Grounds
Introduction
Beautiful and welcoming campus grounds can be planned, planted, and maintained in any region while minimizing the use of toxic chemicals, protecting wildlife habitat, and conserving resources.
Featured Resources
New Resources
Who Owns the Campus Forest? A Tree Campus Conversation
- Arbor Day Foundation (NE)
Trees play a critical role in creating healthier, safer, and more connected communities. They clean our air, filter our water, and even slow storm surge and flooding in our cities ...
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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Utilizing Bees to Strengthen Relationships in Higher Education
- Hillsborough Community College (FL)
Finding funding to support sustainability related initiatives can be difficult in any institution. Come learn about how a Florida community college utilizes their bee hives to strengthen relationships throughout the ...
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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Rewild Your Campus With the Green Grounds Certification Program
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
Re:wild Your Campus’s Green Grounds Certification offers a new pathway for schools to improve upon campus sustainability goals, reduce synthetic pesticide usage and implement organic grounds maintenance practices ...
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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Exploring Conservation Land Management at the University Level
- University of Florida (FL)
- University of Richmond (VA)
Be inspired as we discover the transformative world of campus land conservation planning. This interactive presentation invites you to join the discussion and discover strategies that engage a diverse conservation ...
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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Landscape Architecture (MA)
- Auburn University (AL)
The Auburn Master's in Landscape Architecure involves three areas of inquiry, which guide and regulate its teaching and learning strategies. These are ecological urbanism, environmental justice and global challenges ...
- Posted Dec. 13, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Landscape Architecture (Master)
- University of Manitoba (MB)
Landscape Architecture is a creative profession concerned with the analysis, planning, design and management of the land at scales varying from whole regions to small individual sites. Landscape architects integrate ...
- Posted Dec. 13, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Environmental Engineering and Landscape Architecture (BS) (Combined)
- Northeastern University (MA)
This combined major provides students an opportunity to obtain the fundamental scientific background and practical training to tackle environmental and landscape-related issues. The program seeks to prepare students for advanced ...
- Posted Dec. 13, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Rewild Your Campus with the Green Grounds Certification
- Seattle University (WA)
- University of Northern Iowa (IA)
- AASHE (PA)
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
- PJC Organic (MA)
Re:wild Your Campus’s Green Grounds Certification offers a new pathway for schools to reduce synthetic pesticide usage and implement organic grounds maintenance practices. This webinar will guide participants ...
- Posted Sept. 29, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley campus solar array
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- Ameresco, Inc. (MA)
The Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley at Glenwood Springs is one of the college's 11 campuses. and is home to one of the largest solar arrays in Colorado. Besides ...
- Posted Aug. 31, 2023
- Photographs
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Agora Pond
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
The natural amphitheater, with its pond, has been landscaped to preserve biodiversity, and is a popular place for the Université de Sherbrooke community.
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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Back to school
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
The start of the new academic year at the Université de Sherbrooke is an opportunity for the university community to take advantage of the campuses and its beautiful nature in ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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Student on the Main Campus
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
The Université de Sherbrooke, nicknamed the “Green University”, provides its community with various extraordinary green spaces.
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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Main Campus from the air
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
The Université de Sherbrooke, nicknamed the “Green University”, offers its community a wide range of opportunities to take advantage of Quebec's natural beauty.
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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Historical garden
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
Since 2018, a professor specializing in cultural food history and his students from the Department of History of the Université de Sherbrooke have established a historical garden on the university ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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Deer on the Main Campus
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
The Main Campus of the Université de Sherbrooke is adjacent to the Mont-Bellevue Park, and benefits from its multiple ecosystems. The Mont-Bellevue Park, which covers an area of 202 hectares ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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John Brong Planting Day at CCU
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Each year, the CCU community will comes together for a day of service to honor the life of the late John Brong, who served as the CCU greenhouse manager for ...
- Posted Aug. 29, 2023
- Photographs
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Central Community College-Grand Island Pollinator Garden
- Central Community College (NE)
CCC Environmental Sustainability Director Ben Newton conducts a tour of the pollinator garden at the Grand Island Campus.
- Posted Aug. 29, 2023
- Photographs
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Ruche campus
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
A student beekeeper from the Ruche Campus student group of the Université de Sherbrooke checks the condition of one of the campus hives. Made up of student volunteers, Ruche Campus ...
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
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Research and teaching areas
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
In addition to the largest solar park dedicated to applied research in Canada, the Université de Sherbrooke owns the Johnville Bog and Forest Park, a 225 hectares research and teaching ...
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
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Humber College SCI 2023 Photos - Grounds Category
- Humber College (ON)
Photo submission for Humber College's Top Performance in the 2023 SCI Grounds category.
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
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Taking Stormwater Seriously at the University of Vermont
- University of Vermont (VT)
The soils on UVM's campus are glacial till on bedrock, limiting infiltration of runoff. UVM’s diverse stormwater systems slow and filter runoff rather than letting it run directly ...
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
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Bennington College Commons Building
- Bennington College (VT)
This holistic remaking of the historic and beloved center of campus community life combines dining, social, and academic areas within a collection of dynamic spaces. The building is animated by ...
- Posted Aug. 25, 2023
- Photographs
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Bennington College Commons Building
- Bennington College (VT)
This holistic remaking of the historic and beloved center of campus community life combines dining, social, and academic areas within a collection of dynamic spaces. The building is animated by ...
- Posted Aug. 25, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Bennington College Commons
- Bennington College (VT)
This holistic remaking of the historic and beloved center of campus community life combines dining, social, and academic areas within a collection of dynamic spaces. The building is animated by ...
- Posted Aug. 25, 2023
- Photographs
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University of Manitoba campus
- University of Manitoba (MB)
Top Performer, Water University of Manitoba campus
- Posted Aug. 23, 2023
- Photographs
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Solar Panels at The Catholic University of America
- The Catholic University of America (DC)
Solar Panels at The Catholic University of America.
- Posted Aug. 22, 2023
- Photographs
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Aligning with Place: A case study in xeriscaping at Gonzaga University's Office of Sustainability.
- Gonzaga University (WA)
This project's goal was to xeriscape the front lawn of the Office of Sustainability, transforming it from a grass lawn into a lawn with mulch and drought-tolerant plants. The ...
- Posted July 17, 2023
- Case Studies
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Sustainability Tour of the Yale Farm
- Yale University (CT)
As part of Celebrate Sustainability Week at Yale in October 2022, the Yale Office of Sustainability, in partnership with the Office of International Students & Scholars, organized a “Lunch and ...
- Posted June 27, 2023
- Photographs
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Benefit-cost analysis of becoming certified pollinator friendly
- Louisiana State University (LA)
- The Ohio State University (OH)
Despite significant drop in pollinator abundance, no studies exist on the benefits and costs of pollinator conservation in the public domain. An in-person survey was conducted at three large, public ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Co-producing an ecosystem services-based plan for sustainable university campuses
- Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Madrid)
- Université Grenoble Alpes
In the context of global change, social-ecological perspectives for organisations and territorial planning schemes are key to facilitate a transition towards sustainability. Consequently, Ecosystem Services (ES) assessment and mapping are ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Is the grass always greener? Access to campus green spaces can boost students’ sense of belonging
- University of Leeds (West Yorkshire)
Purpose: An important facet of student’s sense of belonging is students’ relationships with, and time spent in, the university campus. The purpose of this paper is to explore the ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Moving Towards Increased Biological Diversity on Campus Through Environmental Stewardship
- Radboud Universiteit
Moving towards higher sustainability on campuses is the priority in the majority of university agendas. However, when it comes to biodiversity loss, many people tend not to recognize the urgency ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Green Stormwater Infrastructure Planning in Midwestern Higher Education Institutions
- The Ohio State University (OH)
Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is an innovative approach to stormwater management that has the potential to provide a variety of operational, environmental, and human benefits beyond those offered by more ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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CSUCI Sustainability Staff Tabling for Clean Air Day Tree Planting
- California State University, Channel Islands (CA)
CSU Channel Islands sustainability staff welcome guests to the tree planting event at the university's Clean Air Day celebration. Featuring Roxane Beigel-Coryell, sustainability & energy director, and Rhianna Torres ...
- Posted June 7, 2023
- Photographs
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Cities Need Trees
- Boston University (MA)
Over the past year, I have dedicated myself to promoting sustainability in Boston, Massachusetts by advocating for an increased urban forest to combat climate change and rising summer temperatures. The ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Student-Led Organic Pilot Project at Emory University
- Emory University (GA)
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
Emory University, in partnership with Re:wild Your Campus, launched an organic pilot program to transition the campus away from synthetic weed-killers and towards organic land management. The Emory student ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Demonstration Gardens as Informal Education Strategies in Rehabilitation Efforts
- Missouri Southern State University (MO)
Use of demonstration plots showcasing native forbs and grasses in public green spaces or along well-traveled paths can be helpful in increasing awareness of beneficial plant species. Signage can be ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Pollinating Hearts & Minds on Native Wildflowers
- University of Southern Maine (ME)
This presentation will explain the critical importance of why Universities, more so than any other type of institution, should be installing Native wildflower areas on their campuses. It will also ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Creation of a Pollinator Garden at Farmingdale State College
- State University of New York at Farmingdale (NY)
In the Spring of 2023 Farmingdale State College's Office for Sustainability partnered with the college's Horticulture department to design an on-campus pollinator garden. The site is currently a ...
- Posted May 8, 2023
- Case Studies
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CSU Channel Islands Teaches About Sustainable Land Management During Earth Month
- California State University, Channel Islands (CA)
CSU Channel Islands kicked off Earth Month celebrations with an event focused on targeted grazing and its use as a sustainable land management strategy. The event included a presentation from ...
- Posted May 8, 2023
- Photographs
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Arbor Day & Earth Month Tree Planting at CSU Channel Islands
- California State University, Channel Islands (CA)
Students, staff, faculty, and community members came together to plant 20 trees on the CSU Channel Islands campus to celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Month 2023.
- Posted May 8, 2023
- Photographs
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Rider University Earth Day Event
- Rider University (NJ)
Eco-Reps that work for the Office of Sustainability that also conduct plant research in our campus greenhouse grew pollinator friendly plants to sell at our Earth Day event. With a ...
- Posted May 3, 2023
- Photographs
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Campus RainWorks Challenge
- University of Texas at Arlington (TX)
The Campus RainWorks Challenge is a green infrastructure design competition for American colleges and universities that seeks to engage with the next generation of environmental professionals, foster a dialogue about ...
- Posted May 3, 2023
- Case Studies
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Northwestern Bird Watching Walk
- Northwestern University (IL)
The campus community was invited to join in experiencing the birds that call our campus home as well as those migrating through. An introduction to bird watching and some tips ...
- Posted May 2, 2023
- Photographs
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Stan State Eco Challenge 2023
- California State University, Stanislaus (CA)
During Earth Month, Stan State University's Capital Projects & Facilities Management (CPFM) part-takes annually in Eco Challenge! Here is our stat during Earth Day! As a team we practice ...
- Posted April 24, 2023
- Photographs
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Adopt-a-Plant sponsored by ArtCenter College of Design Community Food Garden
- ArtCenter College of Design (CA)
The ArtCenter College of Design Community Garden remained active throughout the Pandemic through the tremendous care of two Photography Department staff. With students, staff, and faculty back on campus, we ...
- Posted April 18, 2023
- Photographs
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Fullerton Arboretum Achieves Reaccreditation at Highest Level
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
In October 2017, Fullerton Arboretum received its first accreditation as a Level IV arboretum. This is the highest level awarded by ArbNet, an organization that recognizes arboreta from around the ...
- Posted Jan. 24, 2023
- Photographs
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Webinar: Pollinators, Pesticides & People: Landscaping Certifications Explained
- AASHE (PA)
- The Xerces Society (OR)
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
Interested in sustainability certifications for your campus landscape? We’re here to help! Join Bee Campus USA, an initiative of the Xerces Society, and Rewild Your Campus (formerly Herbicide Free ...
- Posted Nov. 10, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Food Justice Fellowships - Rooted in Community
- Saint Mary's College of California (CA)
Food insecurity is defined as the state of being without reliable access to sufficient affordable and nutritious food. Food insecurity in the San Francisco Bay Area (and our state, country ...
- Posted Sept. 20, 2022
- Case Studies
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TRU Campus Tree Program: What We Learned From Year One
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
The TRU Sustainability Office started the new TRU Campus Tree Program in September 2021 as a one year pilot. The program was designed to allow members of the TRU community ...
- Posted Sept. 1, 2022
- Case Studies
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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.
OP 9: Landscape Management
- Percent of grounds managed organically
- Description of the organic landscape management program
- Percent of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program
- Description of the IPM program
- Website URL - Sustainable landscaping
OP 10: Biodiversity
- Description of legally protected areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and regions of conservation importance
- List of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution
- Description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution
- Website URL - Biodiversity initiatives
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.