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.
Featured Resources
New Resources
EKU Earth Day Festival
- Eastern Kentucky University (KY)
Eastern Kentucky University held its 1st Earth Day Festival on April 26th to celebrate achievements made in sustainability and connect students with local and on-campus environmental organizations. The event featured ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Shred Right Recycling Event
- Western Technical College (WI)
Students and community members brought 1,500 lbs of paper for shredding. The shredded material is recylced and made into low-quality paper products like paper towel. Since the event is ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Give bees a chance!
- Portland Community College (OR)
Portland Community College's sustainability director gives away pollinator education swag during Earth Week!
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Chicago March for Science Preparation
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago (IL)
SAIC Students attend a March for Science materials making session hosted by Sustainable SAIC to prepare for the Earth Day march.
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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SAIC Bike Tune-ups
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago (IL)
Sustainable SAIC partners with Pedal to the People, a local bike shop, to offer students free bike tune-ups for the annual Chicagoland Bike2Campus Week that started the day before Earth ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Randolph College co-sponsors Satellite March for Science on Earth Day in Lynchburg
- Randolph College (VA)
The Randolph College Sustainability Council co-sponsored a satellite March for Science in Lynchburg on Earth Day. Faculty, staff, students from Randolph College and neighboring Lynchburg College joined concerned citizens and ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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March for Science
- Berea College (KY)
Members of Berea College and the Office of Sustainability traveled to Lexington, KY for the March for Science on Earth Day, April 22, 2017.
- 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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Central Community College Hastings Wind Turbine Tour
- Central Community College (NE)
Students, staff, and community members enjoyed a presentation on the new 1.7 MW wind turbine at Central Community College Hastings from the Bluestem Energy Solutions project manager.
Also at ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Central Community College Grand Island Earth Week Expo
- Central Community College (NE)
Students from the Hospitality Management and Restaurant Management program giving away marigold seeds and promoting their Green Fling event which connected restaurant owners, farmers markets, and local farmers.
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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MUSC Earth Day 2017
- Medical University of South Carolina (SC)
Charleston, SC – In celebration of Earth Day, MUSC’s Sustainability Program hosted its 9th Annual Earth Day Celebration in the MUSC Horseshoe on April 12th, 2017 from 11am – 2pm.
MUSC ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Captain Planet joins The GREEN Program Team for the Philadelphia Science March
- The GREEN Program (PA)
Saturday, April 22, Earth Day 2017, The GREEN Program team, partners and GREEN Alumni (with honorary team member, Captain Planet), took to the streets of Philadelphia to join our city ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Fest Oklahoma State University
- Oklahoma State University (OK)
Oklahoma State University's 2017 Earth Fest, organized by students of the SGA Sustainability Committee, was held on campus April 20th and open to the public. Organizations had exhibits on ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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EarthTones - Earth Day events at Appalachian State University
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The Appalachian State University chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASUSES) hosted the annual "Earth Tones" event on April 21. This event uses solar energy to power a day-long ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Celebrate Earth Day - Gateway Technical College - April 22, 2017
- Gateway Technical College (WI)
Attached are photos from the 10th Annual Celebrate Earth Day event sponsored by Gateway Technical College - Kenosha Campus in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Day Celebrations at University of Hong Kong
- University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
The University of Hong Kong celebrated Earth Day over 2 days on March 21st and 22nd. March 21st featured an Earth Village carnival with booths from environmental groups, workshops, an ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Day Reception and Award Ceremony at Indiana University South Bend
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
Every year, the Center for a Sustainable Future at IU South Bend thanks our supporters, celebrates the considerable accomplishments they have made possible during the last year, and awards student ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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UAB Recycling Earth Day on the Green
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (AL)
UAB Recycling Coordinator Jon Paolone explains the intricacies of products made from recycled materials - in this case, a rubber jar opener made from recycled tires & a flying disc made ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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AU's Energy Team Partners with DOEE to educate the community
- American University (DC)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
In efforts to promote American University’s Annual Campus Beautification Day, the Energy and Engineering Team at AU partnered with the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to locate ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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Universities run for, by, and with the faculty, students and staff: Alternatives to the neoliberal destruction of higher education
After analysing the organisational pathologies and societal ills created by the neoliberalisation of universities, the article engages in an organisational critique of the pseudo-business model currently in use. It poses ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Publications
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Not Business as Usual: Fostering Civic Engagement on Climate Change
- The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)
Attendees will engage in a discussion of what it means to them to civically engage through building consensus, seeking common ground, and moving towards climate solutions in a non-partisan way ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Bringing Nature Back to Campus
- Houston Community College (TX)
- Rice University (TX)
I want to encourage other institutions to consider designing courses or other activities that give students an opportunity to participate in authentic, urban conservation efforts.
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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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
- Conference Presentations
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Earth Day 2017
- Indiana State University (IN)
These pictures capture the wonderful turnout that our department managed to create for our largest, and favorite, event of the year.
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Day Fair 2017 at Lehigh University
- Lehigh University (PA)
Lehigh University celebrated its annual Earth Day Fair on Friday, April 21 from 11am-130pm on the UC Front Lawn. There were 30-40 interactive booths, 4 electric cars on display, an ...
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Photographs
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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
- Photographs
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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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Students see promise in careers in the business of sustainability
- Colby College (ME)
- College of the Atlantic (ME)
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
- AASHE (MA)
- International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) (OR)
Two small, isolated Maine colleges that focus on sustainability and the environment know they aren’t for everyone.
Students have to work in the local community, where they experience the ...
- Posted April 20, 2017
- Publications
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Emory Earth Festival
- Emory University (GA)
Emory's annual Earth Festival kicks off Earth Month. The Festival runs in conjunction with Emory's weekly Farmers Market and brings together Atlanta based non-profits, government agencies, and businesses ...
- Posted April 17, 2017
- Photographs
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Xiuhtezcatl Martinez; 16-year-old indigenous Climate Activist
- Georgia College & State University (GA)
Georgia College's Sustainability Fee Program will be hosting Xiuhtezcatl Martinez at the 2017 Sustainability Fee Program Symposium on April 20, 2017 at 5pm on Front Campus.
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is ...
- Posted April 11, 2017
- Photographs
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Green Gigawatt Partnership: Reinventing Renewable Power Purchase Agreements for Higher Education
- AASHE (MA)
- Edison Energy (CA)
The higher education renewable energy market has grown dramatically in recent years as campus buyers have executed power purchase agreements (PPAs). But for all of the successes, two substantial obstacles ...
- Posted March 30, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Developing High Impact Applied Learning for Sustainability Programs
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
This webinar explores leading examples of applied learning in sustainability programs that are designed create exceptional student experiences and a lasting impact on the sustainability goals pursued by the community ...
- Posted March 15, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Higher Education in the World: Towards a Socially Responsible University: Balancing the Global with the Local
The 6th Higher Education in the World Report deals with the dual responsibilities of universities at local and global scale, exploring the potential conflict, or intrinsic difficulties, in addressing both ...
- Posted March 14, 2017
- Publications
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Sharing the Load: Aggregating Renewable Energy Purchases with Others
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
The idea of pooling resources to increase bargaining power is not new. But it is being newly applied to renewable energy purchases. Now, no matter the size or location of ...
- Posted March 9, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Preparing for Campus Sustainability Month 2016
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- University of North Florida (FL)
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
- AASHE (MA)
October is Campus Sustainability Month (CSM)! Watch this webinar to gain ideas and inspiration for how you can take advantage of CSM to engage and inspire incoming students and other ...
- Posted March 7, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Future Leaders Survey 2006/7
This report presents the results of a survey distributed to UK residents aged 21 and under who applied to universities and colleges in 2006. Key findings include:
- 46% say that ...
- Posted March 6, 2017
- Publications
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Community Partnerships: A Key Component of Sustainability
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
Partnerships between higher education institutions and their surrounding communities are a powerful tool for advancing sustainability and educating for sustainability. Colleges and universities, longtime leaders in sustainability, are increasingly realizing ...
- Posted March 3, 2017
- Publications
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Sustainability Career Resources List
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
This Google sheet lists job boards focused on sustainability as well as related resources.
- Posted March 3, 2017
- Tools
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Beyond Doom and Gloom - Include Solutions to Climate Change
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
Are you or your students worried about climate change impacts? Are you connecting your students to ways to be involved in solutions? This webinar focuses on expert materials to engage ...
- Posted March 2, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Sustainability as competitive advantage in higher education in the UK
- University of Leeds (West Yorkshire)
This paper draws on a series of five ESRC-funded seminars held between 2006 and 2008 on 'Sustainability as competitive advantage in higher education in the UK'. We sketch the background ...
- Posted March 1, 2017
- Publications
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar - Taking Carbon Off-Setting Beyond the Campus
- Furman University (SC)
- AASHE (MA)
This webinar tells the story of the Community Conservation Corps (CCC), a community weatherization program run through the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability at Furman University. The CCC was ...
- Posted Feb. 23, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Good Practices on Campus Sustainability in Japan 2016
- Hokkaido University (Hokkaido)
- Chiba University
- Kyoto University
- Fukushima College
Released by the Campus Sustainability Network in Japan (CAS-Net Japan), the booklet was created to share campus experiences in conducting environmental activities and efforts to find solutions to environmental problems ...
- Posted Feb. 21, 2017
- Publications
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Towards a Real-world Laboratory: A Transdisciplinary Case Study from Lüneburg
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
Real-world laboratories have gained currency in transdisciplinary sustainability research. Establishing real-world laboratories by means of a transdisciplinary process offers promising prospects since it fosters trust among the participants and leads ...
- Posted Feb. 20, 2017
- Publications
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Immerse in Your Watershed: Problem-Based, Service Learning for Undergraduate Sustainability Education
- Maharishi University of Management (IA)
This case study describes a problem-based and service learning module in which undergraduate students participated in a community-based project. Students joined a group consisting of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public ...
- Posted Feb. 20, 2017
- Publications
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Energy and development: the role of academia in education, research, and technological cooperation for sustainability
Over the last decades, the interest of the international community for the multiple interconnections among energy, environment, and society has widely increased. Today, the close link between energy and development ...
- Posted Feb. 17, 2017
- Publications
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Universities’ intermediary role in the “design for sustainability” field: Case studies from the Netherlands and Turkey
- Technische Universiteit Delft
Purpose - This paper aims to investigate the intermediary role of universities in spreading design for sustainability into industry.
Design/methodology/approach - Three case studies were undertaken on Delft University of ...
- Posted Feb. 17, 2017
- Publications
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Ethics in Higher Education: Values-driven Leaders for the Future
The values and virtues practised in universities heavily influence the leaders of the future, but outside the limelight of excelling education institutions there is a concerning violation of good practises ...
- Posted Feb. 14, 2017
- Publications
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The use of educational game design and play in higher education to influence sustainable behaviour
- Cardiff University
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to discuss a novel life cycle approach to education for sustainable development (ESD) where the students become “design thinkers”.
Design/methodology/approach - A ...
- Posted Feb. 13, 2017
- Publications
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Higher education for sustainable development at EARTH University
- Universidad Iberoamericana, A.C. (DF)
- EARTH University
Purpose - The purpose of this article is to present the experience of a Central American university that has been successfully advancing an educational model focused on sustainability for over 25 ...
- Posted Feb. 13, 2017
- Publications
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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
- Description of a formal community partnership to advance sustainability (first partnership)
- Description of a formal community partnership to advance sustainability (second partnership)
- Description of a formal community partnership to advance sustainability (third partnership)
- Website URL - Community partnerships to advance sustainability
EN 11: Inter-campus Collaboration
- The national or international sustainability network(s)
- The regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s)
- Description of sustainability conference(s) and presentation(s)
- Description of sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s)
- Description of sustainability board or committee appointment(s)
- Description of sustainability-related mentoring relationship and activities
- Description of sustainability-related peer review activities
- Website URL - Sustainability-related inter-campus collaborations
EN 12: Continuing Education
- Percentage of continuing education courses that are sustainability course offerings
- Inventory of continuing education sustainability course offerings (upload)
- Inventory of continuing education sustainability course offerings (description)
- Description of sustainability-related continuing education certificate program(s)
- Website URL - Continuing education courses and programs in sustainability
EN 13: Community Service
- Percentage of students engaged in community service
- Number of annual community service hours contributed per student
- Description of program(s) to support employee volunteering
- Website URL- Community service programs
EN 14: Participation in Public Policy
- Description of sustainability public policy advocacy at the municipal/local level
- Description of sustainability public policy advocacy at the state/provincial/regional level
- Description of sustainability public policy advocacy at the national level
- Description of sustainability public policy advocacy at the international level
- Website URL - Sustainability advocacy efforts
EN 15: Trademark Licensing
- Description of the independent trademark monitoring and verification organization
- The labor rights code of conduct for licensees (upload)
- The labor rights code of conduct for licensees (description)
- Website URL - Trademark licensing initiatives
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.