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.
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The Hive Project: Three Short Plays with Music
- The Hive Project (MN)
The Hive Project is a triptych of short plays with music exploring the relationship between humans and bees. Inspired by the techniques Bertolt Brecht developed in the Lehrstuck (or 'learning …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Storytelling: The Buzzword That Can Actually Get You A Job
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
Your last year of school looms ahead, perhaps even that dreaded G word in May. All those times your advisors tried to convince you to follow their career path, or …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Service Learning a tool for teaching sustainability and local development
- Universidad de Monterrey
For Universidad de Monterrey, Service - Learning is a pedagogy that fosters the improvement of academic quality and civic education, promoting an active participation and solidarity contributions for the local …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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New York Coalition for Sustainability in Higher Education (NYCSHE)
- University at Albany (NY)
Networking meet up for those involved with sustainability in New York State higher education institutions.
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The UC Global Food Initiative; Leveraging University Research and Best Practices to Achieve Ambitious Global Goals
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
In July 2014, UC President Janet Napolitano challenged the University of California system to leverage the innovative research and best practices that we have developed through our operations and curriculum …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Sports Alliance networking lunch
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
One of the most visible and global platforms for sustainability leadership is sports. In the past five years, hundreds of collegiate and professional sports teams, conferences, and leagues have rapidly …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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UKnTrees: Growing urban forestry awareness, outreach, and education
- University of Kentucky (KY)
Many aspects of sustainability in urban environments, from environmental (stormwater management, climate regulation, urban heat island effects, air pollution removal) to economic (neighborhood and retail desirability, property values) to social …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Real Food Campus Commitment; Student and Community Partnership at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
The Real Food Campus Commitment is a pledge for colleges and universities stating that they will buy at least 20% Real Food by 2020. Signing onto the commitment can be …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Self-Sustain Conferences - connecting sustainability students within the multi-campus, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities system.
- University of Minnesota, Crookston (MN)
In 2008, a multi-disciplinary, system-wide sustainability committee was organized at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities to improve sustainability related communication and collaborations between campuses at Minneapolis, St. Paul, Morris, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Art & Design Students Collaborate with University and Community to Mitigate Birdstrikes on Campus Buildings
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
Summary: We present an innovative, grant-funded partnership between the university department of Art & Design, department of Writing Studies, Office of Sustainability, UMD Facilities Management, local wildlife rehabilitators, and local …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Bike Tour
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Participants - limited to 20 - will take the Green Line light rail from DT Mpls. to the University's East Bank station. Once on campus, participants will be provided with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Ark of the Anthropocene a model for preservation and survival in a changing climate
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Sean Connaughty has been making biosphere floats, they are self sustaining ecosystems that float in water. they range from seven feet in diameter to a few inches. The largest of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Mitakuye oyasin (All My Relations): Manifesting Sustainability through Cultural Understanding
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Culture provides the structure for how we interact with our natural environment. For centuries, proclaiming a religious right to manifest destiny has justified actions that have enabled cultural values which …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Collective Action and Sustainability
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Sustainability problems including climate change, hyper-consumption, water stress, deforestation, etc. are all wicked problems. A few underlying elements are pervasive in these sustainability issues. Each problem is at a scale …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Farms and Gardens Meet-up
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Come meet Students, Staff and Faculty Members who work with Student Farms and Gardens at their Universities. We will exchange ideas about what's working, what's not and brain storm ideas …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Custom Brewery Tour with Taste Twin Cities
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Join us for a fascinating behind the scenes insight into Minneapolis's local beers and what local breweries looks, sound and smells like. This tour is great for people visiting the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus Sustainability Tour
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus Sustainability Tour will take participants on a sustainability focused tour through all three distinct campuses in the Twin Cities. Stops on the Sustainability …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Urban Farming and Sustainable Agriculture Tour
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Participants will board a mini coach and names will be checked off tour registrant list before departing MCC. Enjoy an afternoon of eating, learning, and touring the fields at six …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Diversity & Inclusion in Campus Sustainability - A Networking Meeting to Explore Intersections
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
For sustainability projects to engage people across diverse identities, it is crucial for people who work on sustainability to commit to developing an atmosphere that is welcoming, respectful and in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Storytelling: Using the Power of Innovation Stories to Inspire Action
- University of Mississippi (MS)
Our storytelling workshop is designed to teach the fundamentals of story and multi-media as tools for powering progress. Students will learn the basic elements of a compelling story and get …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Integrating sustainability and social innovation at an urban, Catholic university (University of St. Thomas Campus Tour)
- University of St. Thomas (MN)
Join us for a tour highlighting grassroots, collaborative efforts at the University of St. Thomas to design and implement sustainable infrastructure and curricular innovations that also serve as experimental platforms …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Environmental Literacy and it's Implications for Effective Public Policy Formation
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
Environmental literacy is a measure of a person's knowledge about the interactions of humans and their environments, environmental issues, and the various connections in ecological systems. Recent studies have demonstrated …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fashion Forward - an ethical and environmental look at the fashion industry
- Western Sydney University (NSW)
Do you know where that item of clothing you are wearing comes from? Is it made from synthetic or natural fibres? Did you purchase it secondhand? Did you think of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Putting the Action in a Climate Action Plan: Sustainability Planning with Community Input as the Foundation
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
Virginia Commonwealth University has been a leader in sustainability since signing onto the ACUPCC in 2008. VCU drafted its first Climate Action Plan in 2010, and submitted its first STARS …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Expanding Sustainability Horizons - Educational Tourism and the Virtual Classroom
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Graduate and professional (non-credit) programs offered through Virginia Tech's Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability prepare students for careers in an increasingly interconnected, urbanizing, and global workplace by combining virtual …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Seed of a Great Idea: Wells College Seed Exchange Program
- Wells College (NY)
The Wells College Center for Sustainability and the Environment fielded an intriguing inquiry from a campus librarian who wondered what the Center thought of the idea for the college Library …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Gibbs Farm: A Permaculture Learning Lab
- Western Michigan University (MI)
The Gibbs Farm is a 2-acre historic homestead currently undergoing a landscape reimagining to create an engaging environment for students, staff, and the greater community. Students with diverse backgrounds and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Liberal Arts Institutions Networking Meeting (2015)
- Willamette University (OR)
A lunch meeting for representatives of liberal arts colleges and universities. A similar lunchtime networking event was hosted by others in Nashville in 2013 with approximately 100 attendees, and in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Canadian University and Colleges Sustainability Meet Up
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
- Vancouver Community College (BC)
Campus sustainability is a strategic priority focus for many Canadian universities and colleges. As universities and colleges across Canada ramp up efforts in campus sustainability the need for mechanisms to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Learning Gardens: A Platform for Sustainability Education
- Appalachian State University (NC)
How can learning gardens be used as a platform to teach sustainability principles? This session will introduce an adaptable framework that uses a three-dimensional living model to clearly communicate the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Town Gown Sustainability: How to Develop a Vibrant Partnership
- DePauw University (IN)
DePauw University and Greencastle, Indiana have historically not had a great "town-gown" relationship. That’s changing, and one of the reasons is because of their sustainability partnerships. After beginning to emphasize …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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On-Campus Food Rescue: A Campus Kitchen Project at IUPUI
- Indiana University Indianapolis (IN)
The Campus Kitchens Project (CKP) is a national leader in community engagement and service through student-led initiatives to decrease waste in campus cafeterias. This is accomplished through food rescue and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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It Takes a Campus to Raise a Living Learning Laboratory
- Colorado State University (CO)
Laurel Village at Colorado State University is a state-of-the-art living learning laboratory that integrates student housing, academics, active research, summer conferences, and a sustainability peer education program. This session will …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Strengthening Sustainability through External Partnerships
- Boston University (MA)
- Harvard University (MA)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
Through participation in the Boston Green Ribbon Commission and Cambridge Community Compact for a Sustainable Future, Boston University, Harvard University, and MIT are partnering with peers in higher education, health …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnerships to Develop More Sustainable Student Tenants
- Ithaca College (NY)
A landlord for off-campus student housing for Ithaca College students approached us with an interesting question: how could we work together to better prepare our students for the experience of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Story of Self: Defining Your Story to Advance your Movement
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
Every person has taken their own path to develop passion and drive in the sustainability field or chosen career. In “Story of Self,” we will define and leverage each journey, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Awareness Week – An incredible engagement opportunity
- University of Alberta (AB)
Originating in 2008, Sustainability Awareness Week (SAW) is an annual celebration of all things sustainable at the University of Alberta - it educates and motivates our campus community to live …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Community Building Through Permaculture: Engaging Stakeholders for Effective Programming
- Lehigh University (PA)
The Community Leaders’ Initiative for Permaculture is a student group at Lehigh University that utilizes the principles of earth care, people care and fair share in culturally approximate ways to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Reclaiming the Commons to Foster Sustainability
- Portland State University (OR)
A growing number of scholars and change agents have embraced a commons framework for raising consciousness and action related to sustainability. The national “On the Commons” movement describes the commons …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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How to Effectively Use Cross Town Rivalry for More Than Just Competition
- Appalachian State University (NC)
While cross town rivalries can be fun, perhaps they are not the best environment to promote programming; which is inherently community centered in nature. Collegiate sustainability managers are tasked with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Make a Difference that Lasts: End Campus Food Waste & Community Hunger
- Food Recovery Network (MD)
Looking for a way to make a long-term, big-picture impact on campus and in your community? Thinking ahead to graduation and worrying that the work you’re putting into sustainability initiatives …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnerships Open New Capital Market to Spur Campus Energy Innovation
- Ball State University (IN)
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
- Spelman College (GA)
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
- Chevrolet (OR)
Six partners come together to share their unique perspectives on what it takes to drive systemic change across US higher education – using a ground-breaking series of public/private partnerships to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cultivating Community-based Food Systems via Community Connections
- University of Vermont (VT)
I focus on campus-community partnerships via service-learning courses I teach at UVM (based on the PARE model and using Clayton’s DEAL approach to foster deep reflection) that relate to the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Videos Tell Sustainability Stories, Work toward Sustainable Futures
- University of Vermont (VT)
As an effective pedagogical approach for addressing planetary-scale Anthropocene challenges at the local level, I consider storytelling—enhanced by videos-- as a social transformation tool to work toward sustainable futures. Students …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using Earth Day as a catalyst: Creating a link between the university and community
- University of South Dakota (SD)
As universities begin to embrace sustainability efforts, it is essential that those efforts extend beyond the universities and into their broader communities. The University of South Dakota (USD) is the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Universities Growing 21st Century Cities
- University of Missouri, Kansas City (MO)
Universities and cities exist so that people of diverse backgrounds can come together to live, work and play in a vibrant environment where new ideas and opportunities are boundless. When …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Utilizing campus partnerships to enhance sustainability campaigns
- Stanford University (CA)
For the past 30 years, Stanford has designed and implemented innovative, campus-wide infrastructural programs to address environmental sustainability in energy, water, waste and building efficiency. Stanford’s Office of Sustainability builds …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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GreenTown: Creating Cross-Sector Sustainability Collaboration
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
Most of the time, most of us attend professional conferences intended only for inhabitants of the Ivory Tower. The same is true of other professions. Rarely do we come togehter …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Kentucky College & University Carbon Consortium
- University of Louisville (KY)
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
Beginning in 2009, in celebration of the annual America Recycles Day event, college campuses across the nation began informally competing on the self-reporting website Recordsetter for “largest cardboard box fort.” …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Geodesign Approach to GIS for Sustainability Management
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
Geodesign is an emerging approach to using geographic information systems (GIS) for addressing complex sustainable systems problems, e.g., improving land use, transportation, and water resources that have impacts on each …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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.