July 13, 2017
- Publications
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Guide to Assessing Basic Needs Insecurity in Higher Education
Is every student on your college campus ready to learn? High school grades and/or standardized test scores are often used to answer that question, but those numbers do not consider …
- Posted May 30, 2017
- Publications
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Revisiting Service Learning Through Food Equity, One Outcome from the Chemeketa - Marion Polk Food Share Youth Partnership
- Chemeketa Community College (OR)
Chemeketa Student Retention and College Life (SRCL) periodically offers free leadership courses to students. Chemeketa’s dreams of a student farm for the Agricultural Sciences program are still a few years …
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Portland State University - All Gender Restroom Policy
- Portland State University (OR)
In late 2015 Portland State University (PSU) administration officially adopted an all gender restroom policy (also sometimes referred to as gender-neutral, unisex, or universal) for the PSU campus. The all …
- Posted May 19, 2017
- Case Studies
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Does Social Justice Knowledge Matter in Sustainable Business Education?
- Appalachian State University (NC)
There is a growing social justice movement in the United States in response to perceptions of increasing inequality, as illustrated by recent minimum wage protests and the Occupy Wall Street …
- Posted May 18, 2017
- Publications
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UTA CARES: Open Education and Open Pedagogy for Sustainable Future and Resource Conservation
- University of Texas at Arlington (TX)
Reducing the cost of a college education is a frequent topic in higher education circles. Some colleges and universities such as UT Arlington have been trying to find other ways …
- Posted May 16, 2017
- Case Studies
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Case Study: Oregon State University Becomes the First University to Accept Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) at University Run Grocery Store
- Oregon State University (OR)
In January 2016, OSU began accepting SNAP at a campus grocery store, allowing individuals with SNAP to access these funds while on campus. OSU is the first to have a …
- Posted May 9, 2017
- Case Studies
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The University as a Site of Food Insecurity
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The project investigated a topic of increasing importance, that of food security among undergraduate students while away at school. Specifically, we examine the topic through two methodological approaches. First, a …
- Posted May 5, 2017
- Publications
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Finance and Curriculum
- Texas A&M University-Commerce (TX)
- Relating the assignment to the University Mission
- Answering student demand
- Addressing programmatic structure
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Earth Day Fair New Mexico State University
- New Mexico State University (NM)
The Las Cruces Downtown Plaza stage had great musicians, speakers, dancers, and more! We partnered with March for Science group. There were 30 educational and vendor booths, local food trucks, …
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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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 5: Diversity & Equity Coordination
- Description of the institution’s cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities
- Description of the diversity and equity committee, office and/or officer
- Website URL - Diversity & equity coordination
PA 6: Assessing Diversity & Equity
- Description of the diversity and equity assessment process
- Description of recent diversity and equity assessment findings
- Diversity and equity assessment report or summary (upload)
- Website URL - diversity and equity assessment report or summary
- Website URL - Diversity & equity assessment
PA 7: Support for Underrepresented Groups
- Non-discrimination statement
- Discrimination response policy or protocol
- Programs to recruit students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups
- Programs to support students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups
- Programs to prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members
- Website URL - Support for underrepresented groups
PA 8: Affordability & Access
- Percent of need met, on average, for students who were awarded need-based aid
- Percent of students graduating without student loan debt
- Percent of entering students that are low-income
- Graduation/success-rate for low-income students
- Website URL - Affordability and access programs
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.