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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Beyond the Right Thing to Do: The Value of Sustainability in Higher Education (2nd Edition)
- AASHE (MA)
This document aims to help higher education sustainability practitioners more powerfully articulate the value of sustainability to higher education leaders as well as the general public. As different points will …
- Posted Aug. 26, 2025
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Washington University in St. Louis Public Engagement
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
This impact area seeks to recognize institutions that help catalyze sustainable communities through their partnerships, collaborations, and public service efforts. By engaging with community members and organizations across diverse sectors …
- Posted Aug. 25, 2025
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Faculty and student researchers at the UC Berkeley Climate and Society Center
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
The Climate and Society Center (CSC) is developing two key initiatives: a Faculty Roundtable, which supports faculty working on climate equity projects, and a Community Roundtable, which brings together environmental …
- Posted Aug. 21, 2025
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Planting a mini forest
- Mohawk College (ON)
Mohawk College student, Anna, carrying out species identification in the Miyawaki forest. In partnership with Hamilton’s Green Venture, Mohawk College’s Sustainability Green Team helped to plant 300 native trees and …
- Posted Aug. 19, 2025
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Conservation of snapping turtle habitat
- Mohawk College (ON)
Caption: Mohawk College Environmental Technician student, KC examines turtle eggs as part of a project to restore a snapping turtle nesting habitat at Christie Lake Conservation Area in Hamilton, Ontario.
- Posted Aug. 19, 2025
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Conservation of snapping turtle habitat
- Mohawk College (ON)
Mohawk College Environmental Technician students, Madi, KC and Jori examine turtle eggs as part of their project to restore a snapping turtle nesting habitat at Christie Lake Conservation Area in …
- Posted Aug. 19, 2025
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Institutional Highlights: Transformative Sustainability Project (TSP)
- American University of Sharjah
To be added to the Institutional Highlights section of the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index:
Transformative Sustainability Project - The Transformative Sustainability Project (TSP) is a virtual exchange project at American …
- Posted Aug. 19, 2025
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1000 Species Project
- Dawson College (QC)
In November 2022, at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, Dawson announced that it would try to attract and identify 1000 species in 1000 days on its urban city block and …
- Posted Aug. 19, 2025
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Sustainability and Environmental Communities of Practice’s Impact on News Content Diversity
- Michigan State University (MI)
Communities of practice (CoP) are distinct community groups that share a common interest in which they interact with one another to address problems and reach goals. In the present study, …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Unlocking the evaluation of university-business collaborations on sustainable regional development: A comprehensive review and framework for place-based policy initiatives
- Lancaster University
University-business collaborations (UBCs) are widely recognised as a key component within the sustainability effort, yet the literature on how we articulate the value which collaborations contribute towards a wider sustainable …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Environmental Sustainability Research and Future Directions for Events and Facilities: An Assessment of the Field
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Environmental sustainability among sport facilities and events is the focus of this piece. The authors focus on three areas: (1) the environmental impacts of sport facilities and events, (2) the …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Agents of (un)sustainability: democratising universities for the planetary crisis
- Queen's University Belfast
As producers and gatekeepers of knowledge, and as providers of education and training, our universities play a key role in the reproduction of unsustainability. This article finds that they are, …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Sustainability reporting, universities and global reporting initiative applicability: a still open issue
- Università di Verona
Purpose: The porpose of this study is to critically consider the use of global reporting initiative (GRI) guidelines in universities' sustainability reports. In light of the recent literature and Habermas's …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Global Green Skills Report
- LinkedIn (CA)
This report illuminates global trends at the intersection of climate action and the workforce. It shows how government policies are already shifting the supply and demand for green skills, and …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Understanding the Green Transition Supply and Demand Dynamics
- LinkedIn (CA)
This report analyzes global trends in the demand and supply of green talent between 2021 and 2024. It highlights a steady increase in demand for green skills, outpacing the growth …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Global Climate Talent Stocktake: Doubling green talent by 2050 to meet global demand
- LinkedIn (CA)
This report highlights the growing global demand for green talent amid accelerating climate commitments from governments and businesses. Using LinkedIn data, it reveals a widening gap between green job demand …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Meeting the Sustainability Skills Gap: New Research Reveals What Businesses Need to Succeed
- American University (DC)
As organizations worldwide embrace sustainability, new research from American University's Kogod School of Business uncovers the critical skills and competencies that will define success in an evolving business landscape.
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Sustainability Careers
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
- City of Los Angeles (CA)
Addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development are the grand challenges for this century. This review assesses how sustainability and green jobs are changing in response to these formidable challenges, …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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2024 U.S. Energy & Employment Jobs Report (USEER)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
This report is a comprehensive summary of national, state and county-level energy jobs, reported by industry, technology, and region, with data on wages, demographics and employer perspectives on growth and …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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2024 Sustainable Market Share Index
- New York University (NY)
The report analyzes consumer purchasing of sustainability-marketed products across 36 consumer packaged goods categories. As of 2023, these products hold an 18.5% market share, up from 13.7% in 2015, and …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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The Future of Jobs Report 2025
- World Economic Forum
This report forecasts a net gain of 78 million jobs by 2030, driven by technology and green transitions. Based on insights from 1,000+ employers, the report highlights climate-change mitigation as …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Sustainability Jobs Boom as Corporate ESG Efforts Accelerate
- LinkedIn (CA)
- Sustainability Magazine
LinkedIn’s 2024 Jobs on the Rise report highlights a surge in sustainability-related roles, including Sustainability Analyst and Environmental Health Safety Manager, driven by accelerating ESG initiatives and the green energy …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Why green jobs plans matter and where US cities stand in implementing them
- Brookings Institution (DC)
The transition to a cleaner and more resilient economy will be one of the most significant economic and physical transformations in U.S. history. Trillions of dollars will be required to …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Growing demand for environmental science expertise in the corporate sector
- KPMG (NY)
Growing awareness of environmental risks and mounting regulatory and consumer pressure have driven unprecedented demand for environmental science expertise in the corporate sector. Recruiting skilled individuals with academic backgrounds and …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Effective sustainability education is political education
- University of Zurich
The anthropogenic nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions are greater than natural sources, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 and CH4 has not been as high as it is today for …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Student Engagement and Environmental Awareness: Gen Z and Ecocomposition
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
This article collaboration addresses the importance of contextualizing current climate change discussions in twenty-first-century ecocomposition classrooms. It specifically focuses on the practical significance of what students’ writing and research can …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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A systematic mixed studies review of civic engagement outcomes in environmental education
- Stanford University (CA)
Civic engagement is recognized as a critical process to address environmental and other societal issues. To examine the intersection between environmental education and civic engagement, as reported in the peer-reviewed …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Town, Gown and Place-Based Sustainability: Collaborating in the Shared Space
- Albany Law School (NY)
The locational and spatial circumstances of town and gown present opportunities to advance sustainability. This essay examines these areas of opportunity by proposing collaborative frameworks between town and gown. In …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Building Sustainable Communities Through Engaged Learning: A University-Community Partnership for Sustained Change in a Central Pennsylvania Coal Town
- Bucknell University (PA)
University-community partnerships have become more collaborative, decentered, and mutually beneficial in step with changing conceptualizations of knowledge production. However, the implementation of partnerships and projects remains challenging. Models for collaboration …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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The Leaders of Today with the Minds of Tomorrow
- Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ)
In a college town, there is an important relationship between the residents of the “town” and the students and faculty at the school who each wear a “gown.” This is …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Harnessing Collaborative Partnerships Toward Sustainability: A Community-Based Learning Initiative
- University of Louisville (KY)
Sustainable planning is a vital tool for municipalities seeking to promote equitable economic and environmental development within their communities. Successful implementation of sustainability initiatives involves many factors, ranging from engaging …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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University partnerships for co-designing and co-producing urban sustainability
- University of Tokyo
- Australian National University
- University College London (London)
- Lund University
- University of Manchester (Lancashire)
Universities are playing an increasingly central role in advancing sustainability at the local, regional and national scale through cross-sector collaborations. Accompanying the launch of Future Earth, interest is mounting in …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Mapping universities-communities partnerships in the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS
- Nelson Mandela University (Eastern Cape)
- University of Campinas
- University of Passo Fundo
- Manchester Metropolitan University
The establishment of partnerships between universities and communities can significantly support the implementation of initiatives related to sustainability as a whole and help to realize some of the United Nations …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Community-University Partnerships for Local Impact: Advancing Sustainability Through Place-Based Education
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
- Simon Fraser University (BC)
Due to growing demands for experiential learning opportunities and the desire to better prepare students for “real-world” decision-making, community-university partnerships have become novel and experimental spaces within postsecondary institutions. This …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Building transformative city-university sustainability partnerships: the Audacious Partnerships Process
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (DF)
- Dublin City University
- King's College London
City governments and urban universities are well-positioned to play critical roles in advancing urban sustainability transformations. However, in partnering, cities and universities often focus efforts on discrete sustainability-related projects, neglecting …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Building Powerful Partnerships: Lessons from Portland's Climate Action Collaborative
- Portland State University (OR)
There is growing interest in partnerships between universities and communities and how such collaborations can help address the wicked challenges facing the world today. This article traces the development of …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Real-Time Evaluation of City–University Partnerships for Sustainability and Resilience
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Northwest Indian College (WA)
- Portland State University (OR)
Cities face many challenges in their efforts to create more sustainable and resilient urban environments for their residents. Among these challenges is the structure of city administrations themselves. Partnerships between …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Transnational universities, host communities and local residents: social impacts, university social responsibility and campus sustainability
- University of Groningen
Purpose:This paper aims to discuss how transnational universities create negative and positive social impacts on their host communities and what this means for campus sustainability and the expectation that universities …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Students give back to the local community through the Big Event
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Since its introduction in 1982, The Big Event has become the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation. Each spring, tens of thousands of Texas A&M students come together …
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
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Public Policy
- Cornell University (NY)
Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
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Vote on Ho Plaza
- Cornell University (NY)
Students from the Cornell Policy Group, a nonpartisan student organization, help others register to vote on Ho Plaza.
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
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National Tree Day Planting
- Canadore College (ON)
More than 50 staff, students, and community members came together to plant 120 trees in celebration of National Tree Day in Canada.
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
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Don't Mess with Mansfield: A Community Litter Clean Up
- University of Connecticut (CT)
The University of Connecticut and the Town of Mansfield coordinate two litter clean ups around UConn's flagship campus annually. Attracting over 300 students and dozens of town residents, the events …
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
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The Seed Farm at Princeton
- Princeton University (NJ)
Planting a seedling for a Three Sisters planting at Princeton University's Seed Farm
- Posted Aug. 4, 2025
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Emory Farmers Market
- Emory University (GA)
Managed by the Emory Office of Sustainability Initiatives and Emory Dining since 2008, the Emory Farmers Market has been a lively campus community space for local farms and businesses that …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2025
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Dining Services Sustainability Initiatives
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
Dining Services at the University of Maryland offers plant-based and local foods in all of the Dining Halls. Much of the produce is grown at Terp Farm, a two acre …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2025
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A culture of reuse at the University of Maryland's annual multi-day arts festival
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in the University of Maryland’s Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2025
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Watershed Stewardship on Good Neighbor Day
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
Good Neighbor Day is a collaborative partnership between the University of Maryland, the City of College Park and the M-NCPPC Department of Parks & Recreation, Prince George’s County. This annual …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2025
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EcoPark Project
- American University of Central Asia
Center for Civic Engagement holds annual tree planting event during each Spring and Fall at Elm Grove, drawing wide participation and community support. The event was organized in partnership with …
- Posted July 31, 2025
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Tree Planting at American University of Central Asia
- American University of Central Asia
The Sustainability Program of the Center for Civic Engagemnt in collaboration with the Administration, hosted a tree planting event at the AUCA campus. This initiative aimed to promote environmental awareness …
- Posted July 31, 2025
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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.