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.

3006 resources

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 …


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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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To Come Together, We Must Transform What's Divided Us: Utilizing a Social Justice Lens for Collective Campus Sustainability Work

  • Hackman Consulting Group

As evidenced over the last 24 months, a lack of critical understanding of social justice issues makes collaborative work across multiple lines of identity near impossible, while thoughtful attention to …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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An Introduction to the Role of Race, Class and Gender Issues On Campus Sustainability Work

  • Hackman Consulting Group

This introductory session explores the powerfully important ways that dynamics of race, class and gender (RCG) impact the efficacy of our campus sustainability work, and then suggests how a racial …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Environmental Education from the Caribbean to the Carolinas

  • University of South Carolina (SC)

I have compared environmental education (EE) programs at USC, the greater Columbia area, and at tourist sites in St. Lucia in order to determine what methods of EE most effectively …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability Abroad: Best Practices in Iceland

  • University of South Carolina (SC)

The aim of this poster is to give insight on how to create sustainable communities by providing examples of the best practices in the world's most sustainable country, Iceland. The …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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College & University Recycling Coalition (CURC) Membership Meeting

  • University of South Carolina (SC)

Members and non-members alike are invited to join this annual CURC membership meeting. Board members will provide organizational updates, discuss current projects and share opportunities to get involved. The meeting …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sparking Conversation and Collaboration Through Campus Conferences

  • Knox College (IL)

The campus community is a place of thought, innovation, and action, and these skills shouldn't stop at the campus boundaries; they are applicable to national and international issues. One solution …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Working in the Ivory Tower: Breaking Down the Walls of Academia

  • Bemidji State University (MN)

Whether public or private, 2-year or 4-year, we all work in institutions of higher learning. Simply because of where we work, we may be at an advantage or disadvantage when …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Art for Science Community Challenge 2018: Climate Disruption

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

The 2017 March for Science was an unprecedented event of scientists and science advocates stepping out of the laboratories and into the avenues. Pennsylvania Avenue to be exact was the …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Building a community of practice for applied learning for sustainability practitioners

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

This meeting brings leaders and stakeholders interested in applied learning programs for sustainability outcomes together-catalyzing the development of a group of peers interested in collaborating on this topic. The meeting …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Successful Sustainability in Trumplandia: None of This New Reality is New to Me

  • Baylor University (TX)

This presentation will seek to demonstrate the ways in which a sustainability program at a mid-sized private faith based university in Texas has not only sustained, but grown successfully, its …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Effective Communications Strategies for Sustainability in Higher Education

  • Appalachian State University (NC)

Having a dedicated communications specialist within an office is relatively new in the field of collegiate sustainability, and this poster presentation outlines strategies for effectively communicating across different media to …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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The Applied Sustainability Collaborative: A Virtual Mechanism for Interdisciplinary Engagement with Community

  • Appalachian State University (NC)

This proposal discusses a virtual web-based mechanism that connects existing interdisciplinary campus resources with external partners for building collaborative teams to develop and implement solutions to sustainability problems. Through virtual …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) Networking Session

  • Central College (IA)

Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) Networking Session

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Campus and Community Partnership: The Results of a Feasibility Study on a Nature Prescription Network

  • James Madison University (VA)

Emerging research continues to support the notion that exposure to or interaction with nature enhances creativity and vitality, attention and focus, and an overall sense of well being. Nisbet, Zelenski, …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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New York Coalition for Sustainability in Higher Education networking meeting

  • University at Albany (NY)

Networking meet up and business meeting for those that are working to advance sustainability in New York State institutes of higher education.

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Ecotourism as an Economic Development Driver

  • Dallas College (TX)

All college and university campuses are imbedded in a local community. All communities have the potential to offer ecotourism opportunities to residents and visitors. Ecotourism is now defined as 'responsible …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainable Development Anchored in a Dallas TX Community College

  • Dallas College (TX)

The World Bank states that 'sustainable development recognizes that growth must be both inclusive and environmentally sound to reduce poverty and build shared prosperity for today's population and to continue …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A Year of Devotion, Thought and Photographs: A Recycling Blog

  • Brigham Young University (UT)

This poster seeks to engage attendees in the whys of recycling, the motivations behind sustainability efforts, and the internal and external results of a devotion to stewardship. Utilizing posts on …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Defining Sustainability: An Innovative, Employee Online Training to Reach Beyond the Choir

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

Universities and organizations across the world are integrating sustainability into their services and operations and see sustainability literacy across their workforce as a key step in the integration process. Penn …

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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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.

Public Engagement Partners