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.

2945 resources

Eco Hawks: Sustainability @ UIowa

  • University of Iowa (IA)

Climate change is the greatest issue of our time and sustainability is the solution. Here at the University of Iowa, a place that provides services to not only Iowans but ...

  • Posted April 22, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Center for Sustainable Materials Science

  • Turtle Mountain Community College (ND)
  • Mayville State University (ND)
  • University of North Dakota (ND)
  • Sitting Bull College (ND)
  • Minot State University (ND)
  • North Dakota State University (ND)

The Center for Sustainable Materials Science seeks to advance new discoveries of bio-based, sustainable materials that give more consideration to the environment and contribute to its economy through their sourcing ...

  • Posted April 21, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
  • View more

Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence

  • University of York

The Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE) pioneers pure and applied green and sustainable chemical research through its technology platforms on microwave chemistry, alternative solvents, clean synthesis and renewable materials ...

  • Posted April 21, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
  • View more

Institute for Green Science

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

The Institute for Green Science is a center for basic green science research in oxidation catalysis aimed at the invention of new green technologies designed to aid in the pursuit ...

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
  • View more

Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values

  • University of Notre Dame (IN)

The Reilly Center explores conceptual, ethical, and policy issues where science and technology intersect with society from different disciplinary perspectives. Its purpose is to promote the advancement of science and ...

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
  • View more

Center for the Environment

  • Harvard University (MA)

The Harvard University Center for the Environment (HUCE) encourages research and education about the environment and its many interactions with human society.

The Center draws its strength from faculty members ...

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
  • View more

Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry (BCGC)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

The Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry (BCGC) is advancing green chemistry through interdisciplinary scholarship. It consists of faculty, researchers, and students in the College of Chemistry, School of Public Health ...

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
  • View more

Do We Teach What We Preach? An International Comparison of Problem- and Project-Based Learning Courses in Sustainability

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

Problem- and project-based learning (PPBL) courses in sustainability address real-world sustainability problems. They are considered powerful educational settings for building students’ sustainability expertise. In practice, however, these courses often fail ...

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Co-creating sustainability: cross-sector university collaborations for driving sustainable urban transformations

  • University of Tokyo

This paper attempts to ‘connect the dots’ between several cases and provide a comprehensive global analysis of the trend of universities reaching across campus boundaries to form partnerships with government ...

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Students as change agents in a town-wide sustainability transformation: the Oberlin Project at Oberlin College

  • Clark University (MA)
  • Oberlin College (OH)

An increasing number of colleges and universities are playing a crucial role in driving societal transformations and creating the physical and social conditions for accelerating progress towards sustainability. The potential ...

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Establishing sustainability science in higher education institutions: towards an integration of academic development, institutionalization, and stakeholder collaborations

  • University of Tokyo
  • University of Zurich
  • Lund University
  • Erasmus University Rotterdam

The field of sustainability science aims to understand the complex and dynamic interactions between natural and human systems in order to transform and develop these in a sustainable manner. As ...

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Rising-seas.org Project

  • Johns Hopkins University (MD)

RISING-SEAS.ORG is an online alliance of passionate individuals dedicated to bridging climate awareness and action from all angles. It features visual advocacy campaigns to visualize the communities most endangered ...

  • Posted April 20, 2016
  • Case Studies
  • View more

NRDC Greening Advisor for Collegiate Sports

  • Natural Resources Defense Council (DC)

Welcome to the NRDC Greening Advisor for Collegiate Sports, a free guide to greening athletics and recreation. Below is some advice for how to navigate this guide and how to ...


Are Employers Seeking Sustainability Literate Graduates?

  • Higher Education Academy (York)

Using structured questionnaires and follow-­up semi‐structured telephone interviews, this study seeks to establish to what extent adoption of the sustainability agenda within higher education and built environment organisations ...

  • Posted April 15, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Yale Center for Business and the Environment

  • Yale University (CT)

The Yale Center for Business and the Environment provides a platform for generating, incubating and launching innovative action at the intersection of business and the environment.

  • Posted April 14, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
  • View more

The Meatrix

  • GRACE Communications Foundation (NY)

The Meatrix films share the realities of factory farming. These short, animated videos are accompanied by a website that that includes supplementary interactive tools and resources, as well as tips ...

  • Posted April 14, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

"Seeing Systems" Discussion Activity on Peace, Justice and Sustainability Issues

  • EcoChallenge.org (OR)

Active, personally relevant learning is at the heart of an effective education. This discussion

activity takes students and other campus participants through a process of exploring sustainability through small group ...

  • Posted April 11, 2016
  • Course Materials
  • View more

Business Skills for a Changing World: An Assessment of What Global Companies Need from Business Schools

  • Net Impact (CA)

The World Environment Center and Net Impact partnered to identify the core skills needed by business school students to prepare them better for future employment in companies with strong sustainability ...

  • Posted April 11, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Institutional Pathways to Fossil-Free Investing: Endowment Management in a Warming World

  • Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
  • Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)

This report provides an analysis of climate-related portfolio risk faced by educational and philanthropic endowments and presents three pathways toward reallocating an endowment portfolio into fossil-free investment opportunities, across asset ...

  • Posted April 8, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Systematic Change Through Reciprocal Partnerships

  • Connecticut College (CT)

The Office of Sustainability at Connecticut College has demonstrated its commitment to community change in its collaborative support for the New London County Food Policy Council (NLCFPC). The NLCFPC is ...

  • Posted April 6, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Learner-Centered Teaching Activities for Environmental and Sustainability Studies

The broad goal of this volume from Springer International Publishing is to help advance environmental education practices that help increase students’ environmental literacy through learner-centered teaching activities.

  • Posted March 29, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Higher Education’s Role in Adapting to a Changing Climate

  • Second Nature (MA)

This report describes the role of colleges and universities in preparing society for a changing climate through their education, research, operations, and community engagement activities.

  • Posted March 28, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

AASHE Award Winner Webinar - Student Leadership for Campus and Community Sustainability

  • University of Hawaii Maui College (HI)
  • University of British Columbia (BC)

This webinar looks at two differing and successful approaches to deepening student engagement in campus and community projects that integrate sustainability into the fabric of the student experience. Both top ...

  • Posted March 17, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Zero Waste Football

  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)

The first season of zero waste football at CU Boulder.

  • Posted March 11, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Tailgate Waste Diversion

  • University of Southern California (CA)

USC Sustainability and Facilities Management Services are partnering to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill on campus during football tailgates. Student facilitators educate tailgaters on how to ...

  • Posted March 11, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Collegiate Game Changers: How Campus Sport is Going Green

  • AASHE (PA)
  • Green Sports Alliance (OR)
  • Natural Resources Defense Council (DC)

Collegiate Game Changers documents the substantial greening initiatives taking place throughout North American colleges. The case studies in this report powerfully confirm that collegiate athletics and recreation departments are embracing ...

  • Posted March 11, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Ohio State University Zero Waste

  • The Ohio State University (OH)

Ohio Stadium is the largest stadium in the country to attempt zero waste; diverting 90 percent of materials from the landfill by recycling and composting. Ohio State is leading the ...

  • Posted March 11, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

UCLA Men's Basketball Sustainability

  • University of California, Los Angeles (CA)

Sustainability PSA about UCLA Men's Basketball Sustainability funded by The Green Initiative Fund.

  • Posted March 11, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

AASHE 2015 Session Attendees

  • AASHE (PA)

AASHE 2015 Attendee Engagement

  • AASHE (PA)

AASHE Poster Session

  • AASHE (PA)

AASHE Conference - Booth

  • AASHE (PA)

AASHE Leadership and Keynote Speakers

  • Oberlin College (OH)
  • Stanford University (CA)
  • AASHE (PA)

AASHE Staff

  • AASHE (PA)

2015 AASHE Sustainability Award Winners

  • AASHE (PA)

AASHE Conference Expo Hall

  • AASHE (PA)

AASHE Conference Attendee

  • AASHE (PA)

AASHE Conference Welcome

  • AASHE (PA)

Volunteer with AASHE

  • AASHE (PA)

AASHE Celebrates Campus Sustainability!

  • Harvard University (MA)
  • Portland State University (OR)
  • Stanford University (CA)
  • AASHE (PA)
  • U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) invited several distinguished higher education sustainability professionals to share their thoughts on where sustainability has been and where it ...

  • Posted March 3, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Dr. David Orr Presents AASHE 2015 Monday Keynote Address

  • Oberlin College (OH)
  • AASHE (PA)

Dr. David Orr, Oberlin 2020 Project founder and Senior Adviser to the President at Oberlin College, spoke on the AASHE 2015 conference theme, Transforming Sustainability Education.

  • Posted March 3, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Brave New Workshop Presents an AASHE 2015 Keynote Address

  • AASHE (PA)

Margi Simmons and Elena Imaretska with Brave New Workshop, shared tips and tactics to help arm the higher education community to better advance sustainability efforts.

Brave New Workshop, based in ...

  • Posted March 3, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

A Guide to Climate Resiliency & The Community College

  • American Association of Community Colleges (DC)

Too many municipalities are crafting climate adaption and resiliency plans without community colleges as partners. Yet, community colleges are positioned to be powerful partners in implementing a holistic local response ...

  • Posted March 3, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship

  • Wesleyan University (CT)

The PCSE supports students and alumni interested in creating and sustaining programs, businesses, and organizations that advance the public good. It offers workshops and trainings, specialized counseling and networking services ...

  • Posted March 3, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
  • View more

Campus Sustainability: The Next 10 Years

  • Emory University (GA)
  • Johnson County Community College (KS)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
  • Western Michigan University (MI)
  • AASHE (PA)

Enjoy this plenary session that examines institutional sustainability advancements of both where we've been and we we are going.

Speakers include:

Julia Newman, Massacusetts Institute of Technology

Harold Glasser ...

  • Posted March 3, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

A Crucible Moment: College Learning and Democracy’s Future

  • Association of American Colleges and Universities (DC)

This report from the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement calls on the nation to reclaim higher education’s civic mission. Commissioned by the Department of Education ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
  • Publications
  • View more

Using Creative Commons Licensing for Conference Presentations and Handouts

  • Central Community College (NE)

Receiving materials at a conference for use in the classroom or elsewhere is a wonderful gift! The exchange of intellectual property is a fantastic way to share what works with ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

POWER Careers in Sustainability: Inviting the Next Generation to be Agents of Change

  • University of Virginia (VA)

Interest in sustainability in government, industry, and higher education has led to a rapid expansion of employment opportunities for sustainability professionals. Yet many young people, who may be considering their ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Connecting Sustainability with Design and Construction: The Project Managers Professional Development Program

  • Ohio University (OH)

The Office of Sustainability at Ohio University realized there was a disconnect between our office and others on campus that play direct roles in the sustainability of the institution. In ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Solve, Educate, Engage: The Role of the University in Sustainability Solutions

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

Using case histories from the Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives at ASU, we'll explore how universities can engage government entities, business and academic communities, non profit organizations and the public ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
  • Conference Presentations
  • 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