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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Compost Cats in the K-12 Classroom: Building a Zero Waste Culture from the Ground Up
- University of Arizona (AZ)
The Compost Cats program at the University of Arizona has diverted 10.5 million pounds of material from local landfills. While turning garbage into gardens is important, changing the culture of …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Healthy Materials: Agents of Change
- Bruner/Cott Architects (MA)
Building materials can create adverse effects in built and natural environments. In addition to depleting natural resources and causing pollution, certain materials expose us to harmful chemicals. Advocating for transparency …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainable Video Production
- Western Michigan University (MI)
The community of sustainability is constantly growing. With new practices from around the world on how we can build a better understanding of sustainability, key aspects arise from the ability …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Using Service-Learning to Integrate Sustainability into the Business Curriculum
- Appalachian State University (NC)
This proposal describes a service-learning project used in a graduate business course to integrate sustainability into the curriculum. Benefits included the ability of students to bring best practices to management …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Beyond the Ivory Tower: Participating in City and State Sustainability Initiatives and Challenges
- New York University (NY)
As sustainability professionals in institutes of higher education, many of us have seen first-hand the impacts of our work. We have seen how large-scale energy, waste management, and engagement projects …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Enhancing Appalachian's Sustainability-Related Community Engagement
- Appalachian State University (NC)
This presentation will provide an overview of efforts at Appalachian State University to expand and improve sustainability-related community engagement. For years, Appalachian's Sustainability Council has been charged with setting and …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Branding a Sustainability Program: The University of Rochester Go Green Initiative
- University of Rochester (NY)
Like many universities striving to make sustainability a priority without a central office for sustainability, the University of Rochester's efforts and achievements occur among multiple departments and programs. Communicating and …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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HydroCats: Research and Citizen Science Applications for Water Harvesting
- University of Arizona (AZ)
From its inception, University of Arizona HydroCats has been structured on community involvement and off-campus project development. This year, HydroCats interns have expanded the program's role in Tucson neighborhoods through …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Drones, Geographic Information Systems, and Streetlights: Community Partnerships for Safer Streets
- Furman University (SC)
When we began our partnership with the neighborhood of New Washington Heights our goal was straightforward: Within the context of a class project, use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Communicating Sustainability: Use Design Thinking To Make Your Website Better, Stronger, Faster
- University of Virginia (VA)
Your website is, without question, the superhero of your marketing team. It's sharing the story of your campus, directing traffic, and handing out information to your users. Problem is, most …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Growing the Campus Landscape and Student Botanists Through Community Partnerships
- Furman University (SC)
This poster will tell the multi-faceted story of how Furman University has leveraged longstanding partnerships with two local horticultural organizations to benefit both student learning and the award-winning campus landscape. …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Good, the Bad and the Smelly: Changing Sustainability Perception through Behind the Scenes Tours
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Much has changed during Appalachian Food Services' 90 years of operation, but our commitment to being affordable, fresh and sustainable has remained constant. None of our efforts and accomplishments matter …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Mapping Bicycle Racks and Usage with ArcGIS: Connecting College and Community Initiatives
- State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
SUNY Geneseo and the Town of Geneseo are collaborating to encourage sustainable cycling in and around Geneseo. This project is aimed at gathering preliminary information to improve the cycling experience …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Creating Global Impact
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Science museums in the U.S. provide trusted venues and foot-traffic of 95 million visits per year by people who seek to be inspired and to stretch their minds. Schools represent …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Moving Towards Environmentally Responsible Landscaping on Campus
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
SOU works earnestly to foster sustainability advancement in our region. Likewise, our Landscape Services Dept is deeply committed to minimizing negative impacts on our campus and surrounding ecosystems. Our landscaping …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainability & Botanical Tours: Educating our Communities
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
SOU's Landscape Services collaborated with students, faculty, and staff across campus to develop signed Sustainability and Botanical Tours to educate our regional community about SOU's myriad of sustainability programs and …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Alternative Utilization of Non-Recyclable Plastics for Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Gunnison, Colorado
- Western Colorado University (CO)
Plastic have become part of our everyday lives and are seen everywhere in the environment. Despite campaigns to promote the concept of 'reduce, reuse and recycle', tons of waste ends …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Local Farmers, Season Extension, and Technology transfer: Experiences from the "Nexus" Greenhouse project at Appalachian State
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The Nexus project looks to reinvent the heated greenhouse by using on-farm biomass resources and solar energy to create season extension inside a conventional hoop house with minimal fossil energy …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Breaking Through: Creative Engagement Strategies for Increasing Student Sustainable Involvement in the Dorms and Beyond
- New York University (NY)
NYC came to a standstill when Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast and the public electrical grid shutdown, but the lights were on in 22 NYU buildings, and for once …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Growing Community Sustainability: Student projects from the playground to the boardroom to the building site and more.
- Fleming College (ON)
This case study will demonstrate how students' participate in authentic learning through community projects across a range of disciplines- all with sustainable results. For the past forty years, our School …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Together we are Building Sustainability' - An Outreach Framework for LEED EB Projects
- University of Virginia (VA)
Though most college and university sustainability offices are charged with both improving operational efficiency AND increasing sustainability literacy and engagement, we often overlook opportunities to serve these missions concurrently in …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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New Approaches to High Performance Low Maintenance Urban Campus Landscapes
- New York University (NY)
Budget and site constraints present a variety of challenges for the design, installation, and maintenance of urban landscapes. New approaches to planting design seek to reduce long term maintenance costs …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Furman University's Energy Efficiency Eco-philanthropy Project
- Furman University (SC)
During the 2015 - 2016 academic year, The Environmental Community of Students, a first year engaged living program at Furman University, received an $80,000 donation from a local donor to …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Engaging at Home and Abroad Through COPs: Higher Education Leadership on Climate Change
- University of Connecticut (CT)
Higher education has the unique opportunity to act as a leader and generator of positive climate action both domestically and abroad. Through research, interdisciplinary educational programs, experiential learning opportunities, at …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Connecting In Your Region
- Second Nature (MA)
As schools mature in their work with sustainability, there is inevitably a point where they look outside of campus boundaries to connect with peers, community organizations, and businesses in order …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Campus and Community Partnerships: Celebrating Earth Day
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
The project created an annual Earth Day event for a joint celebration between the campus and the community of Lowell, Massachusetts. Faculty, staff and the Office of Sustainability have partnered …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Supporting community engagement in clean energy by making the purchase of electric vehicles and solar simple and affordable
- University of Utah (UT)
U Drive Electric and U Community Solar are the University of Utah's community-based programs that brought together local partners and companies to offer discounts and a streamed-lined process for purchasing …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Never too many C O O K S in the Campus Kitchen IUPUI : Collaboration On Our Campus Kitchen Services - a Hunger Relief Initiative
- Indiana University Indianapolis (IN)
This presentation will address how it has taken collaboration and support from many 'COOKS' in the development, operation, and ongoing program expansion to fulfill all of the opportunities the Campus …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Planning for interdisciplinary, community-oriented, and networked sustainability programs
- University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)
Sustainability education requires approaches that reach across disciplines, universities, and national boundaries, preparing students for issues without clear boundaries. Creating partnerships among faculty, students, communities, and industries is a promising …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Promoting College-Community Collaboration
- Concordia College (NY)
Several years ago, as Concordia College was increasing its efforts to embrace sustainability as a priority, it was recognized that engagement with the surrounding community should be a core part …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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How Signage Increases Recycling Rates
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
It is well known that recycling can be confusing, especially when deciding which materials are accepted into a recycling program at point of disposal (aka the bin). This can lead …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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GreenCampusPoints Shop to Save the Planet
- Boston University (MA)
There are 20.2 million college students in the US, which together account for over 150 billion dollars in discretionary spending each year. Imagine if for every one of those dollars …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Energy Education that Makes K-12 'Energy Wise'
- North Carolina A&T State University (NC)
Educating our youngest generation about energy efficiency is more important than ever. This session will introduce a successful approach to a university energy education outreach program targeting the local K-12 …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Partnerships: The Key Accelerant to Fire up Sustainability on and off Campus
- Pittsburg State University (KS)
Since the institutionalization of a campus-wide recycling program in 2012, Pittsburg State University (PSU) has had substantial success in not only becoming a more sustainability-oriented campus, but in developing of …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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SustainaMondays at the University of Virginia: A Personal Approach to Promoting Sustainability
- University of Virginia (VA)
The promotions team of U.Va's Office for Sustainability student employees started an initiative called SustainaMondays. It promotes environmentally conscious eating, sustainable lifestyle choices, and U.Va Sustainability events on a weekly …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Beyond the Campus: Community Engagement in Sustainability and Resilience
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
In this session we will show how we engaged community partners in climate change resilience efforts and promoted energy and water conservation in the community. In 2015-16 the Institute for …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Designing and Conducting a Public Engagement Project Through an Intensive-Semester Course
- Furman University (SC)
During a May semester course, faculty and students at a liberal arts college conducted a participatory planning process with a local community and county government. Students facilitated a public participation …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Creating a living system for treatment of greywater in a local business
- Appalachian State University (NC)
In many areas of the world clean water is in limited supply. Most water from a home or business results in waste water known as greywater which contains no sewage. …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Verdant, Active, Elder-Centered Climate Resilience: Climate-Hardy Community Building For All, Via Senior Centered Programming
- Maryville College (TN)
American communities lag in efforts to respond to climate change stressors, with large gaps found in programs targeting a growing, vulnerable population - the elderly. Expected to nearly double in …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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A Public Engagement Process to Create a Community-Based Vision and Open Space Plan
- Furman University (SC)
During a three-week public engagement process, a team of faculty and students facilitated community-based public participation to create a vision and open space plan for a 27-acre vacant lot in …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainability in Higher Education: A Model for Nonprofit Organizations?
- North Cascades Institute (WA)
How can the work toward sustainability in higher education inform the sustainability work of educational nonprofits? This session will explore how one education-oriented nonprofit, North Cascades Institute, has utilized STARS, …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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STAR Certified Communities: A Case Study of Reading, PA
- Albright College (PA)
The STAR Community Rating System was released in October 2012 to address the needs of U.S. cities, towns and counties seeking a common framework for sustainability.The rating system is based …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Football Fans and Waste: Influencing Behavior
- University of Missouri (MO)
One of the main factors in waste separation at sporting events is gaining the cooperation of fans to dispose of their waste in the appropriate receptacle (compost, recycling or landfill). …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Assessment of Community-Engaged Learning
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI)
To ensure that community engagement maximizes its impact on both student understanding of sustainability concepts and the community's adoption of sustainability principles, assessment strategies are needed to evaluate outcomes at …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Post-Paris: Climate Commitments in Action Across Higher Ed, Business, and Cities
- George Washington University (DC)
- Second Nature (MA)
- Urban Sustainability Directors Network (IL)
- Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (VA)
The Paris climate agreement heralded a new form of international governance combining commitments by countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with commitments from many other sectors-including universities, local governments, and …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Learn & Grow - Educational and Community Garden
- Mississippi State University (MS)
The intent of this project is to work with the Boys & Girls Club to create a project that can be developed and maintained as a way to engage young …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Environmental Education: Youth educating kids about the environment
- College of William & Mary (VA)
Eco-Schools Leadership Initiative (ESLI) is a student-led organization in which college and high students use interactive activities to teach elementary school students about environmental topics ranging from climate change to …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Team Up With Your Campus Library for Sustainability Education and Outreach
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
For a winning 'season', add your library to the team to enhance the implementation of sustainability solutions on campus and beyond! In this poster, we will highlight some of the …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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How to Visually Share your Story in the Age of Social Media
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Do you ever find it challenging to cut through the noise and share your sustainability message? Making outreach visual and branding your material is key to staying relevant in a …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Virginia Power Dialog: Lessons Learned and What's Next in the Commonwealth
- University of Richmond (VA)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
Motivated by the historic international climate agreement reached in Paris in December 2015 and by the adoption of the Clean Power Plan, The Virginia Power Dialog engaged college and university …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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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.