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.

740 resources

Root Program at Williams College

  • Williams College (MA)

Williams College Root leaders emulate the Mighty Food Farm flexing tomato logo after an afternoon of volunteering on the Southern Vermont farm.

The non profit organization Manos Unidas led Williams …

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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RDI Event Oct 2015

  • Selkirk College (BC)

Dr. Terri MacDonald presenting at the Applied Research & Innovation Centre-Rural Development Institute and Association of Kooteny Boundary Local Governments-AgingAging Kootenays Event - Oct2015

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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Environmental Attitudes and Information Sources Among African American College Students

  • Texas Southern University (TX)

The author examined the environmental attitudes of African American college students by using the 15-item New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale. The author also attempted to determine their everyday environmental behaviors …

  • Posted Aug. 19, 2016
  • Publications
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Food insecure student clients of a university-based food bank have compromised health, dietary intake and academic quality

  • University of Alberta (AB)

University and college students in wealthy countries may be vulnerable to financial food insecurity. If food insecure students have suboptimal health, their ability to learn and excel in their education …

  • Posted Aug. 14, 2016
  • Publications
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HBCU Green Report 2014

  • Clark Atlanta University (GA)

The 2014 HBCU Green Report, which is based on a survey of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), indicates that there is significant activity underway on HBCU campuses to promote …


Minority-Serving Institutions Green Report: 2010 Campus Sustainability Survey

  • United Negro College Fund (GA)

The Minority-Serving Institutions Green Report shares the results of a 2010 survey of minority-serving institutions administered by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Institute for Capacity Building and the Sustainable …


Campus Diversity and Inclusion resources website

  • American Council on Education (DC)

The Campus Diversity and Inclusion resources website from the American Council on Education (ACE) showcases regularly updated featured content on the following campus diversity and inclusion topics:

  • Racial/ethnic minority students …

Campus sustainability at the edges: Emotions, relations, and bio-cultural connections

  • Temple University (PA)

The university campus is often considered a key site for the development of environmental sustainability initiatives. At the same time, the concept and practice of sustainability has been critiqued for …

  • Posted June 20, 2016
  • Publications
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UT Farm Stand

  • University of Texas at Austin (TX)

UT Farm Stand is a student-led project that provides local and organic fresh foods to the University of Texas at Austin students, faculty, and staff. Our mission is focused on …

  • Posted June 16, 2016
  • Case Studies
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RIT FoodShare

  • Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)

RIT FoodShare is an initiative on the RIT campus that has been established to address food insecurity and food waste. It is both a campus food pantry and a facebook …

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
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Serenity "Soul"-ar: A Campus-Community Collaboration in North Philadelphia

  • Swarthmore College (PA)

Serenity Soular is a campus-community partnership between community leaders in North Philadelphia and a group of faculty and students at Swarthmore College. Committed to keeping the ‘soul’ in sustainability, our …


Solar Energy Justice in Portland

  • Lewis & Clark College (OR)

Project Description We are two Environmental Studies majors pursuing a project to put solar panels on affordable housing in Portland. We are working with Central City Concern (CCC) to put …


UIC Heritage Garden

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

The Heritage Garden at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is a hands-on learning project with an internship program where students work with faculty, staff, and community members to …


True Merit: Ensuring Our Brightest Students Have Access to Our Best Colleges and Universities

Representation of low-income students at selective colleges and universities has not changed in ten years despite selective institutions’ well-advertised, increased commitment to “need-blind admissions” and “no-loan financial aid” packages. All …


The Use of Criminal History Records in College Admissions Reconsidered

This report reviews findings from a first-of-its-kind survey conducted by the Center for Community Alternatives in collaboration with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) that explores …


Boxed Out: Criminal History Screening and College Application Attrition

This report builds upon CCA's 2010 study, "The Use of Criminal History Records in College Admissions Reconsidered." It makes clear how the criminal history box on college applications and the …


Missing links: gender and education for sustainable development

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)

Focusing on the impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, this paper argues for a gender-sociologically, and ecologically sensitive approach to the complex range of issues raised by environmental concerns. The …

  • Posted April 25, 2016
  • Publications
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Social Justice Minor

  • Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)

The minor in Social Justice (SJ) is for undergraduate students who are interested in incorporating an in-depth awareness of social issues into their fields of study and careers. Humanities and …

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Academic Programs
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Making Textbooks Affordable: Student Government Toolkit

The Making Textbooks Affordable toolkit explains how to expand the use of open textbooks on your campus. These free, high-quality, open-source books can save students on your campus millions of …

  • Posted April 16, 2016
  • Publications
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Running a Campus Food Pantry: Student Government Toolkit

The Running a Campus Food Pantry toolkit explains how to create and manage a campus food pantry. As food insecurity becomes more common among college students, starting a food pantry …

  • Posted April 16, 2016
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Covering the Cost: Why We can no Longer Afford to Ignore High Textbook Prices

  • The Student PIRGs (OR)

This report investigates the degree to which high textbook prices affect student financial standing and behavior.

Key Findings from the Report:

  • Almost one-third (30%) of students replied that they had …

  • Posted April 11, 2016
  • Publications
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Pulling Up the Higher-Ed Ladder: Myth and Reality in the Crisis of College Affordability

This brief attempts to pinpoint the cause(s) of spiraling tuition by taking a deep dive into public university revenue and spending data from the National Center for Education Statistics’ Delta …

  • Posted March 31, 2016
  • Publications
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Committing to Equity and Inclusive Excellence: A Campus Guide for Self-Study and Planning

  • Association of American Colleges and Universities (DC)

Committing to Equity and Inclusive Excellence: A Campus Guide for Self-Study and Planning provides a framework for needed dialogue, assessment, and action to address inequities in higher education institutions. Focusing …

  • Posted March 30, 2016
  • Publications
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College Affordability and Transparency Center

The College Affordability and Transparency Center includes information for students, parents, and policymakers about college costs at America’s colleges and universities. The Center includes several lists of institutions based on …


Choosing an LGBTQ-Friendly College

As a prospective student, it’s your job to find a college where you can thrive. This is particularly important for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer …


The Debt Divide: The Racial and Class Bias Behind the “New Normal” of Student Borrowing

This report, The Debt Divide, provides a comprehensive look at how the “new normal” of debt-financed college impacts the whole pipeline of decision-making related to college. This includes, whether to …

  • Posted March 13, 2016
  • Publications
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The Student Debt Crisis

  • Center for American Progress (DC)

Higher education is an integral part of the American Dream. But today more and more young people increasingly have to finance their education through student loans. In the past three …

  • Posted March 13, 2016
  • Publications
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The Student Debt Review: Analyzing the State of Undergraduate Student Borrowing

Student debt is not a new concern. But it is a complex story, the details of which vary greatly depending on the type of college a student attends, and the …

  • Posted March 13, 2016
  • Publications
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Incorporating Indigenous Wisdom into Sustainability Education

  • Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeway (AK)

Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeways President Ilarion Larry Merculieff has over 40 years experience serving the Aleuts of the Pribilof Islands and other indigenous peoples. At the AASHE …

  • Posted March 3, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
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Diversity, Sustainability, and Mentorship: One Event That Does It All

  • University of Utah (UT)

Engagement is one of the goals of sustainability on college campuses. As part of that engagement, we want to reach the broadest audience possible, including multiple disciplines, genders, and ethnicities. …

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
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The State of Race: Searching for Social Justice in America & Sustainability

  • Texas A&M University (TX)

America is at a crossroads; racial tensions have reached a boiling point and we need a meaningful dialogue about race and racism at AASHE. Race is often left out of …

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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 the …

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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, will explore …

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • Conference Presentations
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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
  • 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 5: Diversity & Equity Coordination

PA 6: Assessing Diversity & Equity

PA 7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

PA 8: Affordability & Access

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Diversity & Affordability Partners