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
Getting WILD! Introducing Children to Nature...Why and How
- Dallas College (TX)
Research has proved individuals interacting with nature are healthier, both mentally and physically. They have higher self-esteem, are more cooperative with others and perform better at work and school. However ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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A Collaborative Approach to Sustainability and Inclusion at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games
- Playback Sports (WA)
- Elysium Events LLC
This bright, colorful presentation and discussion will cover the value and importance of a cross-functional team and holistic sustainability strategy for large-scale events. We will share the story of how ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Recipes for Effective Campus-Community Partnerships: Perspectives on Food Security & Justice
- College of Charleston (SC)
- University of Utah (UT)
This combined session will present two cases of campus-community partnerships centered on food. The Stone Soup Collective College of Charleston Chapter is comprised of dozens of collectivists and volunteers who ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Breaking the Bubble: Using Video to Demystify Sustainable Living
- University of Kentucky (KY)
This poster presentation details an online video series entitled 'What Can You Do to Live More Sustainably.' Nine videos featuring students, staff and faculty across the University of Kentucky provide ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Challenges, Successes, and Opportunities of Collegiate Farming
- Colgate University (NY)
The Colgate Community Garden was started in 2011 by Green Thumbs, a student group that works to manage and promote the activities of the garden. The purpose of the garden ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Sustainable Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network
- United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (NY)
This networking meeting will be an opportunity for attendees interested in, researching, and/or implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 goals to be ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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University + Business = Force for Good
- University of Georgia (GA)
Business can be a force for good in our communities and our world. Universities are contributing to a sustainable economy by supporting local businesses to document and expand their sustainability ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Sustainable Energy Education Through Demonstration (SEED) in Secondary Education
- State University of New York at Geneseo (NY)
Sustainable Energy Education through Demonstration (SEED) is a ten-week program that educates students on the mechanics of renewable energy production and the value of these energies in combating climate change ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Green STEAM: Rocket Fuel for a Sustainable Economy
- Moraine Valley Community College (IL)
- Oakton Community College (IL)
- Joey FineRhyme (IL)
For decades, the environmental movement has been trying to infuse sustainability into the mainstream ethos. While the science is irrefutable, most people are not moved by science alone. One example ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Growing Sustainable Communities Together Through Leadership in Higher Education
- Joliet Junior College (IL)
- Lewis University (IL)
- Prairie State College (IL)
- University of Saint Francis (IN)
The South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (SMHEC) is a unique partnership of 10 higher education institutions in the south metropolitan area of Chicago extending west to Joliet, south to Kankakee ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Bringing the Campus Community Together Through Gardening and Gardening Workshops
- University of Louisville (KY)
The Garden Commons is a community garden space on the campus of the University of Louisville, located next to the Cultural Center and the Student Activities Center. It exists as ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Empowering Students and the Community Through Green Chemistry and Sustainable Science Outreach
- Beyond Benign (MA)
- State of Washington (WA)
Sustainable STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) outreach can have a significant impact on youth, empowering students to be problem-solvers and engage in their communities as change makers, and inspiring ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Spreading the Word: Crafting Communications Around Large Campus Sustainability Events
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
UW Sustainability works with student groups and other organizations across campus in hosting two large-scale campus-wide sustainability events each year: the Sustainability Fair in October as part of Campus Sustainability ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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From Zero Energy to Energy+: Community-University-Industry Partnerships for Sustainable Housing
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
From community design charrettes to international student design competitions, two housing research organizations at Penn State have collaborated with local affordable housing organizations and home builders to address long-term housing ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Engaging Community Partners in Resilience Planning: Catalyzing Action Beyond the College/University
- Concordia College (NY)
A relatively new part of the Climate Commitment (run by the organization Second Nature) is the mandate to engage in resilience planning. Signatories to the commitment pledge to engage with ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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The Role of Rural Campuses in Building Community Resilience and Responding to Extreme Weather
- Black Hills State University (SD)
- California State University, Chico (CA)
- Central Community College (NE)
- Second Nature (MA)
Rural colleges/universities are often one of the driving cultural and economic forces in their region. As a result of this position, they can be a great resource in the ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Moving Toward Climate Justice Through Divestment and Community Reinvestment
- Better Future Project (MA)
All colleges have an endowment that they use to invest in a broad range of industries. Divestment is a powerful tactic where institutions can use their political and financial power ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Monetizing Campus Sustainability: Converting Operations Into Assets to Increase Revenues
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette (LA)
- Learfield IMG College (TX)
During the first couple of decades of growth in campus sustainability, 'green' operations were perceived as causing additional costs with limited direct paybacks. However, as sustainability has grown in college ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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The VCU Pocket Park: Creating a sustainability-oriented green space on a dynamic university campus
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a growing, changing university in the heart of the city of Richmond, VA. Green space is limited on this dense urban campus. The VCU Office ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Menus of Change University Research Collaborative: Collaboration to Change the Food System
- Boston College (MA)
The MCURC is a working group of scholars and campus dining leaders from invited colleges and universities interested in accelerating efforts to move American consumers-and college/university students, scholars, and ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Supporting a Sustainable Economy Through Partnership With Local Food Hubs
- Gonzaga University (WA)
- Sodexo USA (MD)
- Puget Sound Food Hub (WA)
- LINC Foods (WA)
This session will showcase how to effectively collaborate with local producers to build a more sustainable economy through increased purchases of local products and to raise awareness about food systems ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Campus Farmers Networking Meeting
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
- University of Utah (UT)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Join other campus farmers and food system advocates in creating a robust, interdisciplinary network of campus-based growers and partners. Find someone in your region or across the nation to share ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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The Future of Real Food
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
The past ten years have seen a dramatic shift in real food purchasing on college and university campuses. Local food and sustainability are now common conversations in campus dining. Values ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Food Systems Down Under: Lessons from the Australian Context and The Fair Food Challenge
- University of Melbourne (Victoria)
This presentation will look at action in campus food systems in Australian universities. Australia has been slow to adopt action in campus foodscape transformation and there have been recent advancements ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Affordable Renewable Energy for the Developing World that is Creating Jobs
- University of Central Florida (FL)
In our world, there are currently 1.3B people living with no access to electricity. The lack of electricity can have negative impacts on their education, communication, safety and even ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Partnerships for Dramatic Energy Use Reduction On-Campus & Off
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
In most urban areas, buildings contribute at least 75% of local greenhouse gas emissions, representing an opportunity to reduce energy use through benchmarking, conservation, and efficiency. As a result, a ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Local Power: How to Partner With Local Investors to Install Renewable Energy Systems on Campus
- Luther College (IA)
This session addresses the following question associated with the conference theme: 'How can higher education most effectively collaborate with business, government and civil society to create a sustainable economy?' The ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Stronger Together - Aligning Milwaukee's Institutions and Civic Agencies for Large-Scale Renewables
- Marquette University (WI)
- Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI)
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
Urban land use, regulated utility markets, and up-front financing play into the challenges for renewable energy in Milwaukee, WI, as it does for many institutions across the country. On-site installations ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Bioenergy & Land Use Meetup
- Colgate University (NY)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Second Nature (MA)
The University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute (UNHSI) and Second Nature are facilitating a Bioenergy Working Group that is looking to answer the following questions: - Are biogenic emissions carbon neutral ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Partners in Greening the Economy: Clean Energy and Electrification on Campus and in the Community
- Weber State University (UT)
For sustainability, we collectively need to green our economy to improve environmental and human health and wellbeing. One aspect of this larger process is to shift to clean energy sources ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Lots of Watts: Building an Energy Cohort to Buy Big Renewables
- Lafayette College (PA)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
As campuses face climate action targets, or seek to manage energy budgets, large-scale renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs) have emerged as a practical and cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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The State of Race: Unpacking Racism in America Today
- Texas A&M University (TX)
As overt racism has intensified across America in recent years, it is important to have meaningful conversations that center race at AASHE. Diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives are becoming popular ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Seeing Sustainability Through Indigenous Eyes: Collaborative Cross-Cultural Teaching and Learning
- George Mason University (VA)
This presentation will showcase a field course offered by George Mason University in collaboration with the Maijuna indigenous group of the Peruvian Amazon. The authors worked with the Maijuna to ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability - A Networking Discussion Designed for all Educators and Academics
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
All academics and educators will benefit from this session! Have fun and meet new colleagues as we explore how to help students gain the knowledge and skills to create change ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Teaching Sustainability Education through the Lens of Leadership Education
- Colorado State University (CO)
Sustainability education is a broad topic that crosses many disciplines. While some institutions offer sustainability-specific degree programs others have placed focus on implementing sustainability education within their current programs. Since ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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The Experiential Learning Lab: Coproduction Through Campus Staff/Faculty/Community Partnerships
- University of Dayton (OH)
Challenges in implementing and sustaining on- and off-campus experiential learning projects continue to deter staff, faculty and community partners from engaging in them. Persistent challenges include: student schedules and time ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Revolutionizing Sustainability Connections: Corporations, Communities, and Higher Education
- Montclair State University (NJ)
The PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University advances sustainability by developing community-engaged research projects and building educational programs through academic-corporate-public partnerships. We engage in activities that promote ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Seeing Sustainability in Your Own Backyard: Place-Based Learning and the Liberal Arts
- Goshen College (IN)
Goshen College students have a unique opportunity to live, learn, and research at the 1,189-acre nature sanctuary called Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. Located near Wolf Lake, Indiana, Merry ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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"Living Labs" that Integrate Sustainability Education, Community Engagement & Workforce Development
- Boston University (MA)
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
A growing number of sustainability-related internships, practicum and fellowship opportunities are available, and increasingly, such programs are also working explicitly to integrate with community sustainability efforts, becoming network hubs and ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Self-Congratulatory Sustainability/Sustainability Light: Just What Are We Teaching?
- Olympic College (WA)
All over the United States, colleges tout their hyperlocal sustainability and recycling programs. Many do a thoughtful job of introducing students to aspects of sustainability, including the complex, ongoing effort ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Networking Meeting: Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (SCC)
- Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (MD)
The Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (SCC), an AASHE member organization, will convene a networking session at the AASHE 2019 Conference. This session will allow participants in SCC activities to engage in ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Campus as Lab - Networking Session
- Portland State University (OR)
The Campus as Lab Networking Session will provide an opportunity for both new and experienced campus as lab practitioners and researchers to meet, network and share best practices.
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Engineering for One Planet: Join a growing interdisciplinary community to define and foster environmentally responsible engineering
- The Lemelson Foundation (OR)
- VentureWell (MA)
Hosted by The Lemelson Foundation and VentureWell, this panel will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn about and join a multi-disciplinary, multi-sector initiative to co-create a framework to integrate ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Only Connect: Learning English and American Culture Through Service Learning and the SDGs
- Portland State University (OR)
This session will present various ways in which different ESL instructors have come together to engage their students in sustainability work, both inside and outside the classroom. The 17 SDGs ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Sustainability Curriculum: Status Quo or Transformation?
- Ripon College (WI)
In the last several years, we have witnessed a growing number of sustainability undergraduate programs across the United States. Often stemming from the work of existing departments, these programs address ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Preparing Students for Success Through Sustainability Competencies, Community and Hope
- University of Georgia (GA)
As sustainability educators we need to prepare students to address the challenges of sustainability in every field and for positions that have not even been developed yet. In addition to ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Catalyzing Careers in Sustainability: Benefits of Community Engaged Course Design
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
As Nathan Hensley of Bowling Green State University described in the March 24, 2017 issue of The Journal of Sustainability Education, sustainability education should be based on 'transformative, experiential, and ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Learn to Lead the World Climate Simulation, a Mock UN Climate Negotiation
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Learn to lead a World Climate Simulation - a mock United Nations (UN) climate negotiation meeting - on your campus or community. As a facilitator for the World Climate Simulation, you will ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Ivy+ Meeting
- GreenerU (MA)
This session will act as the monthly Full Consortium meeting for the members of the Ivy+ Sustainability Consortium. During this meeting, the group will discuss consortium projects, updates, and governance ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Transition Campuses: Can Transition Towns Offer a Replicable Model?
- College of Charleston (SC)
This presentation provides an overview of the recent Transition Town/Transition Movement (TM), both in the US and globally, and then reflects on the strengths and weaknesses of this model ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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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.