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
New Resources
Regional Cultures and Campus Sustainability: The Quebec Case
- Sierra Youth Coalition (QC)
While no one would argue that many issues related to sustainability can only be understood on a global level, international negotiations confront us with the fact that cultural differences can ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Diverse Stakeholders - Multi-Stakeholder Approach
- Sierra Youth Coalition (QC)
The building of a multi-stakeholder process often distinguishes a successful initiative from a failure. Meaningful communication with all stakeholders ensures the most effective results. Using role playing, this workshop will ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using Partnerships to Forward Campus Sustainability Through Student Green Funds and Innovative Restoration
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
Looking to create a sustainability fund on your campus, but need a little help? Learn how one university partnered with a non-profit foundation to launch a successful campaign to pass ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Postcards, Post-Sandy: Community Resiliency, Social Media and Service Learning
- The New School (NY)
POSTCARDS, POST-SANDY is a digital memory website created by undergraduate and graduate students from The New School for Public Engagement, Eugene Lang College and Parsons School of Design, New York ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Biodiversity Of Humans And Agriculture
- The University of New Mexico (NM)
The University Of New Mexico has worked to build local food hubs in and around the University as demonstration gardens for students and local residents. As SouthWest native tribes have ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Neigborhood Resilience, Using Waste to Build Justice Locally and Internationally
- Trevecca Nazarene University (TN)
Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) in Manila, Philippines is a ‘sister school’ to Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) in Nashville, TN. Both schools are located in highly stressed urban environments ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Story of Self: Defining Your Story to Connect to the Sustainability Movement and Advance Your Career
- 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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Veggies For All: Campus Food Bank Farm
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
Since 2011, our small college has been the home base for Veggies For All (VFA) – a community-scale agriculture project that works to relieve hunger by growing vegetables for those in ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fueling a Regional Environmental Movement
- University at Buffalo (NY)
Building a better future by definition is a collective effort, but often at times throughout the higher education sector we focus inward within our own institutions. While this is a ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Greening the Game: Football and Beyond
- University of Arizona (AZ)
In 2011, University of Arizona’s (UA) Students for Sustainability (SFS) saw an opportunity to bring together an entire community to embrace sustainability. Tens of thousands of fans populate the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Engagement at UC Boulder: IT Strategies for Behavior Change
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
The University of Colorado Boulder has been a leader in sustainability focused research, education and engagement for more than half a century. The campus is home to nationally recognized and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Island Food Security through a Campus Community Garden
- University of Hawaii Maui College (HI)
The Sustainable Living Institute of Maui (SLIM) at UH Maui College began an endeavor to build a campus community garden in 2010. Almost three years later, and after many obstacles ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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An Innovative Way to Adapt to a Changing Education Medium: Using Interactive Multimedia-based Information Graphics in the Sustainability Curriculum.
- University of Mount Union (OH)
265 first-year students at a small Northeast Ohio liberal arts university were asked 14 questions to measure their knowledge of issues relating to sustainability. The questions and answers provided the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Mobile Technology in Higher Education - An Evolving Component of Sustainability
- Walters State Community College (TN)
As mobile technology becomes more a part of everyday life, it brings with it the opportunity to change our educational processes in order to enhance learning, reduce costs, and improve ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Philosophy, Poetry, Sustainability: It’s all about Inspiring Deep Thinking
- Wright State University (OH)
The last few years have brought our mid-size primarily commuter school face to face with the image that we project and what we see reflected in the mirror. In the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Growing An Integrated Urban Farm, Modular and Mobile
- Xavier University (OH)
With space constraints, a Master Plan that is a "moving target," and limited funds, Xavier University undertook to build a farm on-campus. The design choices at every step of the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Waste and Access: Communicating about sustainability between universities in developed and developing countries
- Yale University (CT)
Sustainability initiatives in the United States are largely focused on reducing waste in terms of materials, water, energy, fuel, and even time and money. In less economically developed countries, however ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Experiential Learning in 'Sustainable Global Stewardship': A Costa Rican Case-Study
- Cal Poly Humboldt (CA)
This session will provide an overview of a sample interdisciplinary experiential study abroad program in 'Sustainable Global Stewardship' in Costa Rica. This will include a summary of program design through ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero Waste Stadiums: Don't Be Scared (Or Maybe A Little)
- The Ohio State University (OH)
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Join us for an interactive session on Zero Waste sports venues. A zero waste stadium is commonly defined as one that achieves or seeks to achieve 90% diversion rate or ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Environmental Sustainability in Information Technology: It's a Culture Thing
- University of Michigan (MI)
We have found that IT professionals and users of technology have not traditionally considered the impact of their computing choices on the environment. Yet, nearly every computing choice has an ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Getting to the Point: Teaching STEM Content Through Societal Challenges
- Oakland Community College (MI)
- Association of American Colleges and Universities (DC)
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
Our planet and its inhabitants are under unprecedented stress. More than ever before, we need people - citizens, scientists, engineers, and teachers - who not only understand the scientific and societal dimensions ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Hope and Sustainability Education: Initiating a Research Collaborative
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Generating and maintaining hope among students is recognized as a challenge for sustainability educators, but what do we really know about course content and experiences that generate hope rather than ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Community and Sustainability - Tour and Discussion at an Urban Ecovillage
- Fellowship for Intentional Community (MO)
Learn the history, context, accomplishments, pitfalls, transitions, plans and visions for this 13-year old two block central city eco-village and sister communities around the world. On-site tour showcases systems for ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Transforming Enemies Into Allies: How to Have Difficult-But Necessary-Conversations in Our Roles as Sustainability Change Agents
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of Hawaii Kapiolani Community College (HI)
- University of Hawaii - West Oahu (HI)
- GreenerU (MA)
This workshop will give us the space to learn and practice some tactics for having those difficult conversations that are unavoidably part of the work of making change happen within ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Led Weatherizations at Harvard: Delivering Exponential Impact from Small Energy Retrofits
- Harvard University (MA)
Finding a way to give a broad number of students hands on experience in facility operations while making a significant impact on energy consumption is a complex process. After four ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Changing the Default: Using Social Marketing Research to Promote Behavior Change Campaigns
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Tackling sustainability issues usually means change at every level of an organization. Even within large powerful organizations change has to begin with someone acting differently. Sometimes highlighting financial benefits can ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Stakeholder Connectedness on the Susquehanna River: An Ecosystem Approach to Fracking
- Susquehanna University (PA)
This paper proposes an inventory of the Susquehanna River Basin stakeholders as an initial step toward conceptualizing a self-sustaining, resilient ecosystem comprised of the natural environment and humans. The urgency ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Collaborative Approach: Community Waste Management at Carleton College
- Carleton College (MN)
Successful waste management should engage and involve the entire campus community. Through the Community Waste Program, we collaboratively sought to provide composting in academic and administrative campus buildings, reduce the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Regionally Organizing for Sustainability: South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (SMHEC)
- Kankakee Community College (IL)
- Moraine Valley Community College (IL)
- Prairie State College (IL)
- South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (IL)
South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (SMHEC) is a regional consortium of 12 higher education institutions, representing non-profit, private, for-profit and four- and two-year universities and colleges. This consortium is led ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Nurturing Sustainability Leaders: Pedagogical Practices and Guiding Stories
- Portland State University (OR)
The Leadership for Sustainability Education (LSE) graduate program at Portland State University focuses on preparing sustainability leaders by developing: 1) a reflective understanding of self 2) an understanding the world ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fostering University-Wide Sustainable Behaviors Through Service Learning: A Classroom Transition From Theory To Real World Application.
- Utah State University (UT)
This presentation will introduce 1) a redesigned Sustainable Living mixed undergraduate/graduate service learning course offered at a major Land-Grant university, 2) key service learning strategies that have and have ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Climate Change, Agriculture, and Rural Communities: The Central Great Plains Climate Education Partnership
- Kansas State University (KS)
The Central Great Plains Climate Education Partnership is a National Science Foundation funded collaboration between Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to develop climate change education programs for ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Low Income Weatherization: At the Intersection of Environmental Engagement and Community Service
- Williams College (MA)
One of the ongoing challenges in campus sustainability is the need to engage students who may not primarily identify with environmental issues. For the past four years, students at our ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Yale Community Carbon Fund; Reducing Emissions and Increasing Economic Security in Local Communities
- Yale University (CT)
The Yale Community Carbon Fund seeks both to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to increase economic security for low-income people living in New Haven. Funds are raised through a combination ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The CCC/IOU Energy Efficiency Partnership
- Chaffey College (CA)
- Mt. San Antonio College (CA)
- California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CA)
The California Community Colleges (CCC) and Investor Owned Utility (IOU) Energy Efficiency Partnership has been helping the Community College system become more environmentally and fiscally sustainable since 2006. This innovative ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Farmers' Market: An Innovative Partnership Approach to Building Consensus and Gaining Approval
- Purdue University (IN)
A successful farmers' market on campus provides access to local, healthy food, connects the campus to the local community and the regional landscape, and teaches students about where their food ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Higher Education and Student Affairs Networking Luncheon
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
- Oregon State University (OR)
- Waubonsee Community College (IL)
Drop by and join your student affairs colleagues for a conversation about the role of student affairs professionals in the sustainability movement. Hosted by the NASPA Knowledge Community on Sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Commons Movement: A New Lens for Sustainability Education
- 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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Connecting Campus Sustainability at Macalester College with the United Nations
- Macalester College (MN)
At Macalester College, internationalism remains a long-standing part of our college mission. More recently, sustainability rose as another strong commitment. However, these two areas have been parallel, but separate, activities ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Community Energy Generation and Storage (CEGS): Missouri Homes Will Share the Load
- Missouri University of Science and Technology (MO)
Community Energy Generation and Storage (CEGS) is a new project beginning at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. This CEGS concept describes a new vision for renewable energy generation ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Getting the Word Out
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
Universities do a great job of educating their students in their chosen fields of study. Why is it then that it can be such a challenge to educate students, faculty ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Strategies for Building and Reinventing Effective Sustainability Committees
- New York University (NY)
Since 2006, our institution's sustainability initiatives have been shaped by a participatory, grassroots, volunteer-driven body comprised of faculty, students, and staff from across our decentralized urban campus. This Sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Achieving Long-Term Energy Conservation Through Partnerships and Collaborations.
- Evergreen State College, The (WA)
The Evergreen State College has achieved and maintained an 18% reduction in total campus energy consumption since 2009. This presentation will describe the partnerships, projects, and internal behavioral changes that ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnering With Utilities for Energy Efficient Dorms - Water Heating Project Study and Other Ways to Reduce Energy
- Pepperdine University (CA)
- Enovative Group Inc
Higher Education Institutions are continually striving to reduce energy consumption for both environmental and cost reasons. As concerns rise with the cost of tuition, the institutions need to look at ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Social Sustainability Month: Creating Campus-wide Networks to Build a More Holistic Sustainability Movement
- Portland State University (OR)
By institutionalizing an annual designated time for dialogue between students, staff, faculty, and community, projects like Social Sustainability Month (SSM) can increase capacity for university collaboration and partnerships. This session ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Leonardo da Vinci to Higher Education: Lead us on a Healthy, Just and Sustainable Path Now
- Portland State University (OR)
Humanity is at crossroads without historical precedent. Because of the extraordinary and exponential growth of population and the expansive dynamic of industrial capitalism, humans have become pervasive and dominant forces ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Academic Libraries and Sustainable Scholarly Content
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
This presentation discusses the role of libraries in promoting sustainable practices by creating and utilizing a scholarly model of highlighting intellectual content and communication in academia. University community members aspire ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Connecting Visual Art/Design and Environmental Studies Courses to Develop Integrated Solutions to Sustainability-Focused Campus Projects: A Service-Learning Model
- Maryville College (TN)
As many sustainability-focused campus projects require a strong component of visual 'marketing, propaganda, or promotion' to make them successful, it's critical that students engaged in environmental issues should learn ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Effectively Interpreting and Communicating about Campus Sustainability Initiatives
- University of Vermont (VT)
Successful efforts to increase sustainability at colleges and universities can have a large impact in conserving natural resources, saving money for the institutions of higher education, providing a role model ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Alumni Engagement in Campus Sustainability Initiatives
- Yale University (CT)
As stated on the front cover of its Sustainability Strategic Plan, "Success depends on the active contribution of every member of the Yale community." The Yale Office of Sustainability prioritizes ...
- 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.