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
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Fill Plates, Not Landfills: Implementing the Bobcat Eats Food Waste Awareness and Prevention Program
- University of California, Merced (CA)
The Bobcat Eats Food Waste Awareness and Prevention Program is a collaboration between the University of California, Merced (UC Merced) and the Merced County Food Bank to reduce food waste ...
- Posted May 17, 2019
- Case Studies
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Climate Change Escape Room
- Harvard University (MA)
In April 2019, the Resource Efficiency Program (REP) constructed and staffed a climate change themed escape room. Each minute in the room equated to four years of climate change impacting ...
- Posted May 17, 2019
- Case Studies
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BCIT’s Sustainable Infrastructure Project wins Envision Gold
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)
The North Campus Infrastructure Project (NCIP) at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby, British Columbia, is an ambitious and forward-thinking initiative that leverages the opportunity of infrastructure ...
- Posted May 15, 2019
- Case Studies
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Associations Between Higher Education Sustainability and Alumni Giving
- Harvard University (MA)
Remaking higher education campuses to meet climate commitments will have real and significant costs, yet many campuses are financially constrained. For most institutions, alumni giving is a significant, yet declining ...
- Posted May 15, 2019
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Mobilizing transdisciplinary collaborations: collective reflections on decentering academia in knowledge production
- California State University, Long Beach (CA)
- University of Calgary (AB)
- Massey University
- The Nature Conservancy (VA)
Global sustainability challenges and their impact on society have been well-documented in recent years, such as more intense extreme weather events, environmental degradation, as well as ecosystem and biodiversity loss ...
- Posted May 13, 2019
- Publications
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Founder, Students on Sustainability
- University of Calgary (AB)
I founded Students on Sustainability, a student society at the University of Calgary that educates grade school students on sustainability topics linked to climate change, and supports student action projects ...
- Posted May 13, 2019
- Case Studies
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University of Pittsburgh Student Office of Sustainability
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
The student office of sustainability was created in 2015, before the university of Pittsbugh had a campus wide sustainability office, which opened in 2018. Not only was the student office ...
- Posted May 13, 2019
- Case Studies
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Suffolk County Community College's Earth Day Events
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
Suffolk County Community College, hosted a week long earth day celebration. Activities ranged from a beach clean up at our local state park, to an earth day yoga class, to ...
- Posted May 8, 2019
- Photographs
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Reviewing University Community Gardens for Sustainability: taking stock, comparisons with urban community gardens and mapping research opportunities
- Keele University
Community gardens (CGs) in university settings are faced with challenges associated with a transient and inexperienced population of student gardeners, but they also have the potential to have a lasting ...
- Posted May 7, 2019
- Publications
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‘Student Switch Off!’: how do university students respond to a corporate-sponsored pro-environmental social marketing campaign?
- University of York
- University of Birmingham
- Queen Mary University of London
Sponsorship in pro-environmental social marketing campaigns has received limited academic attention within a higher education (HEI) context. This study examines how multi-level variables, i.e. individual (general environmental attitudes), organisational ...
- Posted May 7, 2019
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Sustainability Demonstration House Project
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
The goal of the Sustainability Demonstration House (SDH) project is to retrofit the former president’s residence, built in 1953, titled the Kettle-Gundlach Building, into a sustainability demonstration house. The ...
- Posted May 7, 2019
- Publications
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Central Community College Earth Month 2019
- Central Community College (NE)
Central Community College hosted Earth Month events across 4 of its college locations throughout the month of April. Events included expos with local organizations and student projects, a highway cleanup ...
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Photographs
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University of Vermont Earth Week
- University of Vermont (VT)
University of Vermont Eco-Reps hosted their annual Earth Week from April 22-26. The theme of the week was POI: Points of Intervention. PLAN: Post Landfill Action Network came to UVM ...
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Photographs
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University of Vermont Points of Intervention Fair
- University of Vermont (VT)
The theme surrounding the University of Vermont's Earth Week was Points of Intervention (POI). Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN) added UVM to their stops of college on their POI ...
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Photographs
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The Dallas County Community College District Booth Won an Award at EarthX!
- Dallas County Community College District System Office (TX)
- Dallas College (TX)
In Dallas TX, we have the biggest annual celebration of Earth Day! At Fair Park EarthX hosted a three day celebration with more than 135,000 attendees, 679 exhibitors and ...
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Photographs
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Keynote Speaker: Corrina Gould - Living on Ohlone Land
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
Corrina Gould is the spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan/Ohlone. She was born and raised in Oakland, CA, the territory of Huichuin. She is an activist that has ...
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Photographs
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Cal Poly Earth Week Festival
- California Polytechnic State University (CA)
Cal Poly Earth Week, hosted by Cal Poly Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability Department in collaboration with Green Campus and many other campus and community entities! See discussion section and schedule ...
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Photographs
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PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Montclair State University (NJ)
The PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies supports transdisciplinary research and community projects that grow more resilient communities worldwide. From climate change research in New Jersey, to energy studies in Vietnam ...
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Research Centers & Institutes
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Purpose-Driven Partnerships That Transform People and Places: Cal State LA’s Anchor Mission
- California State University, Los Angeles (CA)
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) has committed to becoming Los Angeles’ premier educational anchor institution, forging meaningful partnerships that contribute to the overall well-being of the region ...
- Posted April 30, 2019
- Publications
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Considering the Anchor Mission Strategy within the Competing “Regimes” of Higher Education Community Engagement
- Marquette University (WI)
- Democracy Collaborative (DC)
The concept of the anchor institution, and its subsequent mission, was first considered in the mid-1990s, a time during which the dominant academic culture of higher education was driven by ...
- Posted April 30, 2019
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Building Capacity as Anchor Institutions: Infrastructure, Structure, and Strategy
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) (IN)
As campuses embrace their role as anchor institutions, considerations should be given to the role of infrastructure, structure, and strategy. This article differentiates between infrastructure and organizational structure then identifies ...
- Posted April 30, 2019
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Aligning Equity, Engagement, and Social Innovation in Anchor Initiatives
- University of San Diego (CA)
Drawing on cultural studies and the practice of engaged learning and scholarship, this paper proposes a cultural approach to institutional transformation, which we argue necessarily follows anchor partnerships. The authors ...
- Posted April 30, 2019
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Developing the Student Anchor Engagement Framework
- Drexel University (PA)
Modern urban and metropolitan universities are increasingly obliged to recognize their role as anchor institutions. These same institutions of higher education (IHEs) also have a responsibility to educate students to ...
- Posted April 30, 2019
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Disruptive innovation and operationalization in local and sustainable food systems: Examining the University of Toronto-Local Food Plus partnership
- University of Toronto (ON)
This paper traces the partnership between the University of Toronto and the non-profit Local Food Plus (LFP) to bring local sustainable food to its St. George campus. At its launch ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Publications
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Boston University Earth Week
- Boston University (MA)
In 2019 Boston University hosted its Ninth Annual Earth Week. Partnering with numerous area organizations, businesses, University departments, and student clubs, sustainability@BU put on several events to celebrate Earth ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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Annual Chittenango Creek Clean-Up & Wildlife Shrub Seedling Planting
- Cazenovia College (NY)
More than 35 people from Cazenovia College's Environmental Club and chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (volunteer/community service group), Trout Unlimited, Cazenovia Preservation Foundation, 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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EarthFest 2019 Cleveland State University
- Cleveland State University (OH)
Over 30 exhibitors and a giant earth dome contribute to making EarthFest at CSU both fun and educational! Students gain stamps on their eco-passports by engaging with campus and community ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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ACG Volunteers Reforest Mt. Hymettus!
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
In March, volunteers from The American College of Greece (ACG) got together for a great cause!
Over eighty community members – Deree and Pierce students, staff, faculty, alumni, and parents – gathered ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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Union College Collaborates with the SEAT Center for an Environmental Justice Event
- Union College - NY (NY)
Union College Students from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and SEAT Center collaborated on an event to provide free air filter installations, information on free weatherization, and registration for community ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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MUSC Earth Day & Local Food Festival
- Medical University of South Carolina (SC)
On Wednesday April 10th, 2019 MUSC hosted the largest Earth Day event in the Charleston area. Running from 11am to 2pm on the MUSC Horseshoe, MUSC Earth Day and Local ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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"A Sustainable Second Century "
- American University in Cairo (Cairo)
The Office of Sustainability kick off AUC’s EarthWeek, an annual event celebrating international Earth Day. This year’s theme is EarthWeek: A Sustainable Second Century, focusing on the Past ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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CSI (College of Southern Idaho) 10th Annual Sustainability Fair
- College of Southern Idaho (ID)
Picture of some of the thirty exhibitors at CSI's 10th Annual Sustainability Fair
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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UConn Earth Day Spring Fling
- University of Connecticut (CT)
50 sustainability-themed vendors and a zero-waste barbeque filled Fairfield Way on Tuesday, April 16th for the annual UConn Earth Day Spring Fling. The zero-waste barbeque, hosted by dining services, featured ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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William & Mary Earth Day Festival 2019
- College of William & Mary (VA)
Individuals celebrating Earth Day at the College of William & Mary through tabling, a butterfly tent, and photographs taken with the Lorax
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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Earth Day Reception & Award Ceremony
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
The 11th Annual Earth Day Reception & Award Ceremony at Indiana University South Bend. The event took place Thursday, April 18, 2019, 5:30-7:30pm in the University Grill. The ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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Earth Month Activities
- University of Scranton (PA)
Earth Day Fair
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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Styrofoam Densifying and Waste Diversion
- Georgia State University (GA)
Styrofoam, one of the most unwieldy and uncooperative forms of waste, came to the forefront of Georgia State University’s sustainability concerns upon evaluating its large volume in the University ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Case Studies
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How Can Wolves & Ag Co-Exist? (Earth Day Event)
- Feather River College (CA)
Feather River College's Sustainability Action Team hosts a Spring Sustainability Series. This year it culminated with an event called "How Can Wolves and Ag Co-Exist" in partnership with the ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Case Studies
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Growing Sustainable Communities Together Through Leadership in Higher Education
- Governors State University (IL)
- Joliet Junior College (IL)
- Lewis University (IL)
- Moraine Valley Community College (IL)
- Prairie State College (IL)
- University of St. Francis (IL)
The South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (SMHEC) is a unique partnership of 10 higher education institutions in the south metropolitan area of Chicago extending west to Joliet, south to Kankakee ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Case Studies
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The university's role in sustainable development: Activating entrepreneurial scholars as agents of change
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Inholland University of Applied Sciences
- LM Thapar School of Management
The role of (entrepreneurial) universities as change agents in regional economic development has been highlighted previously, but how they can drive regional sustainable development in developing countries has been largely ...
- Posted April 5, 2019
- Publications
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Field Guide for Urban University-Community Partnerships
- University of Virginia (VA)
Over the past three decades, American universities and colleges have witnessed a surge in activities oriented around their civic and social purposes. From the signing of the first Campus Compact ...
- Posted April 4, 2019
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Facilitating work performance of sustainability-driven entrepreneurs through higher education: The relevance of competencies, values, worldviews and opportunities
- University of Vechta
- Vienna University of Economics and Business
- Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
- Terra Institute
This article explores the work performance of sustainability-driven entrepreneurs in order to be able to provide better learning settings in higher education for sustainability-driven entrepreneurship (SDE). Sustainability-driven entrepreneurs are actors ...
- Posted March 31, 2019
- Publications
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SEED Center
- National Council for Workforce Education (FL)
The Sustainability Education, and Economic Development (SEED) Center aims to advance sustainability and clean technology education programs at community colleges by sharing innovative practices to help college administrators, faculty, and ...
- Posted March 30, 2019
- Tools
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Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Zero Waste Program
- University of Southern California (CA)
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has influenced generations across the world through events such as the Olympics, World Series, and Super Bowls as well as community events like papal and ...
- Posted March 15, 2019
- Case Studies
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Does the knowledge economy advance the green economy? An evaluation of green jobs in the 100 largest metropolitan regions in the United States
- Australian National University
- Wageningen University
Institutions of higher education are significant economic engines and innovative places in local economies: they directly employ large numbers of people, often with well-paying jobs; they are magnets for businesses ...
- Posted March 15, 2019
- Publications
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University Contributions to the Circular Economy: Professing the Hidden Curriculum
- Cranfield School of Management
In a world dominated by linear economic systems, the road to improving resource use is multi-faceted. Whilst public and private organisations are making progress in introducing sustainable practices, we ask ...
- Posted March 15, 2019
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Expanding Student Engagement in Sustainability: Using SDG- and CEL-Focused Inventories to Transform Curriculum at the University of Toronto
- University of Toronto (ON)
- London School of Economics and Political Science
The Expanded Student Engagement Project (ESE) has developed three comprehensive inventories which aim to increase student knowledge of sustainability-related course content and increase student engagement in on- and off-campus, curricular ...
- Posted March 15, 2019
- Publications
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From contracts to culture: Exploring how to leverage local, sustainable food purchasing by institutions for food systems change
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (ON)
In recent years, certain hospitals, schools, and campuses across Canada have shown that they can transform their practices to serve more local and sustainable food. These changes have often been ...
- Posted March 6, 2019
- Publications
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Building actor-centric transformative capacity through city-university partnerships
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (DF)
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Cities worldwide are rising to the challenge of sustainable development, calling for large-scale and fast-paced transformations towards sustainability. Urban sustainability challenges are now being reframed as a lack of capacity ...
- Posted March 4, 2019
- Publications
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Graduate attribute for minimising environmental harm – Assessing effectiveness in the graduates’ workplaces
- Monash University (VIC)
- RMIT University
Over recent times concern about the physical environment has fluctuated. Even after the coverage of environment and sustainability issues in the education of many professions, a decline of community concern ...
- Posted March 4, 2019
- 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.