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
Bachelor of Biology
- Universite du Quebec a Montreal (Québec)
This program revolves around the biology of the environment and biodiversity. During the first two years, the student acquires knowledge about living beings and their diversity; the different levels of ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Minor in Ecology
- Universite du Quebec a Montreal (Québec)
The program aims to provide basic training in the field of ecology, by acquiring the notions of biology necessary for understanding the dynamics of ecosystems and by access to scientific ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Integrative Conservation PhD
- University of Georgia (GA)
The conservation community has increasingly recognized that responding effectively to these challenges will require that the next generation of practitioners and scholars not only develop expertise in specific fields but ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Conservation Minor
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls (WI)
Required courses: ESM 105 Introduction to Environmental Studies 2 cr. ESM 109 Introduction to Forestry 2 cr. ESM 151 Introduction to Land Use Theory and Practice 3 cr. ESM 343 ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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BS Resource Conservation
- University of Montana (MT)
Effective resource conservation requires broad training and the ability to integrate and communicate across disciplines. The B.S. in Resource Conservation is an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental major that prepares students for ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Ecological Restoration Minor
- University of Montana (MT)
The minor requires 24 credits including courses in ecology (at least 3 credits), restoration (6 credits), statistics (3 credits), ecosystem science and management (9 credits), and human dimensions of natural ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Wilderness Studies Minor
- University of Montana (MT)
Earn a minor in Wilderness Studies through the Wilderness and Civilization program. In this semester-plus field and campus-based program, you'll learn about wilderness and land ethics; engage with conservation ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Minor in Wildlife Biology
- University of Montana (MT)
Students can earn a B.S. or M.S. in Wildlife Biology or a PhD in Fish & Wildlife Biology. Focus on ecology, population biology, wildlife biology, and critical thinking ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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BS in Wildlife Biology
- University of Montana (MT)
Students can earn a B.S. or M.S. in Wildlife Biology or a PhD in Fish & Wildlife Biology. Focus on ecology, population biology, wildlife biology, and critical thinking ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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MS in Wildlife Biology
- University of Montana (MT)
Students can earn a B.S. or M.S. in Wildlife Biology or a PhD in Fish & Wildlife Biology. Focus on ecology, population biology, wildlife biology, and critical thinking ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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PhD Forest & Conservation Sciences
- University of Montana (MT)
Our doctoral program offers you the opportunity to conduct rigorous, meaningful research on a broad range of forest and conservation sciences topics. You'll complete a dissertation based on original ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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PhD Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior with Global Change Emphasis
- Boise State University (ID)
The coursework in this program prepares scientists to use interdisciplinary theories to examine complex ecological questions from biological, physical, and social science perspectives. We are dedicated to offering a variety ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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MS Biodiversity & Land-Use Planning
- National University of Ireland, Galway (Co. Galway)
This part-time course extends over 24 months and runs in two-year cycles continuously from September through to the end of August of the second year. The modular course is devoted ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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BS Taronga Wildlife Conservation
- University of Sydney (NSW)
This unique degree will develop your expertise in wildlife conservation. It is designed for students wanting to make an impact in the conservation sector, to secure a shared future for ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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MS in Ecology and Conservation Biology
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Master of Science degree is designed primarily for students who are pursuing an academic or research career in ecology and/or natural resource management, with an emphasis on forest ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Trees on campus are rooted in history
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Seven serve as a memorial to lives needlessly taken. One received the blessing of the Dalai Lama. Others pay homage to local history. But symbolism and aesthetics aside, each of ...
- Posted May 31, 2022
- Photographs
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A greenway for sustainable transportation of the university campus: Diyala University as a case study
- University of Baghdad
- University of Diyala
Transportation is one of the aspects that enable us to achieve sustainability on a university campus, by taking environmental, social, and economic requirements. Walking is a green mode that can ...
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Arbor Day at Nova Southeastern University
- Nova Southeastern University (FL)
In celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day, students, staff, faculty, and the University's President came together to celebrate the environment with a tree planting ceremony and educational table ...
- Posted May 23, 2022
- Photographs
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The Land Use Changes in the Çukurova University Campus
- Çukurova Üniversitesi
- Osmaniye Korkut Ata Üniversitesi
- Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi
This study aimed to determine the land-use changes in the Cukurova University campus, providing ecosystem services to the city of Adana with its natural areas. Land uses of the study ...
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Learning from the Dirt: Initiating university food gardens as a cross-disciplinary tertiary teaching tool
- Macquarie University (NSW)
Food gardens are an underdeveloped resource for teaching and research in Australian universities. While some campuses have food or botanical gardens, outside the biological or physical sciences food growing is ...
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Defining a Pedagogical Framework for Integrating Buildings and Landscapes in Conjunction with Social Sustainability Discourse in the Architecture Graduate Design Studio
- Girne American University
- Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design
The primary objective of this research is to define a pedagogy framework for architecture Graduate Design Studio. The proposed pedagogy framework pursues the following three principal objectives: The first objective ...
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Assessment of the Ecological Footprint of Eskisehir Technical University–Iki Eylul Campus
- Eskişehir Technical University
- Kastamonu Universitesi
Sustainable development is a concept that has started gaining importance in recent years. It helps reduce the environmental impacts of cities with dense human populations. On a smaller scale, social ...
- Posted May 11, 2022
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University gardens for sustainable citizenship: assessing the impacts of garden-based learning on environmental and food education at Spanish higher education
- Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador
- University of Valladolid
Gardens are being used at all educational stages, because they provide with a real-world context for active and experiential learning. In Spain, there exists a movement in favor of their ...
- Posted May 11, 2022
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Landscapes as living laboratories for sustainable campus planning and stewardship: A scoping review of approaches and practices
- California State University, Monterey Bay (CA)
Living laboratories are increasingly employed to support campus sustainability and student learning. This research explored how living labs are defined in relation to the biophysical landscape, how they are integrated ...
- Posted May 11, 2022
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Promoting sustainability education through hands-on approaches: a tree carbon sequestration exercise in a Singapore green space
- National University of Singapore
- Maejo University
During a university class project related to climate change mitigation strategies, we utilized a university green space as a “living laboratory” for collaborative learning exercise to estimate landscape-level carbon biomass ...
- Posted May 11, 2022
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UAlbany Earth Day clean up
- University at Albany (NY)
On Earth Day, several organizations sponsored clean up and garden restorations throughout the day on campus and in the community.
- Posted April 27, 2022
- Photographs
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Nature Rx: Using Collaborations to Highlight and Harness the Healing Power of Nature
- University of Kentucky (KY)
- AASHE (PA)
Nature, even just a view of green space, is healing and restorative in many ways. Public and campus greenspaces represent preventative resources, available to all, that can help combat historic ...
- Posted Feb. 3, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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How Students can Introduce Bee Campus USA to Their Schools
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
Learn the basics of how to start a Bee Campus USA committee and ready a Bee Campus USA application from start to finish, as well as prepare for the next ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Preparing Our Urban Forests for Our Changing Climate
- Urban Forest Initiative (KY)
Urban forests are vital to mitigating the negative effects of climate change to urban residents. Urban trees help reduce storm-water runoff, cool cities, filter air and water pollutants, sequester carbon ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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TreeCATs (Collegiate Arborist Trainings): A Model for Campus Tree Engagement
- University of Kentucky (KY)
The TreeCATs (Collegiate Arborist Training) workshops, facilitated by the UK Urban Forest Initiative (UFI), promote knowledge, insights, skills, and engagement for college students, emboldening them to take a more active ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Herbicide Free Campus: Re-Engaging Students With Their Environment
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
Herbicide-Free Campus (HFC) envisions a toxin-free world created by student action. Founded by students, HFC empowers youth leaders to re-engage their campuses with creative outdoor work to end campus reliance ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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University Leadership: Elevating the Value of Outdoor Spaces Using the SITES® Rating System
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
- Green Business Certification Inc (DC)
Landscapes are an integral part of the built environment that provide a multitude of essential services such as flood control, improved water quality, climate regulation, pollination services and improved health ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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The Future Is Interdisciplinary: A Campus Farm Model
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
This presentation will focus on the GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project, an interdisciplinary, four-acre, student operated farm. The mission of the SAP is to seed sustainable agriculture best practices, cultivate leadership ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Bee Campus USA Certification: Collective Efforts and Benefit-Cost Analysis
- Louisiana State University (LA)
In recent decades several pollinator species such as bumble bees and monarch butterflies, among others, have experienced massive population declines in the US and other parts of the world, coinciding ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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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
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The Future of Life on Earth: A Case for Academia’s Role in Advancing Conservation and Biodiversity to Address Climate and Human Health
- Harvard University (MA)
- Stanford University (CA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (MA)
In a January 2021 executive order addressing the climate crisis, President Joe Biden committed the U.S. to an ambitious conservation goal: to protect 30 percent of U.S. land ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Saving the Campus Farm: One Approach to Leveraging Institutional Support for a Campus Farm Space
- Butler University (IN)
Although there has been a dramatic increase in the number of campus farms in the past thirty year, most farms serve as co-curricular resources or have limited use in formal ...
- Posted Jan. 13, 2022
- Case Studies
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CSUF Celebrates Arbor Day With Tree Planting Ceremony
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Cal State Fullerton, in cooperation with the City of Fullerton, celebrated Arbor Day by planting several trees throughout campus. The mayor, city council members and administrators from the City of ...
- Posted Dec. 9, 2021
- Photographs
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Biosequestration at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Biosequestration Internal Analysis Team. The Biosequestration ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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Biodiversity Assessment for Non-Biologists: Tools for Completing the STARS Credit
- University of Dayton (OH)
Are you intimidated by the STARS Biodiversity Assessment credit? If so, you're not alone. Thirty percent of STARS reporters do not complete this credit. And yet biodiversity loss and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Herbicide Free Campus: Transitioning Away From Synthetic Herbicides Use on School Campuses
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
Herbicide Free Campus is a student-founded organization that work directly with groundskeepers and school campuses to end campus reliance on synthetic herbicides. Modern science has proven time and time again ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Course on Landscaping with Native Plants for Benefit of Students and Campus Grounds
- Eureka College (IL)
People in general are spending less time indoors and more time looking at screens, leaving them less active and less connected with nature. Students face struggles learning to balance a ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Goats, bees, and native species: A 'living' lab stream restoration experience
- University of Richmond (VA)
The Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor revitalized 13 acres of campus at the University of Richmond. What began as a plan to upgrade a trail, turned into the creation of a vibrant ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Accessibility in Campus Green Spaces
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
This presentation will discuss the beneficial role UNC Asheville's urban green spaces play on campus, with a special focus on accessibility. When considering college enrollment, I was worried by ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Examining the Transition to a More Regenerative Growing System
- Knox College (IL)
The Knox campus farm, established in 2014, has historically focused on vegetable production for our campus dining services. In the past year, our focus has shifted to more regenerative practices ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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New Ways to Love a Tree
- Hope College (MI)
The tree outside your window is providing ecological, economic, and health benefits that most folks take for granted. As urban development continues to replace natural forests at a rapid pace ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Feeding the Campus Community & Beyond Through On-Site Agriculture
- Green Building Initiative (OR)
On campus agriculture presents students, faculty and staff the opportunity to provide for their community as well as contribute to transitioning from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy. As ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Living Lab Approach to Saving The Farm
- Butler University (IN)
The Farm at Butler University has existed for 10 years without dedicated administrative funding. With no immediate funding support from the University planned, the Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The MycHotel: A novel mycelial building material used to augment solitary bee and wasp conservation
- Central Community College (NE)
Rapidly declining bee populations have become increasingly common across the globe. Concerns are focused on European honey bees while North America's native pollinators are in peril. Solitary bees are ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Engaged Learning in the Landscape
- Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus (NJ)
Land grant institutions have historically used the campus landscape as a classroom and laboratory for teaching, research and outreach on agricultural topics. Contemporary challenges urged us to expand this model ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- 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. Additional content and advanced benchmarking tools will be added to this tab over time.
Programs and Initiatives
The following links connect to specific Content Displays on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
- Integrated pest management (IPM) plans
- Sustainable landscape management strategies related to:
- Methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas
- Plans or programs to protect endangered or vulnerable species, habitats and environmentally sensitive areas