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Public Engagement

Introduction

Engagement in community problem-solving is fundamental to sustainability. By engaging with community members and organizations in the governmental, non-profit and for-profit sectors, institutions can help solve sustainability challenges. Community engagement can help students develop leadership skills while deepening their understandings of practical, real-world problems and the process of creating solutions.

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Enabling Divestment from Fossil Fuels: Characterizing Divestment Awareness and Support at Dalhousie University

  • Dalhousie University (NS)

A team of students at Dalhousie University has come together to develop a comprehensive research report on the state of divestment from fossil fuels at their University. Divestment campaigns have …

  • Posted April 11, 2018
  • Publications
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Promoting Sustainability Science on Campus: Renewable Energy Workshops Hosted at Kean University in New Jersey

  • Kean University (NJ)

The project provides workshops for high school/college students and educators to learn the basics, application, and impacts of renewable energy through hands-on activities and software tools. The workshops cover many …

  • Posted April 3, 2018
  • Case Studies
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Fall 2017 Immersive Learning: Brownfields to Brightfields

  • Ball State University (IN)

With the support and facilitation of the Center for Energy Research/Education/Service (CERES) at Ball State University, a group of second year urban planning students in the College of Architecture and …

  • Posted April 3, 2018
  • Publications
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Students' Understanding of Sustainability and Climate Change across Linked Service-Learning Courses

  • University of Vermont (VT)

College and university faculty are increasingly being called upon to teach about sustainability. Many of these faculty members are incorporating content related to climate change because climate change is arguably …

  • Posted March 29, 2018
  • Publications
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Achieving Sustainability in the City of Winona, Minnesota (USA): A Case-Study

  • Winona State University (MN)

The City of Winona is a small urban center (27,000 people) in southeastern Minnesota. Located along the Mississippi River, the city is nestled below steep bluffs that limit further urban …

  • Posted March 29, 2018
  • Publications
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Engaging Across Boundaries: The Power of Civic Engagement in Sustainability

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)
  • Portland Community College (OR)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • Campus Compact (MA)

Speakers will offer an introduction to the broader concept of civic engagement and will share experiences, best practices, models and frameworks:

  • in setting up a a multiple semester student engagement …

  • Posted March 27, 2018
  • Videos & Webinars
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Integrating Geoscience and Sustainability: Examining Socio-Techno-Ecological Relationships Within Content Designed to Prepare Teachers

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

Coupling the study of sustainability with geoscience may enable students to explore science in a more sophisticated way by examining the social–technological–ecological relationships that exist between human–nonhuman and flora–fauna–land interactions. …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
  • Publications
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Impact of a Participatory Analysis of a Campus Sustainability Social Network: A Case Study of Emory University

  • Emory University (GA)

Social network analysis makes visible the invisible connections and flows that underlie complex social relationships. Applied organizational researchers have used social network analysis to assess and improve organizational and leadership …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
  • Publications
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Sustainability and Civic Engagement: A Communications Engagement and Education Plan

  • Bridgewater State University (MA)

Across the United States primarily on a town or city basis, the increasing public awareness and understanding of the detrimental impact of human activity on the environment is fostering the …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
  • Publications
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Higher education in the sustainable development goals framework

  • UNESCO

Agenda 2030 for sustainable development focuses attention on lifelong learning opportunities for all. The new targets expand on their predecessors, the Millennial Development Goals, by both widening and deepening the …

  • Posted March 12, 2018
  • Publications
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Case Study: Using a Service-Learning Course to Reinforce the Three Pillars of Sustainability

  • University of Mississippi (MS)

Service-learning courses at the university level provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about sustainability. The senior and graduate level elective course Service-Learning for Water Treatment at the University …

  • Posted March 9, 2018
  • Publications
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Universities and Conflict The Role of Higher Education in Peacebuilding and Resistance

This book uses a series of case studies to examine the roles played by universities during situations of conflict, peacebuilding and resistance.

While a body of work dealing with the …

  • Posted March 9, 2018
  • Publications
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Public-Public Partnerships for a New Paradigm in the Civic Role of the University

  • California State University, Chico (CA)

Recognizing the need to proactively prepare engaged citizens for the dynamic socioeconomic and environmental conditions of the 21st century, the Institute for Sustainable Development at California State University (CSU), Chico, …

  • Posted March 5, 2018
  • Publications
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Exposing Students to Environmental Sustainability in Accounting: An Analysis of its Impacts in a U.S. Setting

  • Illinois State University (IL)
  • University of Northern Iowa (IA)

In this research study, we examine whether the introduction of two different forms of an environmental sustainability intervention into differing sections of an introductory-level managerial accounting course at a US …

  • Posted March 5, 2018
  • Publications
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Second Year Sale of Goodbye Goodbuy

Recovery and Reuse; On-Campus and Off

  • Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)

Many of the challenges sustainability seeks to address can be challenging to visualize. Moreover, the scale of these challenges can stifle the motivation to act before one even begins. These …

  • Posted March 5, 2018
  • Case Studies
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Green Interview: Kimberly Smith, Director of Conferences and Events, AASHE

  • AASHE (MA)

When Kimberly Smith began as director of conferences and events at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), she already thought she was doing her part …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2018
  • Publications
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Faculty Development for Advancing Community Engagement in Higher Education: Current Trends and Future Directions

  • University of San Francisco (CA)

This research involved the conduct of a conceptual review of 28 refereed journal articles and a survey of campus centers for community engagement staff to identify salient features and trends …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2018
  • Publications
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Climate Resilience Planning and Organizational Learning on Campuses and Beyond: A Comparative Study of Three Higher Education Institutions

  • Boston University (MA)
  • Cornell University (NY)
  • Smith College (MA)

Higher education institutions around the world are confronting challenges associated with climate change, and many are trying to model practices that support climate change mitigation and resilience. This work initiates …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2018
  • Publications
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Beacons, Not Towers: How Higher Education Can Help Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

  • United Nations University

Higher education is often idealized as a tool for implementing sustainable development. Yet the structures of higher education institutions (HEIs) often inhibit the types of problem solving and pedagogical design …

  • Posted Feb. 22, 2018
  • Publications
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Environmental justice frameworks in student affairs assessment practice

  • University of Georgia (GA)

Assessment and evaluation of programs are core components of ethical professional practice for student affairs administrators in higher education. This paper reviews three environmental frameworks and applies the Just sustainability …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
  • Publications
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Education for Sustainable Development: Business modelling for flourishing

  • OCAD University (ON)
  • Halmstad University

As companies and other organizations increasingly recognize society’s demand for greater social and environmental sustainability, university and college business schools have responded with new pedagogic approaches. Business schools have begun …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
  • Publications
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Educating for post-disaster sustainability efforts

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

Urgent sustainability problems call for accelerated and transformational change. Disasters can provide opportunities for accelerating such change towards sustainability by eliminating the impediments of “normal times,” but only if a …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
  • Publications
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Developing digital educational materials for nursing and sustainability: The results of an observational study

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)
  • Maastricht University
  • Hochschule Esslingen University of Applied Sciences
  • University of Jaén

There is limited European literature on nursing and sustainability; nursing students are poorly prepared on the connections between resources, climate change, sustainability, and health, so they must acquire knowledge and …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
  • Publications
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City of Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell Address Volunteers at a Tree Planting

Arizona State University Urban Forestry and Carbon Offsets Pilot

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

In 2017, the University Sustainability Practices (USP) office at Arizona State University (ASU) piloted a new urban forestry program to explore the viability of generating carbon offsets through local tree …

  • Posted Feb. 15, 2018
  • Case Studies
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The Last of It - very little material could be found and what was found was very brittle

In-Vessel Composting Trials – Ingeo Compostable Products

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

Arizona State University's University Sustainability Practices office partnered with a variety of ASU departments, NatureWorks, LLC, the City of Tempe, and DTEnvironmental to test the compostability of compostable serviceware using …

  • Posted Feb. 15, 2018
  • Case Studies
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Campus Alternative Food Projects and Food Service Realities: Alternative Strategies

  • Emory University (GA)

As United States colleges and universities have developed campus projects to contribute to alternative food networks, strategies have matured from event-based, on-ramp activities to purchasing commitments, statistical tracking, and new …

  • Posted Feb. 12, 2018
  • Publications
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Analysing the literature on university social responsibility: A review of selected higher education journals

  • University of Cadiz

In the last 30 years, different economic, political and social changes have taken place in the university sector and this has led to an extensive reform to meet the new …

2016 National Solar Jobs Census

The Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census 2016 is the seventh annual update on employment, trends, and projected growth in the U.S. solar industry. The Solar Jobs Census 2016 found …

Sustainability-oriented higher education networks: Characteristics and achievements in the context of the UN DESD

  • University of Zurich

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are, as a sector, an important actor in society and their role in sustainability transition has been acknowledged. However, their commitments to sustainability expressed through the …

Connecting Cities and Campuses through Climate Leadership Initiatives

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • California State University, Northridge (CA)
  • Second Nature (MA)

Climate change presents one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. Opportunities for inter-sectoral collaboration to drive climate solutions are beginning to emerge and mature with the higher education sector …

After a communal count-down, everyone is able to flood into SCORE! (commonly refered to as the running of the SCORE-ers instead of the running of the bulls).

SCORE! A free-cycling event at the University of Alberta – Augustana Campus

  • University of Alberta (AB)

SCORE! is… A pop-up swap. A store where everything is free. A community marketplace of reciprocity. A redistribution of goods. Alternative economics. A party!! SCORE! is all of the above …

  • Posted Jan. 25, 2018
  • Case Studies
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Evaluating the Theory and Outcomes of the Teen Advocates for Sustainability Corps (TASC) Summit

  • New York University (NY)

The attached research was written as my thesis for a Master of Arts in Environmental Conservation Education, from New York University. It analyzes an environmental advocacy program I developed for …

Learning about Sustainability—What Influences Students’ Self-Perceived Sustainability Actions after Undergraduate Education?

  • Gävle University College

Changing societies’ minds about sustainability requires knowledge about the situation, awareness of what needs to be done and actions to change today’s unsustainable behaviors. Universities are challenged to develop students’ …

  • Posted Dec. 22, 2017
  • Publications
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Evaluating the engagement of universities in capacity building for sustainable development in local communities

  • Bournemouth University (Dorset)
  • Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
  • University of Beira Interior
  • University of Passo Fundo

Universities have the potential to play a leading role in enabling communities to develop more sustainable ways of living and working however, sustainable communities may only emerge with facilitation, community …

  • Posted Dec. 22, 2017
  • Publications
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Building a Strong Local Foods Program for Your Campus

  • Seattle Central College (WA)
  • Smith College (MA)
  • Towson University (MD)
  • University of Vermont (VT)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • Farm to Institution New England (VT)

Food systems have become an increasingly important element of campus sustainability efforts and planning, with varying levels of commitment and institutionalization across campuses. This topic has a variety of focus …

  • Posted Dec. 14, 2017
  • Videos & Webinars
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Do your neighbors affect your bicycling choice? A spatial probit model for bicycling to The Ohio State University

  • California State University, Fresno (CA)
  • The Ohio State University (OH)

Neighborhood social effects have recently become a focus of interest in transportation research, whereby transportation mode choice is not only affected by an individual’s characteristics and transportation system conditions, but …

  • Posted Dec. 12, 2017
  • Publications
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The relationship between social work and environmental sustainability: Implications for interdisciplinary practice

  • City University of New York, College of Staten Island (NY)
  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)

The Brundtland Commission, formally the World Commission on Environment and Development, established by the United Nations in 1983, links peace, security, development and the environment claiming that war, poverty and …

  • Posted Dec. 11, 2017
  • Publications
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Transdisciplinary Research and Sustainability: Collaboration, Innovation and Transformation

Transdisciplinarity is a new way of scientifically meeting the challenges of sustainability. Indeed, interdisciplinary collaboration and co-operation with non-academic ‘practice partners’ is at the core of this; creating contextualised, socially …

Beyond Campus: Engaging Students in Sustainability, Resilience and Climate Policymaking

  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)

In the aftermath of President Trump’s decision to abandon the Paris Agreement, universities, cities, states, and companies have stepped up to lead. A coalition representing fully half the U.S. population …

  • Posted Dec. 7, 2017
  • Videos & Webinars
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Student Summit Opening Keynote Speaker: Lydia D. Avila

  • Power Shift Network (DC)

Lydia D. Avila is the Executive Director of the Power Shift Network - a diverse, national network of youth-led and youth-focused climate justice organizations. Lydia is originally from a working …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Networks as a Tool for Social Change

  • Power Shift Network (DC)

Mass social change requires mass, popular social movements that are aided by the support of a vast network of change makers. Decentralized networks, in particular, are well suited to catalyze …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Climate Communications: Strategies to Build Political Will

  • Care About Climate, Inc (AZ)

Care About Climate is working to improve the marketing of what can be done to address climate change. We believe it is time to change the tenor of the conversation …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Opening Keynote - Katharine Hayhoe

  • Texas Tech University (TX)

Katharine Hayhoe, this year's opening keynote speaker, is an accomplished atmospheric scientist with over 120 peer-reviewed publications focusing on what climate change means for people and the environment. A professor …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Empowering Student Leadership in Tough Times

  • Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)

Our greatest legacy as campus sustainability changemakers may be the leaders we develop. National news can sometimes discourage students, yet can also be profound motivation for a life of leadership …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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How to Build Strategic Power -- Seven Secrets for Leaders to Win Change On & Beyond Campus

  • Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win' - Gandhi This dynamic, interactive workshop will hone your public leadership skills and …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Promoting and Assessing Sustainability Literacy as a Learning Outcome in Education Abroad

  • The Education Abroad Network (IL)

If education abroad is to fulfill its promise of fostering intercultural awareness and global citizenship, then sustainability learning must be at its core, with outcomes assessed in terms of altered …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Activities on campus sustainability for solidarity in Japan - A Case Study: The Green Program in Fukushima -

  • Fukushima College

Involvement of many people is a key to establish sustainable campus as well as taking advantage of advanced technology. However, it is very difficult for us today to unite for …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Innovatively Adding The Skills That Tomorrow's Workers Need, Into Today's Curriculum

  • Sustainable Design Consulting (VA)

Sustainability is a topic that is constantly changing. Regulations are changing constantly and the market is moving so fast that the skills that entry level employees need is shifting so …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Why a Social Justice Framework Is the Only Way to Collective Climate Justice and Deep Sustainability

  • Hackman Consulting Group

This poster session lays out the rationale for the absolute need for a social justice framework when doing climate justice and sustainability work by making three essential points: 1. How …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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In Serving Solidarity, Let's Talk about Privilege: Critical Conversations About 'Unsustainable' Race, Class & Gender Privilege

  • Hackman Consulting Group

While attention to the ways dynamics of racism, classism and gender oppression target people of color and native people, poor and working class people, and cisgender women and trans* folks …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • 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.

EN 10: Community Partnerships

EN 11: Inter-campus Collaboration

EN 12: Continuing Education

EN 13: Community Service

EN 14: Participation in Public Policy

EN 15: Trademark Licensing

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

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