Grounds

748 resources

Introducing Students to Campus Sustainability through Interactive Tree Labeling

  • Frostburg State University (MD)

Frostburg State University, recognized as Tree Campus USA for five years, has recently introduced an interactive tree labeling system. The labeled trees directly connect to a customizable webpage through smartphones ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Getting Started with Local Carbon Offsets: Spotlight on Urban Forestry

  • Davidson College (NC)
  • Duke University (NC)

For many schools working towards carbon neutrality, carbon offsets will play an important role. While offsets can be purchased on the open market, it is possible to have an even ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Valuing and Conserving College Land for Community Resilience

  • Middlebury College (VT)

This is a case study of the conservation of 2,100 acres of forest lands owned by Middlebury College at its Bread Loaf campus. This project established the permanent protection ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Middlebury College Land Conservation at Bread Loaf

  • Middlebury College (VT)

Middlebury's conserved lands around the Bread Loaf campus provides a scenic backdrop for numerous activities.


Middlebury's Bread Loaf Mountain Campus and Surrounding Conserved Lands

  • Middlebury College (VT)

Middlebury College's 2100 acres of conserved land is surrounded by Green Mountain National Forest land. Middlebury's conserved lands are enjoyed by participants of its summer programs at the ...


Full Circle Composting

  • Central Michigan University (MI)

Macalester College highlighted in AASHE's 2017 Sustainable Campus Index!

  • Macalester College (MN)

Caption: Kira Liu '17, left, and Emily Sylvestre '16, right, winterizing the bee hives with Pollinate Minnesota staff at Macalester College's Katharine Ordway Natural History Study Area. The photo ...


SOU Students Celebrating Arbor Day

  • Southern Oregon University (OR)

SOU students and the community came together to celebrate Arbor Day and Bee Campus USA by planting 6,000 native plants for pollinators throughout campus.


Closed Loop Composting at Central Michigan University

  • Central Michigan University (MI)

Through its commitment to utilizing organic waste as a valuable resource, Central Michigan University engages in a full-circle, closed system composting program that also promotes economic prosperity. Material from compost ...


Campus Engagement; Diversity & Affordability

  • Northwestern University (IL)

The Change Makers program at Northwestern University allows professional staff and faculty members to engage in a personal journey to create a more inclusive environment at Northwestern University. Change Makers ...


Building commitment to sustainability through habitat restoration: A case study of Valley Forge Christian College

  • Valley Forge Christian College (PA)

This sustainability initiative was created to improve the campus habitat for wildlife and to motivate students to begin new sustainability initiatives. A habitat restoration and educational outreach plan called “Habitat ...

  • Posted Sept. 28, 2017
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Natural Herbicides Project

  • Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
  • Engineers for a Sustainable World (CO)

First experiment (for Google Science Fair 2012). Weedy check (control plot in which no natural herbicides were applied) shown to left; treated areas shown to right.


Natural Herbicides Project

  • Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
  • Engineers for a Sustainable World (CO)

The Natural Herbicides Project focuses on addressing the issue of the usage of chemical herbicides with detrimental health and environmental impacts on- and off-campus. Our team developed an effective natural ...


Sustainable Biodiversity on the Georgia Southern Campus

  • Georgia Southern University (GA)

Our project recorded the biodiversity of vertebrates on the 700 acre rural campus of Georgia Southern University. Faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students were involved in collecting the data. Students ...


Adding a Nitrogen Footprint to Colorado State University’s Sustainability Plan

  • Colorado State University (CO)

As a large land grant university with more than 32,000 students, Colorado State University (CSU) has both on-campus non-agricultural and agricultural sources of nitrogen (N) released to the environment ...


Funding Strategies for Non-Traditional University MS4 Stormwater Programs

  • Michigan State University (MI)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
  • University of Michigan (MI)
  • University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
  • University of Virginia (VA)

Stormwater programs have historically been stymied by lack of proper funding resources. Unlike drinking water and sanitary sewer utility services that long ago transitioned to enterprise funds, a stormwater utility ...


Stanford University's R&DE Creatively Responds to the California Drought

  • Stanford University (CA)

Sustainability is a core value to Stanford University's Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE). R&DE is responsible for about 1/3 of Stanford's campus, housing over 13,000 residents ...


Community Engaged Scholarship and Learning in Urban Forestry helps UTRGV earn Tree Campus USA Designation

  • University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)

In 2014, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (through its legacy institution UTPA), one of the largest Hispanic Serving Institutions in the country, proposed and offered three iterations of ...


Tree Eyes

  • Duke University (NC)

Tree eyes were placed in key locations on campus during Earth Week for a photo contest to celebrate Duke's Green Spaces!


Arbor Day Tree Planting SUNY Fredonia 2017

  • State University of New York at Fredonia (NY)

Fredonia planted several Red Maple trees for Arbor Day 4/28/2017


An On-Campus Botanical Tour to Promote Student Satisfaction and Learning in a University Level Biodiversity or General Biology Course

  • Xavier University of Louisiana (LA)

Outdoor, hands-on and experiential learning, as opposed to instruction-based learning in classroom, increases student satisfaction and motivation leading to a deeper understanding of the subject. However, the use of outdoor ...


Sustainability Week @ KU Medical Center

  • University of Kansas Medical Center (KS)

KU Medical Center Sustainability Week was held to celebrate Earth Day and the one-year anniversary of the revamped recycling program. This included an Earth Day Celebration to share ways to ...


Suffolk County Community College Earth Week!

  • Suffolk County Community College (NY)

Orchard Planting: Earth Week

  • Mills College (CA)

Planting the first portion of an orchard at the Mills Community Farm in collaboration with the nonprofits Growing Together and Hip Hop for Change.


State University of New York at Cortland Campus Garden Spring Planting

  • State University of New York at Cortland (NY)

The SUNY Cortland Campus Garden Advisory Committee (consisting of students, staff and faculty) held a bed preparation and planting party at the campus garden.


Earth Day Pollinator Garden at Towson University

  • Towson University (MD)

Students, faculty and staff work together on Earth Day to install a student-designed pollinator garden.


Building a Monarch Waystation

  • Texas A&M University-Commerce (TX)
  • The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)

Building a Monarch Waystation is an easy way to support plant diversity and insect habitat. By engaging students and faculty in the creation of a ecological habitat, the campus both ...


Arbor Day Tree Planting

  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)

To celebrate National Arbor Day and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's second certification as an official "Tree Campus USA," students, faculty and staff gathered to hear a proclamation ...


San Francisco State University Facilities Grounds dept. & Housing Sustainability Committee

  • San Francisco State University (CA)

Students learned about the role Bioswales play in storm water management . A Bioswale is a large depression in the landscape that holds rain water and allows it to slowly percolate ...

  • Posted April 28, 2017
  • Photographs
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FIU Nature Preserve Pollinator Garden Planting

  • Florida International University (FL)

Florida International University's Nature Preserve is an 11-acre environmental education facility, representing the Florida Everglades. It is used to share ecological knowledge gained by university researchers with FIU students ...

  • Posted April 28, 2017
  • Photographs
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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Earth Week

  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (WI)

The Sustainability Office celebrated Earth Day with an entire week of activities recognizing the relationship each individual has with the environment. A variety of interactive events included garden and greenhouse ...

  • Posted April 28, 2017
  • Photographs
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Green Roof Dedication

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

Penn State President Eric Barron spoke at the dedication of the HUB Green Roof, 2014 class gift, on April 21.

  • Posted April 27, 2017
  • Photographs
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Eco Action tree planting

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

Penn State’s Eco Action chapter helped the Office of the Physical Plant (OPP) plant two red oak trees on Tuesday, April 25 along the President’s house driveway. They ...

  • Posted April 27, 2017
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Ryerson Earth Day Fair

  • Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) (ON)

At Ryerson's Earth Day fair, students and staff were invited to get outdoors and participate in some fun activities including pollinators, cycling, seeds and more!

  • Posted April 27, 2017
  • Photographs
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Earth Day 2017: Campus Program and Activities

  • Bridgewater College (VA)
  1. Earth Day 2017 Celeberation on Campus
    • Tree planting ceremony *Pictures showing is part of an effort to raise awareness on campus about the ubiquitous nature of plastic in our lives ...
  • Posted April 27, 2017
  • Photographs
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UIC Growing Green

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

Did you know that the University of Illinois at Chicago has been a designated as a Tree Campus USA since 2011? UIC is dedicated to the health and preservation of ...

  • Posted April 27, 2017
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Earth Day Tree Planting

  • Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)

Students Planted trees, in coordination with Tree Campus USA, during our Earth Day celebration.

  • Posted April 27, 2017
  • Photographs
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Dandelion Festival

  • Berea College (KY)

The second annual Dandelion Festival sought to educate students and the public about the importance of organic and non-invasive lawn management. The Festival opened with workshops led by two professors ...

  • Posted April 27, 2017
  • Photographs
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Carbon Neutral Green Basketball Game Tree Planting

  • Berea College (KY)

Each year, the Berea College Office of Sustainability hosts a Carbon Neutral Green Basketball Game. Carbon emissions are tallied from the use of the gym for the game and for ...

  • Posted April 27, 2017
  • Photographs
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Utah State University Earth Day 2017

  • Utah State University (UT)

April 21, 2017

9:00 AM- 12:00 PM Yoga, live music, tabling on the Quad
12:30 PM Featured speaker Stacy Bare, TSC Auditorium
2:00-5:00 PM Service ...
  • Posted April 27, 2017
  • Photographs
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Beauty in the World We Find: Earth Week at Wake Forest University

  • Wake Forest University (NC)

Students, faculty, staff, and community members came together to celebrate our urban forests, waterways, and the landscapes that surround us during Earth Week at Wake Forest. Inspired by Terry Tempest ...

  • Posted April 26, 2017
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Ohio State's "Seeds of Service" brought out hundreds to clean, plant and celebrate

  • The Ohio State University (OH)

As part of Ohio State University's sustainability awareness week, called "Time For Change Week 2017," students attending the "Seeds of Service" event celebrated a beautiful spring day by cleaning ...

  • Posted April 26, 2017
  • Photographs
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Integrating Education for Sustainable Development through Tree Campus USA

  • University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
  1. Participants will be able to identify the advantages of including credit-based learning in the project versus hiring consultants
  2. Participants will be able to extrapolate and apply a plan for implementation ...
  • Posted April 25, 2017
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Making a Monarch Waystation

  • The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)

How easy it is to support plant diversity and insect habitat.

  • Posted April 25, 2017
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Permaculture on Campus

  • Hiram College (OH)

Students help sheet mulch and add edible landscaping on Hiram College's campus this Earth Day.

  • Posted April 24, 2017
  • Photographs
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Suffolk County Community College - Earth Week!

  • Suffolk County Community College (NY)

Suffolk County Community College Earth Week Events!

  • Posted April 21, 2017
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Suffolk County Community College Earth Week!

  • Suffolk County Community College (NY)

Earth Week Events at Suffolk County Community College

  • Posted April 21, 2017
  • Photographs
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Seattle University On-Site Composting Facility

  • Seattle University (WA)

In 2002 Seattle University (SU) built a state-of-the-art, on-campus composting facility. The composting facility is a unique, sustainable, closed-loop system that processes pre-consumer food and yard waste that is produced ...

  • Posted April 20, 2017
  • Case Studies
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Fredonia lights the campus green

  • State University of New York at Fredonia (NY)

In celebration of Earth Month fredonia uses green lamps to light the campus, including the Landford House (the President's Residence)

  • Posted April 11, 2017
  • Photographs
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar - Using a Design Competition to Expand Bee Habitat On and Off-Campus

  • University of Manitoba (MB)
  • AASHE (PA)

BEE / HOUSE / LAB was an international design competition at the University of Manitoba that resulted in innovative bee houses built, installed around campus and used for research. The reasons for ...

  • Posted March 2, 2017
  • Videos & Webinars
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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

OP 10: Biodiversity

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

Grounds Partners