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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University at Buffalo-Sustainability Month 2017
- University at Buffalo (NY)
At UB, Earth Day is celebrated all month, with dozens of sustainability events highlighting our commitment to critical issues like climate neutrality and publicly funded science.
- Posted May 3, 2017
- Photographs
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Cal Poly SLO Earth Week
- California Polytechnic State University (CA)
Cal Poly hosted a variety of events for Earth Week.
- Posted May 3, 2017
- Photographs
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Sustainability Week @ KU Medical Center
- University of Kansas Medical Center (KS)
KU Medical Center Sustainability Week was held to celebrate Earth Day and the one-year anniversary of the revamped recycling program. This included an Earth Day Celebration to share ways to ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
- Photographs
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UAlbany's Annual Family Earth Day
- University at Albany (NY)
The University’s 5th Annual UAlbany Family Earth Day, organized by the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences (DAES), Atmospheric Science Research Center, Office of Sustainability and UAlbany Students for ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
- Photographs
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University at Buffalo-Sustainability Month 2017
- University at Buffalo (NY)
At UB, Earth Day is celebrated all month, with dozens of sustainability events highlighting our commitment to critical issues like climate neutrality and publicly funded science.
- Posted May 1, 2017
- Photographs
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State University of New York at Cortland Habitat for Humanity Sustainable Living Workshop
- State University of New York at Cortland (NY)
The SUNY Cortland Habitat for Humanity Club hosted a sustainable living workshop where participants learned about and made items they can use in the own homes to promote a more ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
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SUNY Cortland The Big Event - Alpha Phi Omega
- State University of New York at Cortland (NY)
The State University of New York at Cortland hosts "The Big Event" where over 500 students and staff volunteer in the community picking up trash, sprucing up yards, and making ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
- Photographs
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Succulents at the Earth Day Expo
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Close-up shot of succulents that were made available for students to plant at the Earth Day Expo at the University of Minnesota. The Office of Sustainability challenged students and staff ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
- Photographs
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University of Virginia Earth Week 2017
- University of Virginia (VA)
Earth Week is a UVA tradition that celebrates the planet we all share. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to take part in a thought provoking, action packed ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
- Photographs
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Vanderbilt University FutureVU Expo
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
More than 800 students, staff, faculty and others stopped by the Wond’ry April 19 to learn about FutureVU, Vanderbilt’s campus land use planning initiative, and how the university ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
- Photographs
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Student club Sustainable Enterprise Association-Net Impact Chapter-tables at Springfest
- Cornell University (NY)
Student club Sustainable Enterprise Association-Net Impact Chapter-tables at Springfest. Springfest is a celebration of Earth Day, and an event recognizing the myriad environmental programs, clubs, and collaborations across campus. Featuring ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
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Building Care’s Julie Houston awarded the Cornell University Partners in Sustainability Awards (CUPSA)
- Cornell University (NY)
Building Care’s Julie Houston, who offers insight for students, faculty and staff by teaching responsible waste reduction and disposal, won the staff award. Houston also received accolades for her ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
- Photographs
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Arbor Day Tree Planting
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
To celebrate National Arbor Day and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's second certification as an official "Tree Campus USA," students, faculty and staff gathered to hear a proclamation ...
- Posted May 1, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Fest 2017
- Bentley University (MA)
Bentley's Sustainability group "Students for Sustainable Business" holds a festival called Earth Fest each year. This is an opportunity for the campus to acknowledge Earth Day.
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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FIU Nature Preserve Pollinator Garden Planting
- Florida International University (FL)
Florida International University's Nature Preserve is an 11-acre environmental education facility, representing the Florida Everglades. It is used to share ecological knowledge gained by university researchers with FIU students ...
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Day 5k
- DePauw University (IN)
DePauw students, faculty, staff and community residents participated in a free Earth Day 5k at the DePauw Nature Park. What made this 5k green? Participants were given race bibs created ...
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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High School Outreach
- DePauw University (IN)
DePauw Sustainability Leadership Program members presented on Sustainable Agriculture to 600+ local high school students as part of the high school’s Earth Day celebration.
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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Putnam County & Local Food
- DePauw University (IN)
DePauw Director of Sustainability, Anthony Baratta, gave a presentation to students and community members at the Putnam County Public Library titled “Hands in the Dirt: Growing Food in Putnam County ...
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Earth Week
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (WI)
The Sustainability Office celebrated Earth Day with an entire week of activities recognizing the relationship each individual has with the environment. A variety of interactive events included garden and greenhouse ...
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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PSU Hosts 10th Annual Earth Day Festival
- Portland State University (OR)
Students in PSU's Environmental Club partnered with campus and community organizations to host a festival in PSU's Park Blocks on Friday, April 21st. The event featured free tea ...
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Day Fair New Mexico State University
- New Mexico State University (NM)
The Las Cruces Downtown Plaza stage had great musicians, speakers, dancers, and more! We partnered with March for Science group. There were 30 educational and vendor booths, local food trucks ...
- Posted April 28, 2017
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Southern Oregon University Earth Week
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
- Posted April 28, 2017
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Cornell Environmental Collaborative (ECO) tabling at Springfest
- Cornell University (NY)
Cornell Environmental Collaborative (ECO) is the umbrella organization for sustainability groups at Cornell University. They also organize Cornell's annual Springfest celebration of Earth Day. An event recognizing the myriad ...
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Day Festival and Speaker Series Album continued...
- Western Washington University (WA)
More photos from WWU's Earth Day Festival and Speaker Series
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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Tuesday, April 25, 2017 11:24 AM Recognizing 2017 Cornell University Partners in Sustainability Awards (CUPSA) at SpringFest
- Cornell University (NY)
Recognizing campus and community leaders who advance sustainability values and initiatives with Cornell at the 2017 Cornell University University Partners in Sustainability (CUPSA) Award ceremony held during Springfest. Springfest is ...
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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2017 ECU Earth Day Festival
- East Carolina University (NC)
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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FIE Presents Re-imagining Sustainability: Creating Our Future
- FIE: Foundation for International Education (London)
As a higher education teaching tool, this video takes a journey through the myths, the truths, and the reality of sustainability in our world.
As an articulated value, the Foundation ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Gina McCarthy heads to the "Beach"
- Harvard University (MA)
Former Administrator of the EPA, Gina McCarthy, trys out a virtual reality project entitled "Beach," created by Harvard Graduate School of Design students at the Harvard Sustainability Showcase. "Beach" is ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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EKU Earth Day Festival
- Eastern Kentucky University (KY)
Eastern Kentucky University held its 1st Earth Day Festival on April 26th to celebrate achievements made in sustainability and connect students with local and on-campus environmental organizations. The event featured ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Shred Right Recycling Event
- Western Technical College (WI)
Students and community members brought 1,500 lbs of paper for shredding. The shredded material is recylced and made into low-quality paper products like paper towel. Since the event is ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Give bees a chance!
- Portland Community College (OR)
Portland Community College's sustainability director gives away pollinator education swag during Earth Week!
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Chicago March for Science Preparation
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago (IL)
SAIC Students attend a March for Science materials making session hosted by Sustainable SAIC to prepare for the Earth Day march.
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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SAIC Bike Tune-ups
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago (IL)
Sustainable SAIC partners with Pedal to the People, a local bike shop, to offer students free bike tune-ups for the annual Chicagoland Bike2Campus Week that started the day before Earth ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
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Randolph College co-sponsors Satellite March for Science on Earth Day in Lynchburg
- Randolph College (VA)
The Randolph College Sustainability Council co-sponsored a satellite March for Science in Lynchburg on Earth Day. Faculty, staff, students from Randolph College and neighboring Lynchburg College joined concerned citizens and ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
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March for Science
- Berea College (KY)
Members of Berea College and the Office of Sustainability traveled to Lexington, KY for the March for Science on Earth Day, April 22, 2017.
- Posted April 27, 2017
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Dandelion Festival
- Berea College (KY)
The second annual Dandelion Festival sought to educate students and the public about the importance of organic and non-invasive lawn management. The Festival opened with workshops led by two professors ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Central Community College Hastings Wind Turbine Tour
- Central Community College (NE)
Students, staff, and community members enjoyed a presentation on the new 1.7 MW wind turbine at Central Community College Hastings from the Bluestem Energy Solutions project manager.
Also at ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Central Community College Grand Island Earth Week Expo
- Central Community College (NE)
Students from the Hospitality Management and Restaurant Management program giving away marigold seeds and promoting their Green Fling event which connected restaurant owners, farmers markets, and local farmers.
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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MUSC Earth Day 2017
- Medical University of South Carolina (SC)
Charleston, SC – In celebration of Earth Day, MUSC’s Sustainability Program hosted its 9th Annual Earth Day Celebration in the MUSC Horseshoe on April 12th, 2017 from 11am – 2pm.
MUSC ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Captain Planet joins The GREEN Program Team for the Philadelphia Science March
- The GREEN Program (PA)
Saturday, April 22, Earth Day 2017, The GREEN Program team, partners and GREEN Alumni (with honorary team member, Captain Planet), took to the streets of Philadelphia to join our city ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Fest Oklahoma State University
- Oklahoma State University (OK)
Oklahoma State University's 2017 Earth Fest, organized by students of the SGA Sustainability Committee, was held on campus April 20th and open to the public. Organizations had exhibits on ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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EarthTones - Earth Day events at Appalachian State University
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The Appalachian State University chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASUSES) hosted the annual "Earth Tones" event on April 21. This event uses solar energy to power a day-long ...
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Celebrate Earth Day - Gateway Technical College - April 22, 2017
- Gateway Technical College (WI)
Attached are photos from the 10th Annual Celebrate Earth Day event sponsored by Gateway Technical College - Kenosha Campus in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Day Celebrations at University of Hong Kong
- University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
The University of Hong Kong celebrated Earth Day over 2 days on March 21st and 22nd. March 21st featured an Earth Village carnival with booths from environmental groups, workshops, an ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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Earth Day Reception and Award Ceremony at Indiana University South Bend
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
Every year, the Center for a Sustainable Future at IU South Bend thanks our supporters, celebrates the considerable accomplishments they have made possible during the last year, and awards student ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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UAB Recycling Earth Day on the Green
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (AL)
UAB Recycling Coordinator Jon Paolone explains the intricacies of products made from recycled materials - in this case, a rubber jar opener made from recycled tires & a flying disc made ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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AU's Energy Team Partners with DOEE to educate the community
- American University (DC)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
In efforts to promote American University’s Annual Campus Beautification Day, the Energy and Engineering Team at AU partnered with the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to locate ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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Universities run for, by, and with the faculty, students and staff: Alternatives to the neoliberal destruction of higher education
After analysing the organisational pathologies and societal ills created by the neoliberalisation of universities, the article engages in an organisational critique of the pseudo-business model currently in use. It poses ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Publications
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Not Business as Usual: Fostering Civic Engagement on Climate Change
- The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)
Attendees will engage in a discussion of what it means to them to civically engage through building consensus, seeking common ground, and moving towards climate solutions in a non-partisan way ...
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Bringing Nature Back to Campus
- Houston Community College (TX)
- Rice University (TX)
I want to encourage other institutions to consider designing courses or other activities that give students an opportunity to participate in authentic, urban conservation efforts.
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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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.