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
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
We Are All In This Together: Arbor Day Tree Planting
- Roosevelt University (IL)
Arbor Day Observance in which kids from Bright Horizons Daycare (located on Roosevelt University's (RU) Schaumburg Campus), and RU tradesmen, staff, and students, and RU's arborist planted a tree. This …
- Posted May 6, 2016
- Photographs
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Austin College GreenServe 2016
- Austin College (TX)
This year Austin College celebrates another successful GreenServe - a student organized and campus wide event that reaches to support and encourage environmental responsibility as well as sustainability. Volunteers contributed …
- Posted May 6, 2016
- Photographs
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CNU Green Earthday Clean-up
- Christopher Newport University (VA)
Christopher Newport University's Office of Sustainability (CNU Green) hosted a volunteer event to clean up Lake Maury. Lake Maury is a lake in Newport News, VA which is part of …
- Posted May 4, 2016
- Photographs
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Organic Educational Opportunities at the University of Minnesota: The Role of a Student-run Organic Farm
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Although the number of students in conventional production agriculture is declining, there is increased interest and opportunity in growing organic fruits and vegetables. Land grant universities need to invest in …
- Posted April 28, 2016
- Publications
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Campus Sustainable Food Projects: Critique and Engagement
- Emory University (GA)
Campus sustainable food projects recently have expanded rapidly. A review of four components—purchasing goals, academic programs, direct marketing, and experiential learning—shows both intent and capacity to contribute to transformational change …
- Posted April 28, 2016
- Publications
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Re-visioning agriculture in higher education: the role of campus agriculture initiatives in sustainability education
The number of colleges and universities with campus agriculture projects in the US has grown from an estimated 23 in 1992 to nearly 300 today with possible increased numbers predicted. …
- Posted April 28, 2016
- Publications
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Indiana University Celebrates Earth Day
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
Indiana University celebrated Earth Day 2016 by engaging students in creating a rain garden. The installation of a rain garden outside the IU Student Recreational Sports Center began April 15 …
- Posted April 27, 2016
- Photographs
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Spring FARMal at American University
- American University (DC)
Spring FARMAL, Co-hosted by the AU Community Garden and Office of Sustainability, celebrated Earth Day with a screen on the green of "Plant This," outdoor crafts and activities, local food, …
- Posted April 26, 2016
- Photographs
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Food Scraps Composting on College/University Campuses: A Step-by-Step Guide
- FOR Solutions, LLC (NJ)
In "Food Scraps Composting on College/University Campuses: A Step-by-Step Guide", you will learn:
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How to select the proper technology for composting on your campus.
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How to implement that technology to …
- Posted April 25, 2016
- Publications
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University food gardens: a unifying place for higher education sustainability
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale (IL)
This research describes the key characteristics of campus food gardens and investigates their contribution to overall campus sustainability. An email-survey of 52 campus garden managers in North America provided quantitative …
- Posted April 25, 2016
- Publications
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Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT)
- Conservation International
- United Nations Environment Programme
IBAT for Research and Conservation Planning is an innovative tool designed to facilitate access to a range of global and national data layers, such as protected area boundaries, biological information …
- Posted March 24, 2016
- Tools
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i-Tree: Tools for Assessing and Managing Community Forests
- Arbor Day Foundation (NE)
- USDA (IL)
i-Tree is a state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service that provides urban forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools. The i-Tree Tools help communities of all sizes to …
- Posted March 24, 2016
- Tools
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IPaC: Information for Planning and Conservation
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
IPaC is a project planning tool that allows the user to:
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See if any threatened or endangered species, critical habitat, migratory birds or other natural resources may be impacted by …
- Posted March 24, 2016
- Tools
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar - Biodiversity-friendly Campuses
- Lewis & Clark College (OR)
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
- Audubon International (NY)
- Salmon Safe (OR)
Colleges and universities are playing a crucial role in protecting wildlife and restoring habitats on and off campus, and students, faculty, administrators, and staff are champions for sustainable environmental practices. …
- Posted March 3, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
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The Campus Wild: How College and University Green Landscapes Provide Havens for Wildlife and “Lands-on” Experiences for Students
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
This richly detailed guide highlights how colleges and universities are playing a dynamic role in protecting wildlife and restoring habitats in campus green spaces - including on-campus landscapes and natural …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Publications
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Watershed UGA; A living laboratory transforming campus and community through teaching, research and service.
- University of Georgia (GA)
This case study will introduce a new initiative at the University of Georgia, Watershed UGA, designed to engage the campus community in sustainability through campus watersheds. This transformative university-wide model …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Top Three Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting Systems
- Kirksey Architecture (TX)
This presentation will focus on the benefits of large-scale rainwater collection on campuses. Our presentation and charrette will be organized around the top three direct benefits of rainwater collection: Resiliency, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Educating About Feeding the World Sustainably: Agroecosystems of the World
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
This panel discussion will (virtually) bring together instructors collaborating on a course offered at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities titled 'Agroecosystems of the World.' The course evaluates agroecosystems in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Taking it to the Streets: Butler University's Sunset Avenue Complete Street Reconstruction Project Case Study
- Butler University (IN)
- Williams Creek Consulting (IN)
Butler University's campus in Indianapolis, Indiana is located adjacent to the Indiana Central Canal and White River. The majority of Butler's stormwater discharges directly to these waterways and Butler is …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Outdoor Education Space Design Challenge: A Collaborative Approach to Sustainable Design on Campus
- Western Michigan University (MI)
In 2014, the Office for Sustainability at Western Michigan University conducted a multidisciplinary design competition for the design of an Outdoor Education Space at the Gibbs House. The Design Challenge …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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A Campus Tree Inventory: An Interdisciplinary, Multi-Class, Mega-Lab Project
- Furman University (SC)
Trees provide a number of valuable ecosystem services, including reducing stormwater runoff, increasing air and water quality, storing and sequestering atmospheric carbon, and reducing energy consumption due to direct shading …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Growing Community: University of Louisville Eco-Reps and Blackacre Nature Preserve
- University of Louisville (KY)
The University of Louisville's Eco-Reps is a sustainability training and networking group offering certifications, hosting monthly lunches, local speakers, and field trips, and organizing volunteer projects. Blackacre State Nature Preserve …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Transforming the WKU Office of Sustainability's Front Yard into an Edible Landscape
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
The Western Kentucky University (WKU) Office of Sustainability, located in a University-owned residential property, seeks to demonstrate sustainability best practices for current and future homeowners. Since May 2014, the office's …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The UAlbany Heritage Garden: An Educational Tool for the Whole Campus
- University at Albany (NY)
In fall 2013, a task force of students, staff and faculty began developing a plan to institute a campus heritage garden. With the understanding that many student garden projects fall …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Reclaiming Urbanity with Permaculture: The First Years of a Food Forest
- Portland State University (OR)
Food forests use sustainable methods to garden within a closed-loop system. PSU students started a community orchard in 2011 with a plot of vacant land, 21 fruit tree varieties and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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A Multiple Methods Approach to Exploring Conservation Decision Making on the Farm: From Theory to Application
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- University of Minnesota System Office (MN)
Balancing agricultural production and water resource protection is a major challenge across the U.S. In Minnesota, where both water and agriculture are fundamental to the state's heritage, modern day identity, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Open-Ended Cases for Improving Farm Sustainability
- Dordt College (IA)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
The method of open-ended cases is an ideal format for students when they are analyzing the sustainability of a farm. Students learn about several of methods used for analyzing an …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Pioneering International Sustainability Education: A SMART Perspective
- SMART Eco Park India
- Broadway Green Alliance (NY)
This presentation will focus on the educational elements of SMART Eco-park, a 20 acre edu-tainment space near Mumbai, India. The park was founded with the goal of equipping future generations …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Campus Agriculture Networking Meeting: Identifying the Future of Campus Grown Food
- University of Michigan (MI)
- Ursinus College (PA)
Campus agriculture initiatives are rapidly becoming a ubiquitous part of campus life around the country. In the last fifteen years agricultural education, in the form of campus gardens and farms, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Zanmi Kafe: Using on-farm research to facilitate the adoption and management of more sustainable coffee-based agroecosystems in Haiti's Central Plateau
- Sewanee - The University of the South (TN)
Zanmi Kafe is a collaboration between Sewanee: The University of the South, and Zanmi Agrikol, a Haitian non-profit agricultural organization that aims to promote the adoption of more sustainable agroecosystems …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Zanmi Kafe: Using payments for carbon sequestration to promote climate action on Sewanee's campus, and more sustainable agroecosystems on Haiti's Central Plateau
- Sewanee - The University of the South (TN)
Zanmi Kafe is a collaboration between Sewanee: The University of the South, and Zanmi Agrikol, a Haitian non-profit agricultural organization that promotes the adoption of more sustainable agroecosystems in the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Sustainable Agriculture Project at Univ of MN Duluth: A Site-Based Land Lab for Sustainability
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
This proposal presents multiple perspectives on the creation and use of the Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP). Founded in 2009, the SAP Farm is a site based laboratory for sustainability with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The effect of Infiltration basins and raingardens to clean snowmelt: An integrative learning project in sustainability
- Concordia College (NY)
Infiltration basins and raingardens have growing popularity for their effectiveness as well as being aesthetically pleasing. In 2012, Concordia College in Moorhead, MN put in an infiltration basin in an …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Growing With Faith: Community Gardening in a Jesuit Context
- Gonzaga University (WA)
Under the umbrella of our Jesuit university's mission, which encourages a faith that does justice and service, we have engaged in new sustainability initiatives. One of these is the Campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Management of an Urban White Oak Savanna: Blending Indigenous Permaculture with City Life
- Portland State University (OR)
White Oak Savannas are among the most endangered ecological communities in the Pacific Northwest. Historically, annual burnings of these sprawling grasslands inhibited encroaching forests to allow for plentiful hunting, gathering …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Interactive Tree Map of SUNY Geneseo
- State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
Our project is an interactive map of the trees on the SUNY Geneseo campus, created utilizing GIS technology. It would act as an interactive digital field guide that would emphasize …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Sustainable Gardening Library
- Sustainable Gardening Institute (NJ)
The Sustainable Gardening Library is a single, centralized, easy-to-use repository for science-based, authoritative information on sustainable gardening and biodynamic agriculture that is accessed via a state-of-the-art, web-based mapping portal. Right …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Natural Fertilizer Initiative: A solar-powered, rainwater-fueled vermiculture and tea brewing system!
- University of Alabama in Huntsville (AL)
This was a student-led Green Fund project aimed at replacing all commercial fertilizers used on campus with compost tea. Students across multiple departments worked alongside university researchers, student organizations, the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Caloric Output of Global Agriculture 1961-2012
- University of Arkansas (AR)
It is conventionally suggested that world food production must double to feed world population by mid-century. To evaluate this claim, an inventory of global agricultural production from 1961 to 2012 …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Seed Diversity and Locality: Using seed libraries to explore the importance of regional crop diversity in the past and future
- University of South Dakota (SD)
Since the Green Revolution, modern agriculture has shifted from a local to a more global industry. In order to provide food for the growing population, monocultures, or large swaths of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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GIS Field Collection to Support a Tree Inventory for Campus Sustainability
- University of West Georgia (GA)
To promote sustainability on the University of West Georgia campus a GIS-based field collection application was developed. It is being utilized to collect and maintain characteristics of trees on campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Virginia Commonwealth University High-Output Learning Garden: Coordinating Resources and Partnerships to Relieve Food Insecurity
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
Food deserts are areas with limited access to healthy food options and are a major contributor to health issues and inequality in the United States. The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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NEXUS: Demonstration site for biomass greenhouse-heating systems to extend growing seasons for resource-limited farmers.
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Appalachian farmers struggle to maintain profitability with limited acreage, low profit margins, small markets and short growing seasons. To extend growing seasons, farmers dedicate some of their acreage to greenhouse …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Lessons from Germany to the US 2: Water
- Grinnell College (IA)
Despite the economic and social costs of frequent flooding in Iowa, stormwater handling and agricultural runoff are perennial problems, while in Germany, rainwater infiltration systems are required in most cities. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Campus Farm to Campus Table: Highlighting Local Foods and Student Work in a Campus Harvest Lunch
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
Beginning in 2013 and continuing in 2014, several dozen students, faculty, staff, and volunteers worked together to source a campus farm lunch at Johnson County Community College, a large, suburban, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Stormwater Runoff Management and Green Infrastructure on Loyola University Chicago
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
Stormwater runoff is a major problem all cities face. The Stormwater Runoff Management Project is a student-led project working with campus sustainability staff who's goal is to reduce the amount …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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UKnTrees: Growing urban forestry awareness, outreach, and education
- University of Kentucky (KY)
Many aspects of sustainability in urban environments, from environmental (stormwater management, climate regulation, urban heat island effects, air pollution removal) to economic (neighborhood and retail desirability, property values) to social …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Design, Installation and Evaluation of Sustainable Concrete Sidewalks on UMD Campus for Research and Learning
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
Concrete is the most commonly used man-made material on the planet; however, the production of cement, the binder that holds concrete together, is responsible for 5-8% of global anthropogenic CO2 …
- 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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Cornercopia Student Organic Farm at The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Cornercopia is an organic farm that provides students hands-on whole farm learning opportunities, food for the local community and a place for community building, multi-disciplinary education, research and outreach. Started …
- 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.
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.