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
College Campuses as the "Great Equalizer" - Or Are They: A Critical Perspective to Sustainability
- Winthrop University (SC)
College campuses have often been touted as the great equalizer, a place where those who are marginalized, either racially or economically, have as much ability to succeed as their non-marginalized ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Growing Future Leaders: How to Foster Growth in Sustainability Leadership Programs
- Bentley University (MA)
- Boston University (MA)
- Tufts University (MA)
- GreenerU (MA)
In this session, you will hear from the sustainability offices with well-developed student leadership programs, and share your questions, suggestions, and learn lessons from being a student leader or managing ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Creating an Equity-Based Climate Action Plan Through Stakeholder Engagement
- Portland Community College (OR)
- GreenerU (MA)
Many college campuses are looking for paths to climate neutrality - that is - reducing and sustaining zero-emissions operations. Climate action planning is one strategy to achieve this goal. But a straight ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Change Management Campfire Stories: Telling Stories About Our Stumbles and What We Learned
- Georgetown University (DC)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Stanford University (CA)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
This session will provide a virtual campfire story swap where long-time campus sustainability professionals will talk about their stumbles, unexpected outcomes, how they felt, and what they learned. The saying ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Advocacy for Justice: Classrooms, Colleagues and Community
- Catawba College (NC)
This session will provide an opportunity for an in-depth and perceptive discussion surrounding the intersections of justice across the varied social landscapes within Higher Education. Connected to this is an ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainably Revisioning the Future: Insights to Build Upon from the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Texas A&M University-Commerce (TX)
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique global opportunity to reset longstanding practices. The societal, economic, and environmental challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic have reached every facet of life ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Keynote Presentation with Heather McGhee
- Portland Community College (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
Heather McGhee designs and promotes solutions to inequality in America. She is the author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together (2021 ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Moving from 'Sustaina-splaining' to Inclusion
- California State University, San Marcos (CA)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
This presentation will highlight the work of several professionals (2 sustainability officers, 1 diversity, equity and inclusion practitioner and 1 campus center director) at two California universities. We will will ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Keynote Presentation with Dr. Michael J. Sorrell
- Paul Quinn College (TX)
- University of Texas at Arlington (TX)
Named one of America’s 10 Most Innovative College Presidents, Dr. Michael J. Sorrell is pioneering the “New Urban College Model” as the President of Paul Quinn College. With a ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Identifying Assessment Practices That Support Sustainability Competencies
- MacEwan University (AB)
Have you ever wondered if your grading and assessment practices are supporting or hindering the development of sustainability competencies? When most of us think about how to improve our courses ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Regeneration & Reclamation in Environmental Justice Projects by Contemporary Artists and Educators
- Colorado State University, Pueblo (CO)
- George Washington University (DC)
- Parsons (IL)
- ViVA Virtual Visiting Artists (OH)
For many years, internationally renowned award-winning contemporary artists around the country have been leaders of community-based social practice projects that feature creative approaches to urban renewal and communal agriculture, native ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Integrating Wellness and Diversity Into the Sustainability Model
- Augsburg University (MN)
- Bemidji State University (MN)
- St. Catherine University (MN)
The Bemidji State University (BSU) Sustainability Office realized in 2008 that the work they felt called to do required a different visual representation than the typical Venn diagram that includes ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Future of Transnational Education: Principles and Practices to Address the UN SDGs
- De Montfort University
Transnational Education (TNE) is a significant area of activity for higher education (HE) institutions in the West, involving universities establishing overseas partnerships or campuses to enable international students to study ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Earth Law and the Rights of Nature: A New Generation of Laws Built for Nature
- City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (NY)
- Environmental Education Fund (NJ)
Forget doom and gloom. Let's educate students about the Rights of Nature, an inspiring, evolving legal development which is gaining traction in the US and around the world, and ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Connecting Your Campus Across Intersections of Climate, Race, and Internationalization
- The GREEN Program (PA)
- Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) (Victoria)
Environmental justice is racial justice. Sustainability necessitates addressing racism. Higher education must play its part to proactively strategize and foster interdepartmental collaboration to address environmental justice at our campus and ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Food Waste and Food Insecurity: A Multidimensional Approach With Three Pillars of Sustainability
- University of Kentucky (KY)
Food insecurity, a growing concern due to unsustainable and unjust food systems, has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic whereas food waste issues remained prevalent. The pandemic has disproportionately affected ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Collaborative Back-casting Game for Audacious Sustainability Visions
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
Several sustainability researchers that collaborate with cities have proposed a visioning game to connect audacious goals with action-oriented strategies (Reutter, 2018; Withycombe Keeler, Beaudoin, Lerner, John, Beecroft, Tamm, Wiek, Lang ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Pedagogies for Cultivating Critical Consciousness: Engaging With Social Justice and Sustainability
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The challenge to support students in higher education to navigate complex issues related to not only sustainability but racial equity and social justice has become increasingly dynamic yet essential. Cultivating ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Putting the Equity in Sustainability Curriculum
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
This session will address some of the successes and struggles of modifying environmental curriculum to address social justice. The Environmental Justice Collective of the University of Texas at Austin's ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Finding Intersectional Solutions to Environmental Sustainability & Social Justice
- Augsburg University (MN)
During the summer of 2021 and continuing into the 2021-2022 school year, Nyasa is conducting research with Monica McDaniel, the Sustainability Officer at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to identify ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building the Future We Desire: Crossing Boundaries & Challenging Historical Ideas of Sustainability
- University of Minnesota, Crookston (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
The Student Engagement Leadership Forum on Sustainability (SELFsustain) is a five-campus collaborative retreat that rotates between campuses. In April 2021, UM-Crookston hosted a provocative online series on indigenous identity, community ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Using a Sustainability Framework to Advance Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
Accredited social work programs in the U.S. train students to advance "social, economic, and environmental justice" (CSWE, 2020). Often, however, the curriculum addresses each type of justice independently, as ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Healing to Transform - A Trauma-Informed Approach to Education for Sustainable Development & Wellbeing
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Our society and our planet are desperate for healing from embodied trauma passed on from generation to generation—be it fueled by institutionalized racism, forced displacement, gender and economic inequality ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
High Impact Low Carbon Exchanges: Teaching Sustainability Through Global Classroom Partnerships
- Salisbury University (MD)
- Universidad Latinoamericana De Ciencia Y Tecnología (ULACIT)
Studying abroad allows students from across the globe to experience different cultural, political, learning, and natural environments. For these reasons and many others, learning institutions (including universities) have prioritized this ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Understanding Diverse Student Participation in Campus Sustainability Programs
- University of Georgia (GA)
Nationwide a lack of diversity in sustainability roles and initiatives is well documented. Many attribute this lack of diversity to the limited representation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Keynote Presentation with Dr. Ian Haney López
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
Dr. Haney López’s keynote address will explain how the climate movement cannot succeed unless race, class and gender solidarity are at the heart of everything we do. Dr. Ian ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Campuses as Living . . . Archives: Using Campus Histories to Explore Diversity, Equity, and Belonging
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
Are you working at an institution struggling to effectively respond to and support student-led-protests for social justice and equity? You may have an unexplored treasure trove of useful and inspirational ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Launching the Emerging Environmental Leaders (EELs) Program in Minnesota
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
University of Minnesota campuses (Twin Cities and Morris) collaborated with the State of Minnesota to launch the Emerging Environmental Leaders (EELs) program in the spring of 2021. The program brought ...
- Posted Jan. 3, 2022
- Case Studies
- View more
Racial Equity Tools Glossary
- Racial Equity Tools
Many of the terms in this glossary have evolved over time. For example, given the changing demographic trends in the United States, the word “minority” no longer accurately reflects the ...
- Posted Dec. 9, 2021
- Tools
- View more
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
- View more
A Framework for Advancing Anti-Racism Strategy on Campus
- National Assocation of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (FL)
The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) serves as the preeminent voice for diversity officers at institutions of higher education throughout the country and around the world ...
- Posted Dec. 9, 2021
- Publications
- View more
Healthier building materials and equity: the upstream and downstream impacts of material choices
- Williams College (MA)
- Integrated Eco Strategy
Materials used in current building construction often contain chemicals that at best have not been tested for human health impacts and at worst are actively harmful to human health. While ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- View more
What's Missing? The Invisible Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color
- Howard University (DC)
- United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (NY)
Leaving No One Behind, the first priority of the Sustainable Development Goals, is an action agenda. It means addressing patterns of exclusion, privilege and unjust power relations that can recycle ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Transforming White Supremacy in Teacher Education
- Luther College (IA)
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls (WI)
In light of the recent calls for racial justice, it is vitally important to critically examine the role that teacher education programs play in perpetuating institutional racism and white supremacy ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
I Wonder Can You Hear Me Now? The Emotional Work of African-Americans and University Engagement
- University of Virginia (VA)
We are fighting two pandemics, COVID-19 and racism. The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor have sparked discussions around the country on the impact of institutional ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation for Climate Justice on Island Earth
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
- University of Hawaii System Office (HI)
A major institutional focus of the university of Hawai ªi Office of Sustainability has over the past 3 years has been our partnership with Dr. Lipe 's office to establish ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Inclusive Pedagogy Online: Increasing Equity in Remote and Distance Learning Classrooms
- Oregon State University (OR)
Before the COVID-19 crisis prompted a radical shift to online delivery methods across higher education, distance learning was central to many institutions' strategic visions. Now, the pandemic has caused a ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
What is 'Sustainability' in the Time of Anti-Racist Uprising & a Global Pandemic?
- Cornell University (NY)
- Ithaca College (NY)
In the wake of George Floyd's murder and in the throes of a deadly pandemic, sustainability, as it's traditionally practiced, has become all but irrelevant as social unrest ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Leveraging Change From Within and From Without: Equity & Sustainability
- University of South Dakota (SD)
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
Many of us leading sustainability efforts have no specific training in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work from our formal education. This does not free us from the work needed ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Creating Cultures of Equitable Belonging Using our Food Systems as the Galvanizing Frame
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
For the past five years, Food Solutions New England has hosted the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge that has inspired thousands to learn, reflect and act in service of ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Examples and Conversation about Elevating Equity and Justice in Sustainability Literacy
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
- Emory University (GA)
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
- Spelman College (GA)
This workshop will provide participants with opportunities to explore a diverse set of strategies for elevating equity and justice components of sustainability across the college curriculum and through co-curricular opportunities ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Strengthening Social Sustainability in the Face of Declining Community Trust
- College of Charleston (SC)
A just transition to a more sustainable world requires a strong understanding and application of social sustainability. Yet, social sustainability is often misunderstood, underrepresented and excluded, particularly in higher education ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainable Menstruation: Making Periods Sustainable and Accessible to all
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
- California State University, San Marcos (CA)
Did you know that the average menstruating person throws away 1200 menstrual care products during their time in college? Disposable menstrual care products are wasteful and costly, especially for students ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Niizhoo-gwayakochigewin: Two Ways of Doing the Right Thing in the Right Way
- Bemidji State University (MN)
Named for an Ojibwe phrase which translates to 'two ways of doing the right things in the right way,' Niizhoo-gwayakochigewin draws from Bemidji State University's (BSU) Sustainability Office, Department ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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.