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
Repairing our Foodshed
- Wells College (NY)
Wells College has acted to address gaps within its local foodshed. Responding to area 'food desert' conditions, the college initiated the Aurora Farmers Market to provide community residents access to …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Pollinator Friendly Campuses: Strategies to Help You Get Your Buzz on!
- Central Community College (NE)
- Colgate University (NY)
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
- Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus (OR)
This engaging and interactive panel will provide strategies from geographically diverse locations in North America to initiate or continue bee keeping and support pollinator health on your campus. Colgate University …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Native Food Garden in the Sonoran Desert
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Since July 2017, I began volunteering at The Desert Research Learning Center (DLRC). The DRLC is owned by the National Park Service and is located adjacent to the east district …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Great Gardening Goals: Aligning WMU's Gibbs Permaculture Site With the UN's SDGs
- Western Michigan University (MI)
At the Western Michigan University Gibbs Site, the Office for Sustainability demonstrates permaculture techniques, and researches the validity of those techniques, while repairing damaged land, building soil carbon, increasing biodiversity, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Rising to the Global Biodiversity Challenge: A New Model at the University of British Columbia (UBC)
- University of British Columbia (BC)
With the world's 6th mass extinction underway, we are in the midst of a critical historical juncture. In a time characterized by rampant urbanization, climate change and disconnection between citizens …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Pollinator Protection: Save the Monarch Butterfly!
- Central Community College (NE)
This poster will describe the process Central Community College uses to engage students in the support of pollinators, particularly the Monarch butterfly. Furthermore, basic information regarding Monarch butterfly behavior and …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Supporting Sustainability Education and Biodiversity Through Grounds Management
- State University of New York at Cortland (NY)
For the last 3 years, AASHE Sustainable Campus Index has recognized SUNY Cortland as top performing in the grounds category. This poster will highlight the variety of methods we use …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Overcoming Obstacles When Establishing Intentional, Productive Urban Campus Green Spaces: Natural and Man-made Challenges
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
In April 2016, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), an urban research university in downtown Richmond, VA, created an on-campus Learning Garden. Urban campus gardens can face a unique set of challenges …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Leadership in Sustainable Grounds Management: The Audubon International Experience
- American University (DC)
- University of Florida (FL)
- Niagara College Canada (ON)
- Audubon International (NY)
This presentation will provide an open dialogue and best practice sharing on the process of achieving Audubon International's (AI) Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) certification at both public and private, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Grounds for Change: Electrifying CSUN's Landscaping Equipment
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
Driven by CSUN's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality, Facilities Planning staff worked with The University's Grounds Shop to test and purchase electric string trimmers, leaf blowers and a riding lawnmower …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Thompson Rivers University - The Solar Compass: A Case Study on Ground Mounted Solar Modules
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
In the summer of 2017, a collective of faculty, students, industry professionals and an innovative photo voltaic manufacturer installed North America's first ground mounted solar array. The installation is on …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Student Oriented Sustainability Projects on a Small Educational Campus
- State University of New York at Canton (NY)
In learning about sustainability practices, students acquire more knowledge through an active process of engagement, by constructing new ideas and working on projects, rather than traditional teaching practices such as …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Landscapes Graduate Certificate
- George Washington University (DC)
The field of landscape design is growing as people call for beauty that can both point to the future and call us back to our natural element. As the demand …
- Posted Oct. 15, 2018
- Academic Programs
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In planting campus gardens, university students root themselves in the larger world
- George Washington University (DC)
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)
- AASHE (MA)
- The Washington Post (DC)
Campus gardens allow students an opportunity to tackle food deserts and take action on climate concerns they may have.
- Posted Sept. 7, 2018
- Publications
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UIC Campus Bike Rack Inventory
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
In the summer of 2018, this project was undertaken to inventory all bike racks at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Knowing for certain the capacities and locations of the …
- Posted Aug. 10, 2018
- Case Studies
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Free Food Planters at University of New Brunswick
- University of New Brunswick, Fredericton (NB)
To engage its campus community in personal and social change through sustainable urban agriculture, the University of New Brunswick Sustainability Office has established sustainable, self-watering, free food planters around the …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2018
- Photographs
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Dickinson College Solar Array
- Dickinson College (PA)
Dickinson’s new (2018), 12-acre solar array project—designed and built by Tesla—is projected to generate approximately 5,200,000 kwh per year, representing more than 25 percent of Dickinson’s current electricity consumption and …
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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Dickinson Farm
- Dickinson College (PA)
Located just a few miles from campus, the Dickinson College Farm is a 50-acre, USDA-certified organic farm and living laboratory where students can gain distinctive, hands-on learning experiences. With 12 …
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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Campus Engagement: Sustainability @ Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
- Dickinson College (PA)
The Hive, Dickinson's beekeeping cooperative, is our newest living laboratory. The Hive engages students, staff, and faculty in learning about sustainability problems and solutions through the direct experience of beekeeping, …
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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Emory University adopted a Pollinator Protection Policy in 2014
- Emory University (GA)
Emory University adopted a comprehensive Pollinator Protection Policy in 2014, a first of its kind policy at U.S. colleges and universities that bans neonicotinoid application, plants pre-treated with neonicotinoids and …
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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Nord Family Greenway
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
The Case Western Reserve University Nord Family Greenway is a 300-foot-wide parkland in the heart of the CWRU's campus that was recently renovated to enhance pedestrian and bike access. The …
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
Penn's main, academic campus was accredited as a Level I ArbNet-certified Arboretum as of April 2017, and Level II in November 20107. The Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania encompasses …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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Edible Campus UNC Student Volunteers
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
Edible Campus UNC at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a program of the North Carolina Botanical Garden that incorporates edible, medicinal, and pollinator-friendly plants into existing landscapes …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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Edible Campus UNC Student Volunteers
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
Edible Campus UNC at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a program of the North Carolina Botanical Garden that incorporates edible, medicinal, and pollinator-friendly plants into existing landscapes …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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Edible Campus Garden at UNC Chapel Hill
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
Edible Campus UNC at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a program of the North Carolina Botanical Garden that incorporates edible, medicinal, and pollinator-friendly plants into existing landscapes …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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Solar Sheep at Antioch College
- Antioch College (OH)
Since 2015, Antioch College has brought sheep to campus to live in a distinctly different location – the five-acre Antioch solar farm. The small “self-fertilizing lawnmowers” live within the fenced-in …
- Posted July 27, 2018
- Photographs
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VCU Community-University Urban Forestry Program
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
The Urban Forestry Initiative at Virginia Commonwealth University is a community-based research project designed to meet the community identified need of increasing urban tree canopy cover and the university identified …
- Posted July 27, 2018
- Photographs
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Natural Herbicides: For a Greener Campus Environment
- Cornell University (NY)
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
- AASHE (MA)
This webinar will cover how colleges can improve the sustainability of weed management on their campuses and engage students in thinking about finding substitutes to environmentally detrimental products and practices. …
- Posted July 26, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Cascadia students and faculty inspire love for native soils on Wetlands Day!
- Cascadia College (WA)
Wetland's Day at Cascadia College Using our mobile classroom to teach interested passerby about our complex native soils
- Posted July 24, 2018
- Photographs
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Carbon sequestered in the trees on a university campus: a case study
- University of Waikato
The authors aim to investigate the ability of a New Zealand university to rely on the CO2 sequestered in the trees on campus to mitigate the CO2 emissions caused by …
- Posted June 29, 2018
- Publications
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The Catastrophic Meal--Exploring the Food Systems and Cultures of the Future
- Vestjyllands Højskole
Vestjyllands Højskole hosted The Catastrophic Meal to demonstrate both a utopian and dystopian view of future food culture. As part of the EU's Aarhus City of Culture celebrations, the event …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Analyzing Ecological Integrity: An Assessment of Princeton University’s Natural Areas
- Princeton University (NJ)
How can aerial images be used to interpret land use-changes? What can lake sedimentation tell us about erosion patterns? To what extent do forest patches act as stream buffers? How …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Publications
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Campus Mapping Project
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
Florida Gulf Coast University is located on over 300 acres of wetland and upland preserves. Our unique location has led to the values of environmental stewardship, literacy, and service to …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Wildlife Habitat Management on College and University Campuses
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
With the increasing involvement of higher education institutions in sustainability movements, it remains unclear to what extent college and university campuses address wildlife habitat. Many campuses encompass significant areas of …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Publications
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SUNY Polytechnic Institute Campus Forest Carbon Inventory Report and Sequestration Estimates
- State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (NY)
This report takes initial measurements for existing SUNY Polytechnic Institute campus forest carbon stocks and estimates projections for annual rates of carbon sequestration. Establishing a baseline for campus forest carbon …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Publications
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Renewable Energy for Campus Facilites Services
- Black Hills State University (SD)
Demonstrating the effectiveness of the use of renewable energy at low costs in campus facilities services vehicles will help Black Hills State University reach its carbon and waste reduction goals. …
- Posted May 17, 2018
- Case Studies
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College Campus Landscapes Within a Learning Ecosystem
- University of Northern Iowa (IA)
College campus landscapes may help restore student attentional capacity for learning when intentionally viewed as educational resources or integrated with academic content.
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Publications
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Gardening for a Changing Climate
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
Thousands of students enjoyed the spring weather as they celebrated Earth Day and the UIC Climate Commitments at the Earth Day fair. This outdoor pop-up event, planned by UIC students …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Photographs
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Arbor Day Tree Planting
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
UIC is a Tree Campus USA and on crisp, cool and sunny morning, we celebrated Arbor Day with many UIC students, staff, faculty, and other tree enthusiasts. We planted two …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Photographs
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Emory Pollinator Protection Program
- Emory University (GA)
Concerned about the plight of bees and other pollinators, which are essential for two-thirds of the food crops we eat every day, Emory University developed a comprehensive Pollinator Protection Commitment …
- Posted May 4, 2018
- Case Studies
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Composting for a Greener Campus: the Texas State University Bobcat Blend program
- Texas State University, San Marcos (TX)
Bobcat Blend is a faculty managed, student-run and grant-supported research and teaching-oriented waste management campus composting program at Texas State University. The goals of the organization are to teach students, …
- Posted May 2, 2018
- Case Studies
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Greener Grant Week! Earth Week 2018
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
A week of Earth Day Events!
Students watched a seed library demonstration and then were able to take home whichever seeds they pleased. They also planted sunflower seeds. Volunteers for …
- Posted April 30, 2018
- Photographs
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PCC Earth (Extended) Week events across the district!
- Portland Community College (OR)
A look at a couple great moments from this years extended Earth Week! There were so many events, service projects, and good times to choose from that I'm going to …
- Posted April 30, 2018
- Photographs
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Earth Day 5k
- DePauw University (IN)
Participants at DePauw University's Earth Day 5K ready to start the race. Students and community members participating in the DePauw University Earth Day 5K. Participants at the finish line of …
- Posted April 26, 2018
- Photographs
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Suffolk County Community College's Arbor Day Celebration!
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
Celebrating being recognized as a Tree Campus USA for the second year in a row. Students gathered as the award was presented to the Campus Dean. They then took advantage …
- Posted April 26, 2018
- Photographs
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Restoring our Lake
- University at Buffalo (NY)
The North Shore of Lake LaSalle is currently a non-vegetated section of shoreline. Erosion has left steep slopes, exposed soil, and undercut shorelines. Beginning in late April of 2018 a …
- Posted April 25, 2018
- Photographs
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2018 Earth Week at Wake Forest
- Wake Forest University (NC)
Students, faculty, staff, and friends from the community worked together to remove leaf litter and tree limbs from the Wake Forest cross-country trails on Friday, March 23, as part of …
- Posted April 19, 2018
- Photographs
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The FIU Nature Preserve: Achieving Biological Conservation Through Diversification of Stakeholders
- Florida International University (FL)
Many institutions of higher education have sustainability initiatives; however, not all consider the importance of proximity to nature in the psychological well-being of their associated human community. Florida International University …
- Posted April 18, 2018
- Publications
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The Role of University Campuses in Reconnecting Humans to the Biosphere
- Stockholm University
In this paper, we explore the potential for integrating university campuses in a global sustainability agenda for a closer reconnection of urban residents to the biosphere. This calls for a …
- Posted April 17, 2018
- Publications
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BS in Agriculture, Major in Sustainable Agriculture Systems
- University of Alberta (AB)
Students will develop the skill needed to lead in sustainable agricultural systems with this major stream. Students will have the opportunity to widen their knowledge base by: Studying agriculture in …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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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.