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
New Resources
Partnering for an equitable, sustainable school: 3 approaches for building partnerships and programs that connect sustainability
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- University of Virginia (VA)
As diversity and sustainability become more embedded into a campus culture, the connections between diversity and sustainability become more apparent and critical to create a thriving campus. This panel discussion ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Women in Sustainability Network (2015)
- Prescott College (AZ)
Who this session is for: Administrators, faculty, and program leaders concerned with innovation, gender equity, and social justice, including women in the field of sustainability who want to share our ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Identity Caucus: The Intersection of Sustainability and Identity
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
During this section attendees will split into different groups depending on the identity that most resonate with them. The discussion will focus on how the intersection of these identities correlates ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Galvanizing Gaia: A Social Incubator for Women Leaders and Innovators (2015)
- Prescott College (AZ)
Join in the creation of a supportive context for women sustainability entrepreneurs and campus program innovators to move from idea to action with their regenerative project ideas. This dynamic half-day ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Social Justice in Sustainability Education
- Texas A&M University (TX)
While current concepts of sustainability include environmental, economic, and social justice dimensions, it is clear, in practice, that social justice is often neglected. We see this trend within sustainability initiatives ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Overcoming Barriers to Sustainability Education for International and Culturally Diverse Students
- Portland State University (OR)
A sure way to transform sustainability education is to make it more inclusive and incorporate multiple perspectives. To do this, the dominant sustainability education culture must engage in a paradigm ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Growing Food Security in Higher Education Institutions
- Oregon State University (OR)
Food insecurity is the incapacity to access a variety of different and preferred foods due to a lack of resources, according to the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. The Growing ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Accessibility: Physical, Mental and Emotional Accessibility as a Feature of Social Sustainability ('El Mapa')
- Portland State University (OR)
Sostenibilidad Cultural Gira Mapa One of the surest ways to transform sustainability education is to make it more inclusive and incorporate multiple perspectives. To do this, the dominant sustainability education ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability without sacrifice: How URIs are saving money & reducing GHG emissions by investing in energy efficiency
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
Finding a way to prioritize and finance sustainability projects can be difficult for any institution, but may present a unique struggle at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and under-resourced institutions (URIs). To ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Nature Village: Engaging Multicultural Families in a Collegiate Setting
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
University Village (UV) is a housing complex located in Albany, California, a city that borders Berkeley, which currently provides housing for 974 families with 2,718 total residents. Many of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Transforming Consciousness: A Follow Up to Ilarion Merculieff's Plenary
- Antioch University, Seattle (WA)
Ilarion Merculieff embodies Indigenous wisdom that we believe will deeply affect most, if not all, of his audience. After a short introduction, we will split up into the three groups ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Open Education Model of Environmental Sustainability Course Creation
- Central Community College (NE)
The traditional textbook publishing model is not sustainable. The average yearly textbook expense of $1200 can impact student retention. Studies show that students saving on text expense sign up for ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Oskēh-Mamāceqtāwak Kēketōwak: Youth Speak
- College of Menominee Nation (WI)
High school students who are participating in College of Menominee Nation's Sustainability Leadership Cohort Program (SLC) will present two videos. The first video, Nama'o The Ancient Story Teller ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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George Washington Carver, A Role Model for Sustainability
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
Through a brief presentation and a clip from a recent documentary, learn about George Washington Carver, arguably one of the premier forefathers of the sustainability movement in the United States ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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HBCU Meet up
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FL)
The HBCU meet up is a networking session for sustainability professionals working at historically black colleges and universities as well as others interested in collaborating with HBCUs to advance sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Plenary: Incorporating Indigenous Wisdom into Sustainability Education
- Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeway (AK)
Ilarion Larry Merculieff has over 40 years experience serving the Aleuts of the Pribilof Islands and other indigenous peoples and in this time has played leadership roles in a wide ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cultivating Underrepresented Students' Success through Sustainability
- Indiana State University (IN)
As sustainability practitioners, we know the 'why' of diversity and inclusion, but sometimes the 'how' can be daunting, particularly if we are not experienced in working with underrepresented groups. This ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Overcoming the Hostile Environment: Steps to Incorporating Sustainability at a Reluctant Institution and in a Divided Community
- Prescott College (AZ)
At first glance, the small liberal arts college where I teach and the St. Louis Metro region do not seem to have much in common: one is a predominately white ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Mitakuye oyasin (All My Relations): Manifesting Sustainability through Cultural Understanding
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Culture provides the structure for how we interact with our natural environment. For centuries, proclaiming a religious right to manifest destiny has justified actions that have enabled cultural values which ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Diversity & Inclusion in Campus Sustainability - A Networking Meeting to Explore Intersections
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
For sustainability projects to engage people across diverse identities, it is crucial for people who work on sustainability to commit to developing an atmosphere that is welcoming, respectful and in ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Change through Systemic Thinking & Resilient Practices
- Co3 Consulting (WA)
The juxtaposition of the Iceberg Method by Peter Senge and the Domains of Resilience created by the Institute of HeartMath is a great way to introduce systemic thinking and resilient ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Our Story of Stuff: Sharing “waste” with a campus Free Store
- University of Louisville (KY)
Like many large, urban universities with a residential population, the University of Louisville (UofL) has faced two major challenges at the heart of sustainability: an over-abundance of discarded, useful items ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Advancing Student-Led Community-Based Health Equity Research: CPHE
- Portland State University (OR)
Since 2009, the Community Partnership for Health and Equity (CPHE), an interdisciplinary group of students, faculty, and community leaders, has focused on promoting social sustainability in the Portland, OR metropolitan ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Wisdom Project: The Native American Youth Leadership Initiative
- Portland Community College (OR)
- Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. (OR)
America needs the talents and perspectives of Native Americans, America’s first scientists, to enhance innovation and diversity across disciplines. However, the lack of Native representation in programs, particularly STEM ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Aha- Yes We Can! Engaging Diverse Student Groups at Community Colleges
- Moraine Valley Community College (IL)
Aha- Yes We Can! Engaging Diverse Student Groups at Community Colleges Practiced and Proven. It is widely understood that engaging students in sustainability within a community college is incredibly and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Canadian On-Campus Sustainability and Social Justice Initiatives
- York University
Canadian On-Campus Sustainability and Social Justice Initiatives: Findings from a national research project Students are often the initial driver of new community-benefit initiatives on campuses. Regenesis, a Canadian on-campus sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Liberate your Literacy: How Sustainability & Social Justice Interact
- Portland State University (OR)
Ecoliteracy pioneers Stone & Barlow (2014) emphasize that creating social change requires resilient relationships within the larger ecological and social community. However, we are born into a society in the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Portland State University - Cultural Sustainability Walking Tour Map
- Portland State University (OR)
Portland State University is situated on a large urban campus in downtown Portland, Oregon. Disseminating information about cultural and resource centers as well as other services on campus to the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Downtown Fitchburg Urban Revitalization Development Plan
- Fitchburg State University (MA)
This research project is a multi-tier economic development plan to revitalize downtown Fitchburg by establishing affordable student housing for Fitchburg State University (FSU) students in historic mill buildings which utilize ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability, aging, and human rights: Interconnections and inclusion for the classroom and beyond
- Indiana State University (IN)
The idea that the future is in the hands of our young people has become somewhat of a truism in sustainability dialogue. As a society, we are fortunate that our ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The “Three Es” of Sustainability Portland Style
- Portland State University (OR)
This is a three-part poster presentation with each poster (24” x 36”) representing one of the “three Es” of sustainability: Environmental, Economic, and Equity, as can be viewed locally in ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Plenary Session 2: Indigenous Practices for Sustainability with Judy Bluehorse Skelton
- Portland State University (OR)
In a post 20th century industrialized world many may wonder, how are Indigenous ways informing regional strategies for a sustainable future and what role can colleges and universities play in ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Lower Socioeconomic Status and Sustainable Campus Housing Access
- University of Arizona (AZ)
In 2011, The University of Arizona (UA) took two huge leaps towards a more sustainable future through the erection of two Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum buildings ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sanctity of Sanctuary: Paul Strauss and the Equinox Farm
- Xavier University (OH)
The Sanctity of Sanctuary: Paul Strauss and the Equinox Farm, is an Appalachian love affair between a man, his farm, and his desire to make the world a better place ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Establishing Sustainable Urban Communities: HBCU Experiences as Learning Models
- Clark Atlanta University (GA)
Sustainable Community Development
“Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
- United Nations World Commission on Environment and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Conversations on Equity & Resilience
- Cornell University (NY)
- University of Vermont (VT)
The ongoing national dialogue about "Just Sustainability" on our campuses is a critical component of social resiliency and adaptability. Without thoughtful attention to the inequities and social divisions in our ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Social Life of Smartphones
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Our institution has taken a unique approach to education and outreach initiatives by deliberately highlighting the social aspects of sustainability, fostering the power of storytelling to elicit emotional responses in ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Stronger Together: Collaboration Opportunities for Campus Diversity Officers and Campus Sustainability Officers
- Cornell University (NY)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- Yale University (CT)
- McGill University (QC)
Campus diversity and inclusion departments educate and engage students, staff and faculty to promote inclusion, diversity and equity. Campus sustainability departments educate and engage students, staff and faculty about how ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Spelman: HBCU Climate Action Planning
- Spelman College (GA)
- O'Brien & Gere (NY)
The Vision of a Sustainable Spelman requires all of us to adopt an ethic of conservation. In January of 2013, Spelman College completed its Climate Action Plan (CAP) and submitted ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Plenary: MSI Panel
- Clark Atlanta University (GA)
- United Negro College Fund (GA)
Plenary Panel including Clark Atlanta University President, Dr. Carlton Brown, and Felicia M. Davis, UNCF.
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building an Inclusive Climate Justice Movement on Campus across Race, Class, and Gender Lines
- Second Nature (MA)
- United Negro College Fund (GA)
The climate isn’t just for the 1%. How can students ensure their climate planning and action are gender, race, and economically inclusive? The American College & University Presidents’ Climate ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Inclusion, Coalitions, Fun, and Parties: Adapting Approaches to Encourage Student Involvement and Awareness of Sustainability.
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)
Student’s participation in community outreach and educational activities outside of those required by classes is decreasing. Sustainability has become an increasingly popular subject among university students in online blogs ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Gardening with Neighbors: Community Gardening and Food Security in West Louisville
- University of Louisville (KY)
The “West End” of Louisville is characterized by many low-income neighborhoods that are disproportionately affected by high levels of food insecurity and poor health conditions. Still, community groups and neighborhoods ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cultivating Grassroots: Emerging Platforms for a Sustainable Food System and Economy in Blue Ridge Appalachia
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Appalachian scholar and activist Helen Matthews Lewis writes that “It is important to talk and plan together for the future, to have dreams and hopes and visions.” Lewis believes in ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Regional Cultures and Campus Sustainability: The Quebec Case
- Sierra Youth Coalition (QC)
While no one would argue that many issues related to sustainability can only be understood on a global level, international negotiations confront us with the fact that cultural differences can ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Biodiversity Of Humans And Agriculture
- The University of New Mexico (NM)
The University Of New Mexico has worked to build local food hubs in and around the University as demonstration gardens for students and local residents. As SouthWest native tribes have ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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50 Shades of Green: An Examination of Sustainability Policy on Canadian Campuses
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
While there is an abundance of literature on sustainability in higher education emerging within academic journals, there has been a paucity of research examining the uptake and implementation of sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Aggie Blue Bikes; How AmeriCorps Grants Can Bring Bicycle Lending to Your Campus
- Utah State University (UT)
Aggie Blue Bikes (ABB) is Utah State University’s (USU) premier bicycle lending, education and advocacy program; its mission is to get more people on more bikes, more often. Throughout ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Waste and Access: Communicating about sustainability between universities in developed and developing countries
- Yale University (CT)
Sustainability initiatives in the United States are largely focused on reducing waste in terms of materials, water, energy, fuel, and even time and money. In less economically developed countries, however ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Eco-Reps' Sister Organization: Including Social Justice Peer Educators on Your Campus
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Research shows peer education is one of the most effective ways to reach students today. Many campuses host an Eco-Rep program, often as paid positions. These programs tend to focus ...
- 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 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.