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

Thinking Beyond the Fork: Utilizing the Campus Food Truck as a Vehicle for Teaching Sustainability

  • University of North Carolina, Wilmington (NC)
  • Aramark (PA)

What do you get when you combine a university food truck, a chef, a farmer, and a FoodCorps service member? The University of North Carolina Wilmington's Campus Dining program ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Black Hills Food Hub: Rural Food Hubs Serving a Wider Demographic

  • Black Hills State University (SD)

Black Hills State University and Spearfish community partners are creating a culture that supports and values local food in order to expand the reach and depth of our regional local ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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From Gown to Town: Bringing the Benefits of Solar Energy to the Community

  • University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
  • Midwest Renewable Energy Association (WI)
  • Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (VA)
  • Institute for Sustainable Communities (VT)

Solar energy programs present a unique opportunity between colleges and their communities. We'll explore three areas where collaboration on and off campus are making a difference, including programs that ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Facilitating Urban Climate Resilience Planning: Experiences from 3 Cities

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • Second Nature (MA)

Climate Resilience in Urban Campuses + Communities (CRUX) is a multi-city partnership created to pilot the implementation of the resilience-related elements of the newly launched Climate Commitment. We have selected three ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability Summer Camps on Campus

  • Central College (IA)
  • Macalester College (MN)
  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)

This workshop highlights examples from two schools utilizing the resources of campus during the summer months through sustainability-focused day camps for kids. At the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Sarita Wetland ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Sustainability and the Arts

  • Colgate University (NY)
  • State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
  • University of Georgia (GA)

A major challenge for sustainability in higher education is effectively engaging the campus and surrounding community. The arts allow us to visualize and vocalize the hidden and complex into narratives ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Being a RE-Volv Solar Ambassador on your Campus and in your Community: Practical and Curricular Training and Experiences

  • Coastal Carolina University (SC)
  • RE-Volv (CA)

Re-Volv is a solar seed fund non-profit organization from San Francisco. It sponsors teams of college students each year to work with community non-profits and provide them solar energy. Establishing ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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From the Southeast to the UN: Reflections from GA & SC on Applying for and Launching New Regional Centres of Expertise

  • Coastal Carolina University (SC)
  • Emory University (GA)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
  • Portland Community College (OR)

Using sustainability education as a platform for building community and catalyzing social and environmental change in our regions has never been more important than it is right now. Sustainability education ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Athletics as a Resource for Advancing Campus Sustainability Goals

  • The Ohio State University (OH)
  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
  • Green Sports Alliance (OR)

In 2016, with the support of the White House, the Green Sports Alliance announced October 6th as the inaugural Green Sports Day to celebrate the power of sports as an ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Innovation Districts: Collaborations of a City, a College and Corporations

  • Oklahoma State University (OK)
  • The University of New Mexico (NM)
  • University of Texas at Austin (TX)
  • Wichita State University (KS)

Join Jane Talkington for an overview of Innovation Districts, a new form of economic development that challenges very different players in innovation ecosystems to build solidarity to achieve their goals ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Exploring the Web-based Promotion of Sustainability in KBOR Institutions: Strategies for Design & Implications for Practice

  • Pittsburg State University (KS)

To more fully understand how the concept of sustainability is represented by institutions of higher education in the state of Kansas, a scoping review of web-based content through university websites ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Comparing Move Out Programs: Sharing Perspectives on Waste Diversion, Campus & Community Collaboration, & Sustainability Goals.

  • Colorado State University (CO)
  • University of Iowa (IA)
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
  • Wilfrid Laurier University (ON)

Be part of an interactive discussion where 4 universities share their move out program from the perspectives of Housing, Sustainability, Facilities & Surplus & learn ways to advance sustainability, reuse ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Aligning Endowment Investments with the Paris Climate Agreement & the Sustainable Development Goals

  • Second Nature (MA)
  • Edison Energy (CA)
  • Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
  • Global Endowment Management (NC)

The past few years have seen a surge in interest and activity around how endowment investment practices can be better aligned with institutional mission, values, and sustainability goals. In large ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Fishing for Solutions: How Sourcing Sustainable and Affordable Seafood Fits into Your Campus Foodservice and Sustainability Programs

  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium (CA)
  • Sea to Table (NY)
  • Changing Tastes (MA)

What's for dinner? Fish! And a chance to promote ocean conservation, increase seafood consumption on campus, and engage students in sustainability. Chefs, nutritionists and food activists have advised an ...

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

  • Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
  • Marquette University (WI)
  • East Carolina University (NC)
  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
  • Harvey Mudd College (CA)
  • Emory University (GA)

Panelists and audience members will share perspectives, experiences, and advice as they discuss challenges and support strategies at the intersections of newness, isolation, and competence for sustainability professionals in higher ...

  • Posted Dec. 1, 2017
  • Conference Presentations
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Black Hills State University recognized for sustainability projects

  • Black Hills State University (SD)
  • AASHE (PA)

Black Hills State University is one of three winners for the international AASHE Sustainability Awards. BHSU is being honored by AASHE for the Black Hills Food Hub, a program launched ...

  • Posted Nov. 30, 2017
  • Publications
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The Key to Sustainable Purchasing - Radical Supply Chain Transparency

  • Georgetown University (DC)
  • Harvard University (MA)
  • AASHE (PA)
  • Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)

By definition, you can’t really know what is happening in your institution’s supply chain if you don’t even know where your supply chain is. Yet, few purchasers ...

  • Posted Nov. 7, 2017
  • Videos & Webinars
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Learning Our Way Toward Resilience

  • Island Press (DC)
  • Post Carbon Institute (OR)

This is an excerpt of Chapter 14 from The Community Resilience Reader: Essential Resources for an Era of Upheaval. Resilience education is about building our individual and community capacities to ...


Market Data: Building Energy Management Systems

This report from Navigant Research analyzes the global market for building energy management systems (BEMSs), examining technology trends, and providing forecasts, segmented by region, offering type, and customer type, through ...

  • Posted Oct. 25, 2017
  • Publications
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Green Chemistry Research Report

This market assessment by Pike Research estimates the current size of the green chemical industry - which includes waste minimization in the chemical production process; replacement of existing products with less ...

  • Posted Oct. 25, 2017
  • Publications
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UNH gets top ‘green campus’ status

  • University of New Hampshire (NH)
  • AASHE (PA)

Fosters.com article captures the University of New Hampshire's STARS Platinum achievement.

  • Posted Oct. 25, 2017
  • Publications
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Higher Education’s Anchor Mission: Measuring Place-Based Engagement

  • University of Missouri-St. Louis (MO)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
  • Drexel University (PA)
  • Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark Campus (NJ)
  • SUNY Buffalo State (NY)
  • Cleveland State University (OH)

The report examines how an ongoing—and expanding—effort to track the impact of colleges and universities on the financial and social well-being of their surrounding neighborhoods is helping these ...

  • Posted Oct. 25, 2017
  • Publications
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Public-Public Partnerships for a New Paradigm in the Civic Role of the University

  • California State University, Chico (CA)

Recognizing the need to proactively prepare engaged citizens for the dynamic socioeconomic and environmental conditions of the 21st century, the Institute for Sustainable Development at California State University (CSU), Chico ...

  • Posted Oct. 20, 2017
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Teaming Up To Fight Blight and Promote Sustainability: An Academic-Governmental Collaboration for Sustainable Development

  • Albany Law School (NY)
  • University at Albany (NY)

This article describes a town-gown collaboration in the capital region of New York State between two academic institutions, Albany Law School and the University at Albany, and two city governments ...

  • Posted Oct. 20, 2017
  • Publications
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Sustainability in Science Museums sustainABLE (R) Activity Kits

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

The Sustainability in Science Museums program has developed the sustainABLE® Activity Kits to engage families in sustainability practices and principles. More than 70 kits have been distributed worldwide, engaging more ...


Sustainability in Science Museums

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

The Sustainability in Science Museums program, one of the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives at Arizona State University, invites professionals from science museums and centers from around the ...


The Kaleidoscope Project

  • University of Calgary (AB)

The Kaleidoscope project at University of Calgary envisions a more pluralistic and inclusive campus community and invites students to engage in learning, conversation and action with others who may have ...


U Drive Electric

  • University of Utah (UT)

SOU Students Celebrating Arbor Day

  • Southern Oregon University (OR)

SOU students and the community came together to celebrate Arbor Day and Bee Campus USA by planting 6,000 native plants for pollinators throughout campus.


Stanford raises environmental standard for Middle Plaza project following concerns

  • Stanford University (CA)

Following concerns raised by a local nonprofit, Stanford agreed to raise environmental standards for its Middle Plaza Project in Menlo Park. The new 8.4-acre mixed-use project will include 215 ...

  • Posted Oct. 11, 2017
  • Publications
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Campus Engagement; Diversity & Affordability

  • Northwestern University (IL)

The Change Makers program at Northwestern University allows professional staff and faculty members to engage in a personal journey to create a more inclusive environment at Northwestern University. Change Makers ...


Sustainability Scholar 2016 - University of Alberta

  • University of Alberta (AB)

The Sustainability Scholars program provides University of Alberta graduate students opportunities to work on applied research projects with the City of Edmonton, campus units and other institutions. Successful projects provide ...


Sustainability Scholar 2015 - University of Alberta

  • University of Alberta (AB)

Research Report - Executive Summary

The Sustainability Scholars program provides University of Alberta graduate students opportunities to work on applied research projects with the City of Edmonton, campus units and other ...


Bike to Breakfast at Utah State University

  • Utah State University (UT)

USU bikes to breakfast to celebrate the beginning and end of the National Bike Challenge. USU celebrated its 5th year and 4th win in the National Bike Challenge.


Core Concepts for Teaching Sustainability: Using “Tips” to Deepen Learning across the Disciplines, Grade Levels and Cultures

  • Colorado State University (CO)
  • AASHE (PA)

Sustainability is one of those big, complex concepts that defy easy definition or simple responses yet demand attention to our collective well-being. Some Native Americans would judge the worth of ...

  • Posted Sept. 28, 2017
  • Videos & Webinars
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Building commitment to sustainability through habitat restoration: A case study of Valley Forge Christian College

  • Valley Forge Christian College (PA)

This sustainability initiative was created to improve the campus habitat for wildlife and to motivate students to begin new sustainability initiatives. A habitat restoration and educational outreach plan called “Habitat ...

  • Posted Sept. 28, 2017
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Global Citizenship Education: Preparing learners for the challenges of the 21st century

  • UNESCO

This publication explores the concept of Global Citizenship Education (GCE), which it argues has a critical role to play in equipping learners with competencies to deal with the dynamic and ...

  • Posted Sept. 28, 2017
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#EKULocal Festival

  • Eastern Kentucky University (KY)

On September 7th, 2017, the Office of Sustainability at Eastern Kentucky University hosted its second annual #EKULocal Festival. The festival featured live music, fun activites, fresh produce, and a variety ...

  • Posted Sept. 28, 2017
  • Photographs
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Careers in Sustainability: Current Job Trends and Future Growth

This report, based on interviews with 658 Canadian organizations, provides insight on key sustainability employment trends in Canada. It finds that over 50,000 professionals spend 50% or more of ...

  • Posted Sept. 21, 2017
  • Publications
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Now Hiring: The Growth of America’s Clean Energy & Sustainability Jobs

  • Environmental Defense Fund (DC)

This report examines the growth of sustainability jobs in the United States. Key findings include:

  • Sustainability jobs represent a large and growing portion of the U.S. workforce across multiple ...
  • Posted Sept. 21, 2017
  • Publications
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Developing strategies and leaders to succeed in a new era of sustainability: Findings and insights from the United Nations Global Compact‐Accenture CEO Study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify leading CEOs’ views on sustainability and how they believe it is impacting the business environment, with a particular focus on the ...

  • Posted Sept. 18, 2017
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Higher Education Paving the Way to Sustainable Development: A Global Perspective

The International Association of Universities (IAU), a membership organization, which brings together about 650 higher education institutions and organizations from some 130 countries, launched its first Global Survey on the ...

  • Posted Sept. 18, 2017
  • Publications
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Hospitality employers’ perceptions of technology for sustainable development: The implications for graduate employability

This paper investigates hospitality employers’ perspectives of two key interdisciplinary subjects, i.e. sustainable development and information technology in the context of hospitality education, particularly graduate employability. A qualitative approach ...

  • Posted Sept. 11, 2017
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Solar Energy Technology Licensed

  • University of California, Davis (CA)

A new licensing deal between the University of California, Davis and Q1 NanoSystems has established terms for exclusive licensing of a package of jointly-owned intellectual property stemming from inventions both ...

  • Posted Sept. 11, 2017
  • Publications
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The Alt-Right on Campus: What Students Need to Know

Taken from the Aug. 10, 2017 press release (linked at the bottom):

An old and familiar poison is being spread on college campuses these days: the idea that America should ...

  • Posted Aug. 31, 2017
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Sustainability: A Touchstone Concept for University Operations, Education, and Research

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

Many, both within and outside the university, argue that we need a new paradigm to guide society in the 21st century--a paradigm organized around the principle of "sustainability." Although there ...

  • Posted Aug. 28, 2017
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Global perspectives: aligning agendas?

  • Bournemouth University (Dorset)
  • University of London

In recent years there has been a growth in interest amongst a number of universities in the UK and elsewhere in the world on reflecting upon the contribution of higher ...

  • Posted Aug. 28, 2017
  • Publications
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Greening Technical and Vocational Education and Training: A practical guide for institutions

  • UNESCO

This Guide is designed to help leaders and practitioners of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in improving their understanding and implementation of education for sustainable development (ESD) using ...

  • Posted Aug. 28, 2017
  • Publications
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Parks and Sustainability

  • Kent State University - Stark (OH)

Picture of a student in Kent State University at Stark's Introduction to Watershed Studies. This course was created through a park and campus partnership.


Asian deals for UNSW solar technology

  • UNSW Sydney (NSW)

This press release describes three new technology licensing agreements between and the University of New South Wales and solar cell manufacturers in Asia. The first, a $1.7million licensing agreement ...

  • Posted Aug. 14, 2017
  • 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

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