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
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Promoting and Assessing Sustainability As A Learning Outcome in Education Abroad
- The Education Abroad Network (IL)
Drawing upon the definition and content of global learning within the AAC&U Global Learning Rubric, this poster reveals why the issues of sustainability & climate change must result in student …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
To Bee or Not to Bee: A Beekeeping Community
- Central Community College (NE)
This poster will describe the process Central Community College used to engage its service area in the responsible management of honeybee populations. Starting with a beginner beekeeping course, the college …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Reflections from Within: Investigating the Value of Service-Learning and Community-Based Research for Undergraduate Students
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)
This poster will provide a student perspective on the value of participating in service-learning experiences during one's undergraduate education. Reflecting on her recent experience in a sustainable community development (SCD) …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Sustainable Bookstore: Giving New Life to Discarded University Library Books
- Appalachian State University (NC)
When the Appalachian State University library culled its stacks, close to 80,000 books were slated to be recycled. Many of these books, some dating back to the late 1800s, contain …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Coastal Resiliency Planning: Linking Online Student Research to City Sustainability Planning
- Arizona State University (AZ)
To address the special challenges of coastal cities, sustainability planning has depends on research from disciplines as diverse as climatology, ecology, social science, economics, political science, and urban planning. While …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Bee Nice: Creating a Community of Beekeepers
- Central Community College (NE)
Community education departments provide a variety of programs that work to educate the population that a college serves. As concerns related to Colony Collapse Disorder increase awareness of the dangers …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Activities of Campus Sustainability Network in Japan (CAS-Net JAPAN)
- Fukushima College
In March 2014, the Campus Sustainability Network in Japan whose abbreviation is CAS-Net JAPAN was established. This is the first domestic network on campus sustainability for higher educational institutions in …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Setting the World Aflame: Town-Gown Collaboration through Solar Spring Break
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
UC Berkeley partners with GRID Alternatives' Solar Spring Break to engage students during spring break in the installation of solar panels for underrepresented communities. This partnership provides communities with access …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Bikes@Naz: A Sustainable Wellness Program
- Nazareth College (NY)
Bikes@Naz is one of the best Bike Share programs in the country. With over 60 bicycles, we also have one of the largest programs. Bikes@Naz was founded on the principles …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
How Universities can Create Sustainable Communities: A Place-Based Framework for Research, Planning, and Action
- Audubon International (NY)
Can the movement for campus sustainability catalyze local governments into creating their own more sustainable futures? With guidance and tools from a national non-profit, sustainability advocates and university researchers are …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Heart of the Matter: A Candid Conversation about Campus Sustainability
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)
For the purpose of my research, my grounded theory addressed the intersections of interactions that impact an individual's ability to develop the core beliefs that cultivate environmental ethics and good …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Yale University Town-Gown Collaboration on Sustainability
- Yale University (CT)
Yale University has embarked on its third sustainability strategic planning process with a fresh emphasis on connecting with the City of New Haven community, among additional priorities. Three distinct programs …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student Leadership & Sustainability Results
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
At Agnes Scott College, students are at the heart of all sustainability initiatives, whether it is waste diversion or the installation of solar arrays. The Center for Sustainability has a …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
What's a Bioneer and how can it Help my College Connect with Community on a Local, Regional and National Level?
- McHenry County College (IL)
McHenry County College has found success in bringing people from the community to the college for an annual speaker series through our partnership with the Bioneers (now called the Bioneers …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Achieving the Impossible: How the Millennial Generation is Winning a Just & Sustainable Future in the Age of Climate Change
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
Outspoken advocate and internationally-recognized former elected official Dominic Frongillo will share his perspective as the youngest-ever councilmember in Caroline, NY, and delegate to UN climate talks on how young people …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Buying and Hiring Local to Foster Sustainable Community Development
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- Democracy Collaborative (DC)
This plenary will show how campuses are embracing their role as anchor institutions and using their economic power to make significant contributions to building sustainable and equitable local economies. Sarah …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Centers for Sustainability Across the Curriculum Meeting
- AASHE (MA)
An opportunity to network and plan with other institutions helping to pilot AASHE's Centers for Sustainability Across the Curriculum Program.
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Enhancing sustainability awareness among university students: Effects of facilitated discussion groups and peer-to-peer learning
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
This presentation will describe and analyze the Climate Knowledge Project, an effort at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to link together climate research, sustainability education, and student engagement programs. Beginning in …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems: National Science Foundation (NSF) Initiative to Examine Critical Issues in Today's World
- National Science Foundation
At the end of 2015, the NSF put out its first request for proposals for the INFEWS program. Over the next five years the program plans to fund interdisciplinary projects …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Advocacy and Civic Engagement Networking Meeting
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
- Citizens' Climate Lobby (CA)
Scientists are in consensus that the world needs to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and this cannot be accomplished by …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Can carbon offsets be community-based, educational, and affordable? The results of a 4 college collaborative research project.
- Amherst College (MA)
- Hampshire College (MA)
- Smith College (MA)
- Williams College (MA)
What would be the best carbon offset? Can carbon offsets achieve measurable carbon reductions, as well as support the health and sustainability of our local communities and provide educational and …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
From Student Farm to Rural Semester: The Evolution of An Idea
- University of Connecticut (CT)
This proposal will explore the evolution of an idea from its initial inception to create an off-campus student farm, to its initial form, to its current practice (UCONN Spring Valley …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Developing Short Animations to Foster Awareness and Environmental Connection to Place
- Oberlin College (OH)
Systems thinking' skills--the understanding of how relationships, interdependencies, and individual group behavior impact community and ecosystem--are important for environmental sustainability. 'Citywide Dashboard,' a conceptual model of a community animated by …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainable Communities Program
- Audubon International (NY)
Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Program is an international, science-based, third-party certification program that guides communities through a customized journey to become healthy and vibrant places in which to live, work, …
- Posted Nov. 17, 2016
- Tools
- View more
White Paper: Investing in Clean Energy: Campuses and Endowments
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowments Network's new report titled “Investing in Clean Energy: Campuses and Endowments” was designed to encourage conversation about the financial and societal benefits of clean energy investments higher …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Communities of Opportunity: Smart Growth Strategies For Colleges and Universities
- National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO) (DC)
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
This publication provides an overview of smart growth strategies and the better outcomes that these strategies have yielded when adopted by colleges and universities and communities across the country. It …
- Posted Nov. 3, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Validating the Need to Include the Economic Returns of Graduates as a Metric of a Higher Education Institutions Level of Sustainability
- Eastern Michigan University (MI)
- Technische Universiteit Delft
Higher education institutions play an important role in sustainability, in their own management and operation, in research and education, and in the undergraduate and graduate degrees they deliver. Often ignored, …
- Posted Nov. 3, 2016
- Publications
- View more
UCSB and Campus Sustainability Group Come to Agreement
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
This article describes an agreement regarding University of California, Santa Barbara's Long Range Development Plan between the University and Sustainable University Now (SUN), a coalition of community organizations). The agreement …
- Posted Nov. 1, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Harvard to limit greenhouse gas emissions in new Allston construction
- Harvard University (MA)
This article describes Harvard University's agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings constructed on its Allston campus. The agreement between the University and the Executive Office of Energy …
- Posted Nov. 1, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Combining forces: Fostering sustainability collaboration between the city of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia
- University of British Columbia (BC)
Purpose - This paper describes the sustainability partnership between the City of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia (UBC) and, in particular, the co-curricular Greenest City Scholars graduate student …
- Posted Nov. 1, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Can Urban University Expansion and Sustainable Development Co-Exist?: A Case Study in Progress on Columbia University
- Albany Law School (NY)
- Columbia University (NY)
This article uses the expansion of Columbia University as a case study to demonstrate the difficulty in labeling projects as "sustainable" or "unsustainable" when key stakeholders view the process and …
- Posted Oct. 31, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Columbia Announces Deal on Its 17-Acre Expansion Plan
- Columbia University (NY)
This article describes an agreement relating to the Columbia University's plans to expand its campus in Harlem. Among other things, the university committed to contribute $20 million to start a …
- Posted Oct. 31, 2016
- Publications
- View more
A Nearly Carbon-Neutral Conference Model: White Paper & Practical Guide
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
This document was created to help stage nearly carbon-neutral (NCN) conferences based on a model first implemented at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) in May of 2016. Compared to fly-in conferences, …
- Posted Oct. 28, 2016
- Publications
- View more
From Ecocity To Ecocampus: Sustainability Policies In University Campuses
- Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Madrid)
Cities generate environmental impacts that have focused the global interest of scientists and authorities on the search for environment-friendly alternatives. The ‘Ecocity’ concept provides an innovative and sustainable vision of …
- Posted Oct. 26, 2016
- Publications
- View more
The Anchor Dashboard: Aligning Institutional Practice to Meet Low-Income Community Needs
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
- Democracy Collaborative (DC)
Anchor institutions are place-based entities such as universities and hospitals that are tied to their surroundings by mission, invested capital or relationships to customers, employees and vendors. This study seeks …
- Posted Oct. 20, 2016
- Publications
- View more
A Guide for Applied Sustainability Learning Projects: Advancing sustainability outcomes on campus and in the community
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
This guide provides a step-by-step framework for how a new or existing applied learning for sustainability program can be systematically designed, built and scaled around two interconnected goals:
- Providing students …
- Posted Oct. 8, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Employer attitudes towards, and skills for, sustainable development
- National Union of Students
- Higher Education Academy (York)
This report describes the results of an online survey of employers in the U.K. about sustainable development. Overall, employers believed the range of skills for sustainability to be important when …
- Posted Oct. 6, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Leadership Skills for a Sustainable Economy
Based on a survey of sustainability staff at member companies of The Prince of Wales’s Mayday Network on Climate Change and also member companies of Business in the Community, this …
- Posted Oct. 6, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Cultivating an Academy We Can Live With: The Humanities and Education for Sustainability
- Wake Forest University (NC)
Many facets of the university system in North America are fundamentally unsustainable, developing and perpetuating knowledge practices that not only do not sustain the biospheric conditions in which our species …
- Posted Oct. 6, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Unity College Students at the People's Climate March
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
Unity College students participate in the People's Climate March. Unity College was the first to divest its endowment from fossil fuels.
- Posted Sept. 23, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
Athletics Department Awareness and Action Regarding the Environment: A Study of NCAA Athletics Department Sustainability Practices
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- Ohio University (OH)
The relationship of sport to sustainability management is relatively unknown. Despite the increasing recognition of the growing role of athletics in regard to environmental sustainability, it remains unclear what role …
- Posted Sept. 21, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Intercollegiate Sport and the Environment: Examining Fan Engagement Based on Athletics Department Sustainability Efforts
- Bowling Green State University (OH)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- Ohio University (OH)
The purpose of this study was to examine how environmental education efforts at a sporting event related to environmental behavioral intentions, in the context of a promotional green game, based …
- Posted Sept. 21, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Climate & Energy Strategy
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
UC Santa Cruz convenes staff, students and faculty to discuss how to meet the UC systemwide goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2025 and next steps for implementation of the …
- Posted Sept. 14, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
Boreas Leadership Program - University of Minnesota
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Boreas offers University of Minnesota graduate and professional students and post-doctoral fellows free co-curricular leadership development opportunities that build on the strengths of graduate education to create effective change agents. …
- Posted Sept. 13, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
University of Minnesota Living Lab
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Campus grounds are more than a a backdrop at the University of Minnesota. Our Living Laboratories have transformed otherwise un-programmed areas into outdoor spaces for innovation, testing, demonstration, and learning. …
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
Western Michigan University Office for Sustainability Engagement Initiatives
- Western Michigan University (MI)
Western Michigan University's Office for Sustainability
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
Dr. Dorceta Taylor
- Western Michigan University (MI)
Dr. Dorceta Taylor engages students and community members in discussions on sustainable agriculture, food justice, inclusion and diversity.
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
University at Albany Harvest Festival
- University at Albany (NY)
This photo depicts students from the Office of Sustainability tabling at the Office of Residential Life's annual Harvest Festival, which celebrates local food and healthy eating.
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
DoubleMap Bus Tracking Systems
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
Students at Indiana University Bloomington formed the DoubleMap startup company and developed the DoubleMap bus tracking system in collaboration with campus stakeholders and with financial assistance from the IU Student …
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
EMC 2016 summer ANR team created several short focused videos about recycling and composting intiatives
- Champlain College (VT)
The Emergent Media Center (EMC) is a Center of Excellence at Champlain College. We hire students to work on projects, the students work with the clients, work under deadlines utilizing …
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
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.