aashe stars conference community hub bulletin
Login Create an Account Become a Member

AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub
Browse All

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.

View all Grounds Submit a new resource

Featured Resources

Latest News from AASHE Bulletin

New Resources

802 resources

Imagining well with almonds and honeybees in the Capitalocene – five multispecies movements for environmental and sustainability education

  • University of Oulu

Responses in resisting and subverting capitalist structures and practices often foreground imagination and experimentation. In environmental and sustainability education, imagination has been previously called upon as a way to sympathetically …

  • Posted Aug. 13, 2025
  • Publications
  • View more

Using Social Media Data to Research the Impact of Campus Green Spaces on Students’ Emotions: A Case Study of Nanjing Campuses

  • Nanjing Forestry University

Campus green space, as a component of urban green space and the main natural place for college students’ daily contact, has a subliminal effect on their mental health. This study …

  • Posted Aug. 13, 2025
  • Publications
  • View more

Tree mapping and carbon inventory on a university campus in South Korea: Case study and global review

  • Korea University
  • Kyungmin University
  • Sangji University

Campus trees have significant potential for sequestering carbon in urban environments and improving civic life quality; however, few inventories of university campus trees have been constructed worldwide (excluding North America). …

  • Posted Aug. 13, 2025
  • Publications
  • View more
Forest Living Lab

National Tree Day Planting

  • Canadore College (ON)

More than 50 staff, students, and community members came together to plant 120 trees in celebration of National Tree Day in Canada.

Aerial photograph of Northern Michigan University's campus in Marquette Michigan

Northern Michigan University campus aerial

  • Northern Michigan University (MI)

Aerial photo of the Northern Michigan University campus at sunrise in Marquette, Michigan

Graduate student Helen Craig received a Sustainability Fund grant to create insect displays around UMD’s campus to educate students about why insect biodiversity is vital to a healthy environment and how insects impact students’ everyday lives.

Sustainability Fund Project: Insect Biodiversity Displays

  • University of Maryland, College Park (MD)

In 2022, the lab manager of the Lamp Lab at the University of Maryland received a Sustainability Fund grant to create three insect displays around UMD’s campus. Each display features …

None

Permaculture in Practice: FGCU Food Forest

  • Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)

The Florida Gulf Coast University Food Forest exemplifies applied permaculture principles in a student-led, campus-based edible landscape. The FGCU Food Forest engages the campus and community in sustainable food systems …

Five students with campus arborist at the base of a yellow ginkgo tree learning how to conduct a tree inventory; large brick, historical building in the background

Agnes Scott College - Arboretum

  • Agnes Scott College (GA)

Agnes Scott College sits on 100 acres within the City of Decatur located just six miles northeast of Atlanta, the ‘City in a Forest’. With a managed tree canopy of …

Harvest Market

Harvest Market

  • Dawson College (QC)

In the summer our vegetable gardens are harvested by student volunteers and on alternating weeks they are 1) sold to the community to raise funds for student sustainability projects and …

Butterfly Nursery I

Dawson College Butterfly Nursery

  • Dawson College (QC)

A true community project came to life thanks to the collaboration of students and staff across the college. The Office of Sustainability co-ordinated the design first with Adam Kingsland’s Mechanical …

Gardening in the Dawson College Peace Garden

Dawson College Peace Garden

  • Dawson College (QC)

Students helping with garden maintenance

A thriving biodiverse landscape at SSN College, nurtured through sustainable and native planting practices.

Sustainable Landscaping Enhancing Biodiversity at SSN College

  • Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering (Tamilnadu)

This photograph captures a thriving biodiversity patch within the sustainably managed campus landscape of SSN College of Engineering, Chennai. The campus is home to over 300 trees across 66 different …

UC Berkeley students are planting trees

Berkeley Students Plant Trees

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

A group of Berkeley students is planting trees in April 2025.

None

Community Gardens

  • Université de Sherbrooke (QC)

Each of the three campuses of the Université de Sherbrooke has a community garden. In the picture is the community garden located on the green roof of the Longueuil Campus, …

The portion of land belonging to the Université de Sherbrooke within Mont-Bellevue Park (125 hectares) has been officially recognized as a University Nature Reserve as of October 8, 2024. This designation ensures the continuation of outdoor activities, research, and teaching on this ecologically valuable territory while guaranteeing the long-term preservation of its ecosystems.

Mont-Bellevue Park and its University Nature Reserve

  • Université de Sherbrooke (QC)

The portion of land belonging to the Université de Sherbrooke within Mont-Bellevue Park (125 hectares) has been officially recognized as a University Nature Reserve as of October 8, 2024. This …

None

Annual Tree and Seedling Distribution

  • Université de Sherbrooke (QC)

A free distribution of trees and seedlings is organized every year on the three campuses of the Université de Sherbrooke. Thanks to the collaboration of several partners, each edition of …

In celebration of Earth Day, UC San Diego Environment, Health & Safety organized a series of trash clean-ups to help preserve the beauty of our coastal campus and safeguard its natural habitat.

UC San Diego Beach Clean-Up

  • University of California, San Diego (CA)

In celebration of Earth Day, UC San Diego Environment, Health & Safety organized a series of trash clean-ups to help preserve the beauty of our coastal campus and safeguard its …

UC San Diego Facilities Management teamed up with students and staff to celebrate Arbor Day 2025 by planting over 40 new trees on campus, growing knowledge and shade for generations to come.

UC San Diego Tree Planting 2

  • University of California, San Diego (CA)

UC San Diego Facilities Management teamed up with students and staff to celebrate Arbor Day 2025 by planting over 40 new trees across campus, growing knowledge and shade for generations …

UC San Diego Facilities Management teamed up with students to celebrate Arbor Day 2025 by planting over 40 new trees on campus, growing knowledge and shade for generations to come.

UC San Diego Tree Planting

  • University of California, San Diego (CA)

UC San Diego Facilities Management teamed up with students to celebrate Arbor Day 2025 by planting over 40 new trees on campus, growing knowledge and shade for generations to come.

Community volunteers stabilize a newly planted tree

Butte Creek Restoration

  • Prescott College (AZ)

Community volunteers stabilize a new native tree at Prescott College in celebration of Arbor Day 2025. Restoration of lower Butte Creek has united college students and employees, neighbors, and community …

None

Amherst College - Arbor Day Tree Planting

  • Amherst College (MA)

Students plant a tree on the First Year Quad as part of Arbor Day celebrations.

Cows standing under solar panels at the University of Minnesota Morris campus.

University of Minnesota Morris: Cows & Solar Panels

  • University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)

University of Minnesota Morris photograph submitted for SCI 2025.

Students preparing the mulch for the pollinator garden

Michigan State Students Volunteer at Pollinator Gardens

  • Michigan State University (MI)

Michigan State University students demonstrated their commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement this Earth Month during the annual Spring Spartan Day of Service. Working along the picturesque Red Cedar …

  • Posted April 28, 2025
  • Photographs
  • View more
Students participate in Student Garden Day at the Jamil Niner Student Pantry Gardens

UNC Charlotte Student Garden Day

  • University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)

An annual event hosted by the Office of Sustainability, UNC Charlotte Jamil Niner Student Pantry, and the Pollinator Club at UNC Charlotte that organizes volunteers to beautify the four garden …

  • Posted April 22, 2025
  • Photographs
  • View more

Climate Risks and Resilience at Dickinson College: Strategies for Infrastructure, Utilities, and Grounds

  • Dickinson College (PA)

Prepared for Building Climate Resilience at Dickinson and in Central Pennsylvania, an initiative of Dickinson College, the Borough of Carlisle, and Cumberland County, PA, as part of Dickinson’s Baird Sustainability …

  • Posted April 3, 2025
  • Publications
  • View more

Green Grounds Networking Session

  • Re:wild Your Campus (TX)

Join Re:wild Your Campus for a networking session for schools interested in greening their grounds management practices - this includes reducing pesticide usage, increasing native plantings, and integrating organic practices …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2025
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Greening Grounds: Case Studies for Organic Grounds Management

  • Harvard University (MA)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)
  • Re:wild Your Campus (TX)

Most colleges and universities use some level of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers to maintain campus grounds. With hazardous impacts to human and environmental health, it is time that schools recognize …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2025
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Case Study Title: Drexel University Organic Land Care

  • Drexel University (PA)
  • Re:wild Your Campus (TX)

In 2022, students at Drexel launched a bold campaign advocating for organic land care on their campus. After countless meetings with campus staff, their hard work paid off. In 2023, …

  • Posted Jan. 24, 2025
  • Case Studies
  • View more

University of Wisconsin- Madison Organic Land Management Pilot Project

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
  • Re:wild Your Campus (TX)

In the fall of 2022, students at UW-Madison were selected to participate in the Re:wild Your Campus Fellowship, and began advocating for an end to the use of synthetic pesticides …

  • Posted Jan. 24, 2025
  • Case Studies
  • View more
Anthony Frisbee, CSUF PD police chief

Mysun Foundation Grant Supports Arboretum Partnership With Conservation Corps

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

The Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton was awarded a grant from the Mysun Foundation to support a partnership with Orange County Conservation Corps, aiming to empower individuals …

The JMU East Campus Hillside, located below King Hall, features the expanded solar array and native pollinator habitat that were included in the certification.

JMU Virginia Pollinator-Smart Certification

  • James Madison University (VA)

James Madison University became the first university to earn the Virginia Pollinator-Smart Certification, a program that promotes pollinator-friendly solar energy developments throughout Virginia. The university's East Campus Hillside features the …

McGill's downtown campus in Autumn

McGill's Downtown Campus in Autumn

  • McGill University (QC)

An aerial view of McGill University's downtown campus in October. Prominently featured are the McCall MacBain Arts Building, the Redpath Museum. The downtown campus is nestled against Mont Royal, Montreal's …

The wall of basil from The Seneca Farm, a two-floor shipping container facility at Seneca Polytechnic's Newnham Campus turned into a hub for urban agriculture commercial growing and research. The facility uses hydroponic vertical farming technology.

Seneca Polytechnic - The Seneca Farm

  • Seneca Polytechnic (ON)

Opening in September of 2023, Seneca Polytechnic has renovated the two-floor shipping container facility at Newnham Campus and turned it into a hub for urban agriculture commercial growing and research. …

Members of the Concordia Stingers football team and women's hockey team took part in the tree-planting event event.

Concordia University tree planting event

  • Concordia University

Thanks to the efforts of staff, students and faculty, some 185 new trees were planted on the university grounds in 2019.

The initiative got underway November 5 with the first …

The mind.heart.mouth garden located on Concordia University's Loyola Campus uses garden-based learning and sensory experience theories to create workshops and spaces for the university community.

mind.heart.mouth garden

  • Concordia University

mind.heart.mouth. uses garden-based learning and sensory experience theories to create workshops and spaces that increase awareness and foster stronger connections with our natural environments and the food production process.

UMass Boston students walk through the new quad, designed with innovative green infrastructure and sustainability features

UMass Boston Students enjoy New Green Infrastructure & Sustainable Landscaping Projects

  • University of Massachusetts Boston (MA)

UMass Boston used organic landscape management and protects biodiversity in our grounds. In the past years an important project has created a new 5 acre green space where a building …

Dr. Joe Poston takes ornithology students for a walk in Catawba College's Fred Stanback Jr. Ecological preserve.

Catawba College: Ornithology & Preserved Wetlands

  • Catawba College (NC)

Dr. Joe Poston takes ornithology students for a walk in Catawba College's Fred Stanback Jr. Ecological preserve.

Mirror Lake at The Ohio State University

Mirror Lake at The Ohio State University

  • The Ohio State University (OH)

In November 2013, the university began exploring ways to make the lake more sustainable. The restoration returns Mirror Lake to a more natural and sustainable state — closer to its …

Green Roof on Howlett Hall, CFAES, The Ohio State University

Green Roof at Howlett Hall

  • The Ohio State University (OH)

This 12,000 square foot green roof is located on Howlett Hall, home to the OSU Department of Horticulture & Crop Science, Department of Food Science and Technology, and the Chadwick …

None

Bigelow Boulevard Bioswales at University of Pittsburgh

  • University of Pittsburgh (PA)

Completed in 2020, the University of Pittsburgh’s transformation of Bigelow Boulevard (which runs through the heart of campus) features a series of rain gardens known as the Bigelow Bioswales. These …

Bioswale in 2017 during Contruction (before)

Selkirk College Grounds

  • Selkirk College (BC)

Hello! Selkirk College was selected to be featured in the latest SCI for "grounds" impact area. The following photos highlight two projects that demonstrate our dedication to sustainability within our …

Students at CSU Channel Islands hand-weeding a succulent pollinator garden

Students Hand-Weeding Pollinator Garden

  • California State University, Channel Islands (CA)

CSU Channel Islands students celebrated the start of Earth Month by hand pulling weeds in one of the university's largest pollinator gardens. The student pictured is Stephannie, an international graduate …

Dickinson College Student Farm Workers and Tractor

Dickinson College Farm

  • Dickinson College (PA)

Dickinson’s College Farm is an 80-acre, USDA-certified organic farm and a living laboratory where students can gain distinctive, hands-on learning experiences.

Pollinator Garden Workday with Students at Dickinson College

Dickinson College Pollinator Garden

  • Dickinson College (PA)

The Dickinson College landscape has been changing to reflect important sustainability goals, which include a campus-wide dedication to hands-on sustainability education and stewardship. To reflect these goals, landscape design and …

Turf removal at CSUF

Campus Begins Turf Removal

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

Six months ago, Cal State Fullerton announced that it was letting sections of lawn die as part of its ongoing efforts to meet statewide mandates, due to the statewide drought. …

Crew removing turf in front of Langsdorf Hall

Campus Drought Response Is Evolving

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

Lawns Will Be Replaced, Other Ideas Sought to Save Water

Cal State Fullerton will be going brown — briefly — in response to the state’s current drought conditions.

The result …

CSU Channel Islands student organizer putting out Earth Month poster

Earth Month Activities at CSU Channel Islands

  • California State University, Channel Islands (CA)

California State University Channel Islands celebrates Earth Day throughout the entire month of April. In April 2024, the university organized a series of events to celebrate the earth and promote …

Pollinator box at the Stanislaus State pollinator garden

Sustainable Garden

  • California State University, Stanislaus (CA)

Master Gardener and Gardening Specialist Hector Vera leads a tour at the Sustainable Garden at Stanislaus State. In partnership with the agriculture department, this tour was organized and promoted by …

Students examining pine needles at Concordia's 2024 City Nature Challenge

Concordia University's Earth Week BioBlitz

  • Concordia University

Concordia community members gathered on Loyola campus to participate in the 2024 City Nature Challenge (BioBlitz). This is an international competition encouraging citizen scientist to help out the scientific community …

  • Posted April 30, 2024
  • Photographs
  • View more
Students teaching students about the role of native plants on Creighton's campus

Nebraska Native Pollinator Garden at Creighton University

  • Creighton University (NE)

For Earth Day 2024, students, faculty and staff were invited to prepare the Nebraska Native Pollinator Garden, located on the Creighton University campus in Omaha, NE, for its next growing …

  • Posted April 29, 2024
  • Photographs
  • 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.

OP 9: Landscape Management

OP 10: Biodiversity

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

Grounds Partners

All Material Copyright © 2005–2023 Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
AASHE reserves the right to control the reproduction and use of all material posted on this website.
For questions about this site, please email resources@aashe.org — Privacy Policy

About
Finding Resources
Submission Guidelines