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.

2946 resources

Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium (NECSC)

  • Princeton University (NJ)

Connect with other sustainability representatives in the Northeast region and share ideas for ongoing monthly NECSC call topics. Anyone representing sustainability in a Northeast higher education institution is welcome!

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Growing Healthy Kids: The Intersection of Health, Justice, and Sustainability

  • Trinity University (TX)

The Pollinator Education Action and Sustainability (PEAS) program, is an extension of Trinity University's Biology department. The mission of PEAS is to establish native pollinator sanctuaries in urban areas ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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University of Scranton Community Garden, Planning, Partnerships, Students, and Surprises

  • University of Scranton (PA)

Attendees will enjoy a conversation on the University of Scranton's journey to plan and establish a Community Garden. One of the Sustainability Office's goals is to raise awareness ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Gaining Hope and Resilience During Troubling Times

  • Portland Community College (OR)

Learning about environmental, social, and economic sustainability issues can be daunting and overwhelming, especially when considering how to create solutions to pressing problems. In these times of accelerating change and ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Advancing Innovation through Sustainability Research and Scholarship

  • Portland Community College (OR)

During this monumental time in history, it is essential to be educated, connect with good people, find hope, and discover new ways to make a difference. To do so, the ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Helping Students Gain Sustainability Project-Based Leadership Skills to be Competitive in the Job Market

  • National Wildlife Federation (VA)

EcoLeaders is National Wildlife Federation's sustainability career and leadership development program for college students and young professionals. This workshop will guide students through the plan, do, communicate and sustain ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Student Affairs Networking Presentation

  • The Ohio State University (OH)

This networking session is designed to give sustainability professionals that work in student affairs departments an opportunity to interact in a structured environment. The session will begin with introductions and ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Community Partnerships for Environmental Justice

  • The New School (NY)

The Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School is committed to environmental justice and community-academic partnerships grounded in the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing. Using this framework, the ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Canadian Networking Session

  • University of Calgary (AB)

Initiated by the Canadian Alliance of College and University Sustainability Professionals (CUSP), this informal networking session presents an opportunity to meet, share lunch and ideas with others working in the ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Know Your Impact: Guide to Environmentally Conscious Community Development

  • New York University (NY)

Creating a norm of sustainability on campus is no easy task, but the NYU EcoReps have committed themselves to forming thoughtful community-based programming in the hopes of finding new ways ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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EcoReps Programs Nation-wide - Networking for every program type

  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)

This will be a purely networking meeting. Participants will self select into groups based on the type of EcoReps or Leadership Program they have at their institution - New Programs, First-Year ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Community College Networking Meeting

  • Johnson County Community College (KS)

This meeting encourages community college participants to share successes, vent frustrations, and to meet up with other sustainability practitioners.

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Green-to-Green Project: Economic Empowerment through Sustainable Agriculture

  • Johnson C. Smith University (NC)

In addressing the need for healthy, fresh produce in our community, we established a partnership of neighborhood gardens and local partners to serve as a hub for local food production ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Gardening As Engagement: Utilizing Local Alternative Break Trips to foster student growth in food systems and urban gardening

  • University of Central Oklahoma (OK)

Alternative Break programs have long been considered an effective transformative and experiential learning opportunity for students. One challenge of these trips, however, is the lack of application when students return ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A Student-Run Farmers Market: For community, for health, for Chicago

  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)

Loyola University Chicago is entering its 7th year hosting an independent, student-run farmers market on its property serving members of the Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods in Chicago. Over these ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Laudato si? Catholic College and Universities Networking Session

  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)

Join your peers from Catholic colleges and universities to talk about the sustainability excitement happening on your campus. Following on Laudato si and the leadership of Pope Francis, we will ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Teaching Sustainability and Social Justice Through Interprofessional Study Abroad Courses

  • Western Michigan University (MI)

Experiential learning and developing on the ground knowledge of methods to advance social justice and sustainability can be crucial ways to enhance competency in sustainability for undergraduate and graduate students ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Farmer Fridays: Connecting Students to Communities Through Stories

  • Western Kentucky University (KY)

One goal for local institutions' different Offices of Sustainability is to bridge the gap between the campus and the community. This case study follows Western Kentucky University's path to ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Intercultural Understanding, Garden Benefits, and Sustainability Discourse at the Shawneetown Community Garden

  • University of Kentucky (KY)

For years, anthropological and environmental researchers have studied the contributions of community gardens to education, health, community development, and sustainability; however, community gardens within institutional contexts such as universities are ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Intervention Strategies on Student Electricity use in Campus Residence Halls

  • Radford University (VA)

In this session, we discuss research that employs a quasi-experimental design to reduce student electricity use in residence halls. We examine electricity use by first-year students in four matched residence ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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RE think. RE invent. Re use Necessary behaviors for Accessories - A circular approach

  • Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)

In the times of hand production, the concept of discarded or unwanted items was almost non-existent. It took time and patience to produce things. Goods were manufactured from pure raw ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability without Boundaries: Leveraging Green Initiatives to Bridge Campus, Community, and City

  • U.S. Green Building Council (DC)

We're all in this together! Sustainability initiatives provide an excellent opportunity to empower the full spectrum of campus stakeholders to get involved in the work of building a better ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Presidential Power: Examining the Language of Executive Campus Commitments

  • U.S. Green Building Council (DC)

Over the course of the past decade, hundreds of college and university presidents have committed to an array of sustainability goals through platforms like Second Nature's Climate Commitment, the ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Transforming a Former Industrial Site into a Sustainable Solution and Creating Opportunities for Students

  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)

Over the past fourteen years, SUNY-ESF has cultivated a successful public-private partnership with Honeywell International to address a pressing environmental issue in the local community. The project involves remediation of ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Rookies, Newbies, Imposters, & Not-Yet-Experts: Navigating Newness, Isolation, and/or Competence for Sustainability Professionals in Higher Education

  • Marquette University (WI)

This informal, semi-structured networking meeting is meant to keep that conversation going and allow for additional introductions and engagement. All are welcome, even if you did not attend the earlier ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Engineering Sustainable Community Relationships

  • Indiana University South Bend (IN)

What can engineering students offer sustainability? What will they gain from sustainability? Providing engineering students sustainability experience is a priceless investment. By learning to take a triple bottom line approach ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Tweeting @Sustainability: The #447challenge as an Active Teaching Tool

  • University at Buffalo (NY)

Growing up, we are 'challenged' to be sustainable: turn off lights, stop cold water when brushing teeth, and unplug idle chargers. Reality proves that, while well-conceived, the environmental benefit of ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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The Power of One: How a Physics Professor Saved Italy from Big Oil Through Education, Activism and Community Outreach

  • California State University, Northridge (CA)

Trained as a physicist, Dr. Maria D'Orsogna is a hands-on activist fighting to protect the Italian countryside and seas from Big Oil. Maria first learned of proposed oil activities ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Refugee Resettlement in Northern Colorado: A Social Sustainability Story

  • Colorado State University (CO)

The topic of refugee resettlement in the United States (U.S.) is met with varying reactions from Americans. Generally mainstream media portrays two sides of American opinion, the far right ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Transportation Networking Meeting

  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)

Anyone interested in reducing carbon emissions through active, sustainable transportation is invited to this networking meeting. Multi-modal topics for discussion may include strategies to promote walking, bikes, buses, car sharing ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Green Bikes at UNC Greensboro

  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)

Learn how a public-private partnership resulted in the first free-flow dockless bike share system in North America. Presentation will highlight the planning process, program launch, and ongoing operations at the ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Opening New Markets for Local Food Through the Food Hub Model

  • Black Hills State University (SD)

Black Hills Food Hub, a business incubated at BHSU and run by Cobblestone Science (a locally- and women-owned small business), coordinates the needs of cafeterias in the region with local ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Creating a Campus Culture for Sustainability by knowing how to do more with less.

  • University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)

In this session we'll look at how properly implementing campus initiatives, understanding your constituents and their needs, and enhanced marketing approaches are all necessary to move sustainability on a ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Using the SDGs to progress sustainability

  • Macquarie University (NSW)

The Sustainable Development Goals are the talk of the decade. Every nation state on the planet has signed up to achieve them - but what does this mean for tertiary education ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Conservatives who conserve: How to talk about sustainability outside of politics

  • Michigan State University (MI)

Climate change and environmentalism have both become seemingly inseparable from political ideology. We should attempt, if possible, to keep sustainability from falling into the same partisan divide. While combating climate ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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How could the grass on your campus be as 'green' as it looks?

  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)

The poster seeks to inform conference attendees about a new country wide research project. In cities across the U.S. temperate zone appropriate for fine fescues, we will collaborate with ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Saying No and Saying Yes: The Strategy of Campus Climate Activism

  • Bard College (NY)
  • Our Climate (OR)

With the dramatic change in Washington DC policy towards climate, environment and sustainability, there has been a major upswing in campus activism. How can this student activism be most effective ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Bringing Private Sector Knowledge into the Public Domain: Achieving Sustainability Success

  • CRB (MO)

This presentation will explore examples of how industry and public private partnership models drive sustainability in innovative ways for project delivery. Case Studies are noted below: Bioscience 2 (Public Private ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A model of partnership between private sector and public universities in Brazil: investment in within campus infrastructure.

  • Université de l'État de Santa Catarina
  • Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

The project proposes the development of a public-private partnership to raise funds for Brazil's net of public universities, nowadays with very narrow budgets, to invest in within campus infrastructure ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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New game, new rules: Organising for Sustainability post-Trump and Brexit

  • National Union of Students
  • Power Shift Network (DC)

Following the Brexit vote, and the election of President Donald Trump, there is widespread concern amongst young people and students around the world on the stance our political leaders are ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Short, Sweet, and Powerful: Student Engagement through Campus Tabling Campaigns

  • Texas A&M University (TX)

An important part of creating a culture of sustainability on a college campus is successful campus engagement. Attaining this can be difficult for many reasons, such as lack of student ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) Networking Session

  • Rice University (TX)
  • Texas A&M University (TX)

This is a networking meeting for Texans and other parties interested in the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) to connect and discuss campus sustainability topics unique to the ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Empowering Community Engagement Through Event Organization: Connecticut Campus Sustainability Week

  • Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
  • Yale University (CT)

Encompassing all parts of university life, sustainability can be a unifying force on college campuses. Since 2015, Connecticut universities have collaborated on Campus Sustainability Week, a week-long celebration held in ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Bridging the Gap: Strategies for Sustainability-Athletics Partnerships

  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
  • Green Sports Alliance (OR)

Expanding sustainability goals and programming to include collegiate athletics provides opportunities for unique engagements across the campus community. Doing so requires building relationships and coordinating cross-pollination between campus sustainability professionals ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Protest Meets Policy Change: Practical, Local Politics As Key to Building Community Solidarity and Sustainability

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

This dynamic workshop challenges participants to engage in politics in ways that build community solidarity and sustainability. In times of great division at the national level, practical projects and local ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Power in Numbers: Collaborative Solar Procurement in Virginia

  • 3Degrees (CA)
  • Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (VA)

The Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) will provide an overview of the first collaborative procurement of on-campus solar energy in Virginia. This session will help participants understand their ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Bundled Offsets: Manage Risk and Benefit Local Communities

  • Duke University (NC)
  • Urban Offsets, Inc.

The strategy of offset bundling involves pairing 3rd party verified carbon offsets with local high co-benefit projects to assure climate impact and build local resilience. Tani Colbert-Sangree, of The Duke ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A Co Curricular Course about Sustainability, Leadership, Civic Engagement, Integrity and Interculturality

  • Universidad de Monterrey

As part of UDEM´s Formative Model, every student has to take 4 co-curricular courses. From these 4 courses, one is mandatory and they can choose the other 3. META ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Ecovillage + Innovation Village = The Future, now!

  • Oklahoma State University (OK)
  • Earth Deeds (MA)

Daniel Greenberg - exposed students for year to study abroad courses to ecovillages - has suggested that the ecovillage concept and university need each other. Nancy Gift - a professor at Berea College ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Working Together Towards Zero Waste

  • Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)

This is a meetup for all students, staff, companies, and professionals that are working on campus Zero Waste efforts. Whether you're helping your campus achieve Zero Waste goals, or ...

  • 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