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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The WaterHub at Emory University – Engaging Campus & Community in Water Reclamation
- Emory University (GA)
The WaterHub at Emory University is an on-site water recycling system, utilizing biomimicry, or engineered processes that emulate natural ecological systems, to reclaim wastewater for heating and cooling buildings and …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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A Comms Plan for Running a Waste Reduction Engagement in your University
- University of London
Over the last three years at Reduce the Juice we’ve learnt a lot about running successful behaviour change engagements and now want to share what we’ve learnt with the AASHE …
- Posted May 18, 2018
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Cultivating the Globally Sustainable Self Summit Series - Advancing Education for Sustainable Development Through Research and Practice
- James Madison University (VA)
The Cultivating the Globally Sustainable Self Summit Series is a multi-year, multi-institution initiative that promotes transformative teaching, training, and learning in research and practice (www.jmu.edu/summitseries). The innovative Summit Series addresses …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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Higher Education and the Sustainable Development Goals
- AASHE (MA)
- University College London (London)
- University of London
The challenges the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) present to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) go deeper than did those of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They require a rethink of the …
- Posted May 18, 2018
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Dismantling a local School to Prison Pipeline with Education for Sustainable Development
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
UTRGV’s collaboration with an alternative school and its subsequent integration of education for sustainable development has been transformative for the country’s most vulnerable and marginalized youth.
Armed guards stand at …
- Posted May 17, 2018
- Case Studies
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Mobilization Strategies for Environmental Policy Influence
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
- AASHE (MA)
Those of us who research and teach about sustainability issues are often interested in the potential social impact of our own work, in order to help address environmental challenges of …
- Posted May 15, 2018
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Using experiential marine debris education to make an impact: Collecting debris, informing policy makers, and influencing students
- University of Hartford (CT)
The Shore to Statehouse project supported the creation of an open-source, replicable, undergraduate experiential course on marine debris. Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the course allowed undergraduate …
- Posted May 14, 2018
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University-Community Partnership Models: Employing Organizational Management Theories of Paradox and Strategic Contradiction
- University of Louisville (KY)
University–community (U-C) partnerships have the potential to respond to society’s most pressing needs through engaged scholarship. Despite this promise, partnerships face paradoxical tensions and inherent contradictions that are often not …
- Posted May 14, 2018
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Undergraduate Learning through Engaged Scholarship and University-Community Partnerships
- College of William & Mary (VA)
- University of Georgia (GA)
The impact of university–community partnerships and involvement in engaged scholarship on student learning was examined through in-depth interviews with undergraduate members of a student-led, community-based research organization at a selective …
- Posted May 14, 2018
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Transnational collaboration for sustainability in higher education: Lessons from a systematic review
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
We continue to understand little about how to best design and operate transnational collaborations between universities to advance research and education for sustainability. This article explores general practices in transnational …
- Posted May 14, 2018
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The role of higher education institutions in regional transition paths towards sustainability
- University of Marburg
The present paper investigates the role of the located Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the transformation towards sustainability of the city of Linz as well as the region of Upper …
- Posted May 14, 2018
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Michigan Tech Sustainability Demonstration House
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
The goal of Sustainability Demonstration House (SDH) project is to retrofit the former University President’s residence, built in 1953, titled the Kettle-Gundlach Building into a sustainability demonstration house. The SDH …
- Posted May 11, 2018
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Enable by House by Northwestern - a 2017 U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon Team
- Northwestern University (IL)
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon showcases innovative solar powered houses that are designed, built, and operated by collegiate teams. It is a collegiate competition of 10 contests that …
- Posted May 10, 2018
- Case Studies
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Sustainability University–Community Partnerships: Lessons for practitioners and scholars from highly sustainable communities
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Missouri State University (MO)
As local communities face increasing pressure to address environmental concerns, town–gown partnerships are one avenue for improving environmental conditions and sustainability planning for the future. Partnerships between community leaders and …
- Posted May 8, 2018
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Earth Day Fair at UI Health
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
Join the UI Health Green Team and outside organizations focused on sustainability at our upcoming Earth Day Fair on Friday, April 20! The event is open to both staff and …
- Posted May 8, 2018
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Penn State Green Team
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
The Penn State Green Team hosted an earth day jeopardy competition with the College of the Liberal Arts department and the help of the Sustainability Institute every one enjoyed Earth …
- Posted May 8, 2018
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Arbor Day Tree Planting
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
UIC is a Tree Campus USA and on crisp, cool and sunny morning, we celebrated Arbor Day with many UIC students, staff, faculty, and other tree enthusiasts. We planted two …
- Posted May 8, 2018
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Making Bike Powered Smoothies on Earth Day
- University of Iowa (IA)
On Earth Day, The University of Iowa Office of Sustainability set up a bike with a blender attachment at the Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility's Earth Day event at the …
- Posted May 1, 2018
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Earth Tones - Earth Day Concert and Expo
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Appalachian State hosts an annual "Earth Tones" concert, with bands powered by solar panels, on the Duck Pond Field. Sponsored by ASUSES, the festival includes representatives from the SDSA, ASUREI, …
- Posted May 1, 2018
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Trash Fashion Show 2018
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Appalachian State and community partners put on a Trash Fashion Show in the new university/Community HOW space. The designers made clothing from items that would have otherwise been discarded, such …
- Posted May 1, 2018
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Green Industries Career Fair!
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
During the Month of April Career Services and Office of Sustainability joined together to host a Career specific Job Fair, called “Green Industries Job Fair”. Our goal was to connect …
- Posted April 30, 2018
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Greener Grant Week! Earth Week 2018
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
A week of Earth Day Events!
Students watched a seed library demonstration and then were able to take home whichever seeds they pleased. They also planted sunflower seeds. Volunteers for …
- Posted April 30, 2018
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Facilitating a World Climate Negotiation Simulation
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
The World Climate Simulation has been run with over 35,000 people in nearly 80 countries to enable people to experience the dynamics of the UN climate negotiations. Join this webinar …
- Posted April 26, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Climate Change and Art: Transparency with Miguel Barros
- Bow Valley College (AB)
To celebrate Earth Day 2018, the BVC Green team, Intercultural Centre, International Education, and Iniikokaan Aboriginal Centre at Bow Valley College partnered to host artist Miguel Barros' work Transparency, …
- Posted April 26, 2018
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Earth Day 2018 at Chemeketa Community College
- Chemeketa Community College (OR)
Earth Day 2018 as put on by the Associated Students of Chemeketa with support from Student Retention and College Life, and Chemeketa Sustainability.
We want to thank our exhibitors: 350.org …
- Posted April 26, 2018
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DePauw University hosts Earth Week keynote Ian Cheney, filmmaker and founding member of FoodCorps
- DePauw University (IN)
DePauw University's Earth Week keynoter, Ian Cheney, is a founding member of FoodCorps, a food justice nonprofit focused on equitable access to healthy food in public schools, and a documentary …
- Posted April 26, 2018
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Earth Day 5k
- DePauw University (IN)
Participants at DePauw University's Earth Day 5K ready to start the race. Students and community members participating in the DePauw University Earth Day 5K. Participants at the finish line of …
- Posted April 26, 2018
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Sorority Volunteers at Environmental Racism Panel, UW-Madison
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
As part of Earth Week, UW-Madison Office of Sustainability (OS) and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Incorporated partnered to present a documentary screening of Slawomir Grünberg's "Fenceline: A Company Town …
- Posted April 25, 2018
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Zero Waste Pilot at Earth Day Conference, Madison, WI
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
UW-Madison Office of Sustainability (OS) interns Anna Weinberg, Ally Burg, and Noemy Serrano monitor a zero waste station during the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Earth Day Conference at Monona …
- Posted April 25, 2018
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Sustainability at Universities: Students’ perceptions from Green and Non-Green universities
- Vytautas Magnus University
As institutions of higher education, universities have a significant impact on society and can play a key role in sustainability provision. Particularly, it is expected that green universities, because they …
- Posted April 24, 2018
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Texas A&M University Earth Day
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Texas A&M University | Sports & Recreation Texas A&M University Office of Sustainability - Kelly Wellman, Director & Ben Kalscheur, Sustainability Operations Coordinator Texas A&M University Earth Day Event Aggie …
- Posted April 24, 2018
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NMSU Earth Day volunteers from the College of Business
- New Mexico State University (NM)
Business Council students volunteered to help out at our Southern New Mexico Earth Day Festival and we couldn't have done it without them. Thank you NMSU students!
- Posted April 24, 2018
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EarthFest at Cleveland State University
- Cleveland State University (OH)
EarthFest is an annual event on the CSU campus designed to raise awareness about campus and community sustainability initiatives and organizations. EarthFest is hosted by the CSU Office of Sustainability …
- Posted April 24, 2018
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Sustainability: Why Universities Can Lead by Example
- North Central College (IL)
This TEDx Talk describes the benefits of adopting more energy-efficient systems and technology on college campuses. Such practices pay off for these institutions in the long run while also helping …
- Posted April 23, 2018
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UConn Earth Day Spring Fling
- University of Connecticut (CT)
Earth Day Spring Fling is UConn’s largest annual environmental awareness event and celebration. This year’s event took place on April 18th from 11am-2pm on Fairfield Way, the heart of UConn’s …
- Posted April 23, 2018
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2018 Earth Week at Lehigh University
- Lehigh University (PA)
Lehigh University celebrated Earth Week by hosting a week of educational and engaging events. Earth Week is an opportunity to celebrate the beauty and bounty of our planet, while also …
- Posted April 23, 2018
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The importance of international conferences on sustainable development as higher education institutions' strategies to promote sustainability: A case study in Brazil
- University of Georgia (GA)
- University of Cambridge
This paper analyzes the significance of international conferences for higher education institutions (HEIs)’ promotion of sustainability. The paper has undertaken a detailed review of the scientific literature on strategies of …
- Posted April 18, 2018
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The glocal curriculum: A model for transnational collaboration in higher education for sustainable development
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
Transnational collaborations between universities provide an underutilized opportunity to teach sustainability competencies emphasizing the global and local nature of (un)sustainability. This article asks: what kind of curricula and teaching-learning environments …
- Posted April 18, 2018
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MUSC Earth Day and Local Food Fest 2018
- Medical University of South Carolina (SC)
On Wednesday April 11th, thousands of people attended MUSC Earth Day & Local Food Festival. Almost a dozen food vendors and trucks served up fresh and local produce from nearby …
- Posted April 17, 2018
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Sustainability in higher education: A review of contributions from Portuguese Speaking Countries
- University of Aveiro
- University of Brasilia
The Portuguese-speaking countries (PSC) have a population of close to 250 million and occupy an area of about 10.7 million square kilometers across four continents. Most of these countries are …
- Posted April 17, 2018
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Sustainability-oriented higher education networks: Characteristics and achievements in the context of the UN DESD
- University of Zurich
- Charles University
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 …
- Posted April 17, 2018
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The Role of University Campuses in Reconnecting Humans to the Biosphere
- Stockholm University
In this paper, we explore the potential for integrating university campuses in a global sustainability agenda for a closer reconnection of urban residents to the biosphere. This calls for a …
- Posted April 17, 2018
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Training in Environmental Policy Advocacy During Challenging Times
- DePauw University (IN)
- AASHE (MA)
Many positive environmental policy gains are under threat across the country. Students who are motivated to take action are more important than ever. Over the last decade, DePauw University has …
- Posted April 12, 2018
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Enabling Divestment from Fossil Fuels: Characterizing Divestment Awareness and Support at Dalhousie University
- Dalhousie University (NS)
A team of students at Dalhousie University has come together to develop a comprehensive research report on the state of divestment from fossil fuels at their University. Divestment campaigns have …
- Posted April 11, 2018
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Promoting Sustainability Science on Campus: Renewable Energy Workshops Hosted at Kean University in New Jersey
- Kean University (NJ)
The project provides workshops for high school/college students and educators to learn the basics, application, and impacts of renewable energy through hands-on activities and software tools. The workshops cover many …
- Posted April 3, 2018
- Case Studies
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Fall 2017 Immersive Learning: Brownfields to Brightfields
- Ball State University (IN)
With the support and facilitation of the Center for Energy Research/Education/Service (CERES) at Ball State University, a group of second year urban planning students in the College of Architecture and …
- Posted April 3, 2018
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Students' Understanding of Sustainability and Climate Change across Linked Service-Learning Courses
- University of Vermont (VT)
College and university faculty are increasingly being called upon to teach about sustainability. Many of these faculty members are incorporating content related to climate change because climate change is arguably …
- Posted March 29, 2018
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Achieving Sustainability in the City of Winona, Minnesota (USA): A Case-Study
- Winona State University (MN)
The City of Winona is a small urban center (27,000 people) in southeastern Minnesota. Located along the Mississippi River, the city is nestled below steep bluffs that limit further urban …
- Posted March 29, 2018
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Engaging Across Boundaries: The Power of Civic Engagement in Sustainability
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- Portland Community College (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
- Campus Compact (MA)
Speakers will offer an introduction to the broader concept of civic engagement and will share experiences, best practices, models and frameworks:
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in setting up a a multiple semester student engagement …
- Posted March 27, 2018
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Integrating Geoscience and Sustainability: Examining Socio-Techno-Ecological Relationships Within Content Designed to Prepare Teachers
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Coupling the study of sustainability with geoscience may enable students to explore science in a more sophisticated way by examining the social–technological–ecological relationships that exist between human–nonhuman and flora–fauna–land interactions. …
- Posted March 22, 2018
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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.