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

Universities and Sustainable Food Practices: An International Comparison Along the Pacific Coast of North America

  • University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
  • University of Alaska Anchorage (AK)
  • Western Kentucky University (KY)
  • University of British Columbia (BC)

My research project examined sustainable practices in relation to food sources at three universities located along the Pacific Coast of North America. The academic institutions were the University of Alaska ...

  • Posted Sept. 6, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Furman's CCC weatherizes it's 100th home

  • Furman University (SC)

The Community Conservation Corps (CCC), coordinated by Furman's David E. Shi Center for Sustainability, partners with a local utility company and Habitat for Humanity to provide needed home weatherization ...


Education for Sustainable Development in Further Education: Embedding Sustainability into Teaching, Learning and the Curriculum

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)

This book will enable teachers and managers in the post-compulsory sector to consider a range of approaches to embed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in their practice in the post-compulsory ...

  • Posted Aug. 29, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Bringing the research home: partnership for watershed restoration

  • Oregon State University (OR)

The Corvallis Sustainability Coalition is a network of more than 250 businesses, non-profits, faith communities, educational institutions, local governments and individuals in Corvallis, Oregon, brought together to accelerate progress toward ...

  • Posted Aug. 25, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Bitten by the Green Design Bug

According to U.S. News & World Report, "sustainability sensibility is sweeping through and transforming the curricula in America's colleges of engineering, as more educators emphasize the importance of ...

  • Posted Aug. 24, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

College hopefuls look for green universities

  • USA TODAY (VA)

USA Today reports that "the nation's college-bound students are increasingly looking for green - and no, that doesn't mean just money."

  • Posted Aug. 23, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Do students really choose colleges based on how green they are?

A Princeton Review survey finds that incoming freshmen would weigh information about environmental issues into their college decisions, but average students say it’s not on their radar

  • Posted Aug. 23, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Integrating geoscience into undergraduate education about environment, society, and sustainability using place-based learning: three examples

  • Metropolitan State University (MN)
  • University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
  • Utah State University (UT)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)

From water to energy, and from climate change to natural hazards, the geosciences (marine, Earth, and atmospheric science) have an important role to play in addressing a wide range of ...

  • Posted Aug. 22, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Green cities and ivory towers: how do higher education sustainability initiatives shape millennials’ consumption practices?

  • University of Michigan (MI)

College-educated millennials, motivated by a preference for vibrant, walkable neighborhoods with access to good public transportation, are helping to drive an economic resurgence in many American cities. At the same ...

  • Posted Aug. 22, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

College Hopes & Worries Survey Reports

  • The Princeton Review (MA)

Every year, The Princeton Review surveys thousands of college applicants and their parents about their perspective on the admissions process. For many years, this survey has included a question related ...

  • Posted Aug. 19, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Sustainable Solutions: University–Community Partnerships

  • Portland State University (OR)

What is the role of the university? Current systems may stress research output, but Wortham-Galvin, Allen and Sherman seek to reestablish the importance of teaching and service in the work ...

  • Posted Aug. 18, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Sustainable Solutions: Let Knowledge Serve the City

  • Portland State University (OR)

Portland, Oregon is making a name for itself as one of the most sustainable cities in the world. Whether you’ve heard about the farmers’ markets, the cycle-friendly streets or ...

  • Posted Aug. 18, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Smart Partnerships: How Higher Education Institutions Can Enhance the Capacity of the UN to Govern the Global Commons

  • Antioch University, New England (NH)

This dissertation explores how partnerships between UN agencies and higher education institutions (HEIs) can enhance governance of the global commons. Unique attributes that HEIs have to offer in this regard ...


Open Letter to Sustainability Evaluating Organizations

  • AASHE (PA)

Below is the Open Letter to Sustainability Evaluating Organizations, posted to the AASHE Discussion Forums on July 19, 2010 (FAQs included). Original signatories are indicated in the PDF, and the ...


Beyond problem solving: Engineering and the public good in the 21st century

  • University of Sydney (NSW)

Problem solving is upheld as a defining feature of engineering identity, and the ability to solve problems is built into engineering curricula as a learning outcome and a graduate attribute ...


Building Community Investment at New York University

  • New York University (NY)

Anchor institutions – large non-profit organizations like colleges, universities, or hospitals that are tied to a place by infrastructure and mission – should be harnessed to positively affect the growth of the ...


The Power of Purchasing: Using University of Michigan Procurement to Promote Social Change

  • University of Michigan (MI)

The University of Michigan, as a public university, has an inherent responsibility to serve the interests of the community it represents. The institution purchases more than $1 billion of goods ...


Raising Student Voices: Student Action for University Community Investment

  • University of San Francisco (CA)
  • Wesleyan University (CT)
  • Case Western Reserve University (OH)
  • Loyola University New Orleans (LA)
  • Fordham University (NY)
  • Duke University (NC)
  • American University (DC)
  • University of Chicago (IL)
  • University of Pennsylvania (PA)
  • Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
  • University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)

This report from The Democracy Collaborative and the Responsible Endowments Coalition seeks to connect struggling communities to local institutional wealth through engaging student activism. The report profiles three administration-led initiatives ...


Icebox Detox Challenge

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

The Icebox Detox Challenge addresses environmental stewardship activities by promoting an environment where laboratories have an accurate inventory of all biological samples at ASU. This innovative approach allows researchers to ...

  • Posted July 27, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Green Genome Institutional Self-Assessment Tool

  • American Association of Community Colleges (DC)

The Green Genome Institutional Self-Assessment Tool is a free tool designed to enable community colleges to quickly gauge how well they are leading and integrating sustainability and green workforce development ...


AASHE Launches Version 2.1 for the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System

  • International Facility Management Association (TX)

AASHE recently launched the latest version of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) that features data auto-population, exemplary practice options and more.

  • Posted July 22, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Co-designing research on transgressive learning in times of climate change

  • Wageningen University

This paper reflects on the epistemological context for the co-design of a research programme on transformative, transgressive learning emerging at the nexus of climate change, water and food security, energy ...

  • Posted July 21, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Education for sustainability-challenges and opportunities: The case of RCEs

  • London South Bank University

This article will focus on the challenges of leadership and management of a key initiative of the 2005-2014 UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), namely the Regional Centres ...

  • Posted July 21, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Quantitatively Assessing the Role of Higher Education in Global Sustainability

  • University of Toronto (ON)

Three analytical methods are used to examine three primary questions to address an observed scarcity of literature that quantitatively and empirically assesses the role of higher education in global sustainability ...

  • Posted July 19, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

The State College Role in Advancing Environmental Sustainability: Policies, Programs and Practices

  • American Association of State Colleges and Universities (DC)

The American higher education enterprise has the capacity and fortitude to confront many of the country’s most pressing energy and environmental challenges. Many institutions and state college systems are ...

  • Posted July 18, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Regenerative Sustainable Development of Universities and Cities The Role of Living Laboratories

Now that the Earth has reached the limits of its biophysical carrying capacity, we have to change technologies, social practices and social norms relating to material production and consumption to ...


A Higher Calling for Higher Education

Education and knowledge resources are more available today than ever before. However, humanity’s two main conflicts - coexistence with nature and coexistence with each other - remain unresolved. We need a ...


A Big Hairy Audacious Goal: Marketing University Sustainability Credentials

  • University of Leeds (West Yorkshire)
  • St. Lawrence University (NY)
  • Ithaca College (NY)
  • University of Plymouth (Devon)
  • Bradford University (West Yorkshire)
  • Northland College (WI)
  • College of the Atlantic (ME)
  • University of Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire)

This paper explores the potential recruitment and retention benefits arising from the marketing of University of Plymouth’s sustainability credentials. It attempts this by:

  • reviewing academic and professional literature on ...
  • Posted June 27, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

More colleges using green as selling tool

  • USA TODAY (VA)

USA Today reports that "universities and colleges across the country are increasingly putting on the green to attract students who are serious about environmental issues."

  • Posted June 27, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

First-year student attitudes towards, and skills in, sustainable development

  • Higher Education Academy (York)

This report on student attitudes towards, and skills in, sustainable development describes the results of an online survey of 5,763 first-year higher education (HE) students, across all four UK ...

  • Posted June 23, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

2016 College Hopes & Worries Survey Report

  • The Princeton Review (MA)

Every year, The Princeton Review surveys college applicants and their parents about their perspective on the admissions process. The survey includes a question related to commitment to environmental issues:

"If ...

  • Posted June 23, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Sustainability Field Booms on Campus

This article describes fast growth in continuing education programs focused on sustainability.

  • Posted June 23, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Looking through the “greenwashing glass cage” of the green league table towards the sustainability challenge for UK universities

Purpose – This paper aims to critically focus on the UK's People & Planet's “green league table” in order to explore to what extent such league tables contribute to ...

  • Posted June 21, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Campus sustainability at the edges: Emotions, relations, and bio-cultural connections

  • Temple University (PA)

The university campus is often considered a key site for the development of environmental sustainability initiatives. At the same time, the concept and practice of sustainability has been critiqued for ...

  • Posted June 20, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Pre-Service Teachers and Climate Change: A Stalemate?

  • James Cook University (Queensland)

Findings from the second phase of a study of pre-service teachers’ attitudes to environmental education and knowledge of climate change are reported in this paper. A sample of 87 pre-service ...

  • Posted June 20, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Atlanta People's Climate March and Climate Summits

  • Georgia State University (GA)

Sustainable Energy Tribe (SET), the largest student environmental group on Georgia State University's campus, worked to make climate change and environmental justice major themes for the year. These efforts ...

  • Posted June 16, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Sustainabiliy Impact Fund

  • Northwestern University (IL)

This project is a student-led initiative to allow Northwestern alumni to donate to supporting sustainability initiatives on our campus. Titled the Sustainability Impact Fund, this initiative includes directed fundraising efforts ...

  • Posted June 11, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The Big Ten Prospectus: Aligning Sustainability with Collective Mission Level Priorities

  • Purdue University (IN)
  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)
  • University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
  • University of Iowa (IA)
  • University of Michigan (MI)
  • Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Central Office (NJ)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
  • Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
  • Northwestern University (IL)
  • University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
  • Michigan State University (MI)
  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
  • University of Texas at Austin (TX)
  • The Ohio State University (OH)
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

With higher education facing ongoing budget cuts, top to bottom reviews of programs and policies, and critical questions regarding the value of a college education, we—as sustainability professionals—must ...

  • Posted June 11, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Students and Sustainability: Mechanism for making Green Leaders

  • Ball State University (IN)

Introduction: Lead primarily by student initiative, a sustainability program has evolved into a new program whose mechanics are meant to make action, foster sustainable leaders, and educate a sustainable culture ...

  • Posted June 11, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Community engagement and education on energy and water conservation

  • California State University, Northridge (CA)

Our capstone Sustainability class students at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) performed over twenty energy and water audits on local businesses in 2016. Each student was required to write up ...

  • Posted June 11, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Watershed UGA: Creating a University-wide Culture of Sustainability

  • University of Georgia (GA)

Thanks to funding and inspiration from the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, in 2015 the University of Georgia and its community partners have created a vision and framework for using campus ...

  • Posted June 11, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Eagles, Education, and Engagement through Green Technology

  • Alfred State College (NY)

Alfred State College (ASC) School of Applied Technology and the United States National Arboretum (USNA) have collaborated for over eight years in an innovative partnership that has generated significant measurable ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Facilities and students working together for water conservation

  • University of Texas at Austin (TX)

The University of Texas at Austin’s facilities management initiated a comprehensive program in fall 2007 to develop and implement demand-side water conservation measures. During this project it was determined ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The Shawneetown Gardens: a Sustainable Campus Community Garden Cultivated through Creation of Place

  • University of Kentucky (KY)

Rooted in the revitalization of a community garden on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Kentucky, this project impacts a culturally diverse, multigenerational community through a multi-disciplinary effort led ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

BEE / HOUSE / LAB International Design Competition

  • University of Manitoba (MB)

BEE / HOUSE / LAB is an international design competition hosted by the University of Manitoba and open to students and designers in the field of environmental design, architecture, landscape architecture, industrial ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The Morris Model: Catalyzing Community Resilience, Energy Conservation and Clean Energy Planning and Action

  • University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)

The University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) has demonstrated a successful planning approach with partners across the state to build climate resilience into the consciousness and planning efforts of the city ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Ohio University's Professional Development Program for the Advancement of Sustainability

  • Ohio University (OH)

Ohio University's Office of Sustainability designed a Professional Development Program to advance the university's sustainability profile, particularly with its built environment. On a monthly basis staff from Architecture ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Emory University's Pollinator Protection Program

  • Emory University (GA)

Concerned about the plight of bees and other pollinators, essential for two-thirds of the food crops we eat every day, Emory University developed a comprehensive Pollinator Protection Commitment, which includes ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Zero Waste Game Day at Duke University

  • Duke University (NC)

Leading up to the 2014 Duke Football season, a formal partnership was created between Duke Athletics, Duke Recycling, Duke Stores, and the Duke Sustainability Office in order to successfully achieve ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The Water Hub at Emory University

  • Emory University (GA)

The WaterHub® is a decentralized, district-scale water reclamation and reuse system serving Emory University’s main campus in Atlanta, Georgia. As the first of its kind in the United States ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • 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

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