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
Doing More with Less: Tapping Campus Partnerships and Online Resources
- Duke University (NC)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
Tough economic times have brought new challenges in sustainability outreach and engagement. Facing tight budgets, sustainability professionals must think creatively to reach their campus community. Highlighted in this panel presentation ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Organic Gardens On the Rise
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Fort Lewis College (CO)
- Saint Michael's College (VT)
Program organizers from several different colleges plan to lead an interactive discussion on different approaches to community and organic gardening on college campuses. Campus gardens are known for being one ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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EVERYBODY WINS! Effective Statewide/Regional Higher Ed Sustainability Partnerships
- Kankakee Community College (IL)
- Kansas State University (KS)
- Kean University (NJ)
EVERYBODY WINS! Effective Statewide/Regional Higher Ed Sustainability Partnerships
Meeting of minds and hearts across institutional and disciplinary boundaries. Hierarchy leveled in shared projects. More clout with governors, legislatures, local ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Be An Effective Sustainability Champion: Lessons from National Sustainability Fellows
- Kankakee Community College (IL)
- Oakland Community College (MI)
- University of Denver (CO)
Anyone on campus can be a champion for sustainability, from faculty and staff to students and community members. Sustainability champions are needed to build momentum on campus and in the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Community Colleges - National Initiatives and Resources for You
- Lane Community College (OR)
- Oakland Community College (MI)
- American Association of Community Colleges (DC)
Community Colleges educate adults of all ages and backgrounds and are at the center of workforce development for a green and sustainable economy. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnerships for Net Zero: CSU's Collaboration in Fort ZED
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Brendle Group (CO)
Colorado State University (CSU) is a key partner in making "FortZED," an initiative to turn downtown Fort Collins, Colorado and the campus of CSU into the largest net zero energy ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Facing the Inevitable---Integrated Financial + Sustainability/CSR Reporting for Business
- Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (NY)
- Ceres (MA)
In the wake of the financial meltdown, stakeholder groups around the globe are pressing for mandatory integrated reporting that incorporates environmental, social and governance issues into financial reporting. New requirements ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Lessons from COP15 and Moving Forward on Climate Education
- Dickinson College (PA)
- Ithaca College (NY)
Our institutions provide hope in a time of discouragement. The UNFCCC 15th Conference of the Parties in December 2009 resulted in the Copenhagen Accord, a document which failed to live ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Meeting People Where They Are: Tactics for Campus Culture Change
- Emory University (GA)
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
Sustainability often gets associated with placing recycling bins or hosting an earth day event, but these small tasks often mask the complexity of developing a comprehensive program at an institutional ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Regional Collaboration on Integrating Sustainability into the Curriculum
- Luther College (IA)
- Nova Scotia Community College (NS)
This panel will focus on a successful model of ten institutions collaborating on a faculty development workshop for integrating sustainability into the curriculum. The project is supported by the Associated ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating a Learning Community for Solutions to Climate Change
- Chatham University (PA)
- Samford University (AL)
The rapidly evolving and interdisciplinary nature of climate change presents a challenge to colleges and universities as they seek to educate undergraduate students. To address this challenge, the National Council ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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sustainability and the arts of democracy, innovating engaged learning
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
this four person panel showcases an innovative engaged learning project. attached to graduate and undergraduate courses with parallel content, the project brings first year students, graduate students, faculty, and community ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building sustainability communities through service learning at University of Denver
- University of Denver (CO)
The mission of the University of Denver includes a commitment to build active partnerships with local and global communities in an effort to contribute to "a sustainable common good." One ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Engineering and Community Development
- Colorado School of Mines (CO)
Sustainability is clearly coming to the fore of undergraduate education in the United States and abroad. In higher education and in the broader discourse, however, engineers and engineering often seem ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Watershed Awakening: Connecting College and Community to a Shared Place
- Calvin University (MI)
Frustrated by the local faith community's lack of concern for watershed issues , the Department of Environmental Quality approached Calvin College, a faith-based college, to assist them in their efforts ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Educating for Sustainability through Campus and Community Service
- Daemen University (NY)
In an interdisciplinary collaboration between a biologist and artist/designer at Daemen College, our service learning course engages students in environmental science through the creation of a campus outdoor education ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Goggles Project - Promoting Sustainability in Higher Education through Guerrilla Theatre
- Dalhousie University (NS)
In 2005, Dr. Tarah Wright commissioned a two year study investigating Canadian universities' stances on sustainability. The findings were so provoking and the topic so timely, that we could not ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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EDF's University Sustainability Initiative: Campus, Classroom & Community
- Environmental Defense Fund (DC)
Dedicated to protecting the health and environmental rights of all people, including future generations, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is working with universities to (1) help increase their energy efficiency and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building a International Sustainability Education Helpdesk
- Ithaca College (NY)
Sustainability as a distinct discipline and as an approach to undergraduate and graduate education is largely at North American and European practice. Incorporating sustainability into the curriculum in other countries ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Catalyzing Just and Sustainable Food Systems in Complex Institutions
- University of British Columbia (BC)
In this interactive session we will describe how our program, UBC SEEDS, acts as a catalyst to move UBC towards a just and sustainable food system. This community-based action-research project ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Collaboration for Sustainable Development and Value Creation
- University of Denver (CO)
This presentation describes the value creation potential for all stakeholders in collaborative partnerships between a university and its students with both private and NGO sector partners. The educational model focuses ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Poverty and Homelessness: Improving Disadvantaged Communities through Sustainable, Urban Gardening
- University of North Florida (FL)
This is a multidisciplinary, community based TLO (Transformational Learning Opportunity) that will offer students the opportunity to learn about poverty and homelessness through a partnership with the Clara White Mission ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Universities as catalysts for Sustainable City Design
- University of Oregon (OR)
The Sustainable Cities Initiative (SCI) is a ground breaking new sustainability-based service learning program located at the University of Oregon. We tackle issues of sustainable city design with a cross ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Bringing Sustainability to life in Australian Colleges & Universities
- Western Sydney University (NSW)
This session will provide an overview of current approaches to addressing key issues of environmental, social and economic sustainability in Australian Higher Education. Key areas of focus will include:
Clarifying ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnerships for Change: The Nova Scotia Community Emissions Challenge
- Acadia University (NS)
As part of the Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment's mandate to foster sustainability both on campus and in the community an emissions reduction outreach program targeted to Nova ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Service Learning Involving Community Partnerships and Community Sustainability Planning
- Acadia University (NS)
In Canada, communities are increasingly developing sustainability plans in order to access federal funds made available through a municipal gas tax rebate program. While larger communities are well positioned to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Power in an Educational Setting: Challenges and Opportunities
- Albright College (PA)
The Green Power Partnership (GPP), a voluntary environmental program launched by EPA in 2001 helps organizations get support from EPA in reducing their carbon footprint, lowering the transaction costs of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Principles and Practices for Effective Leadership & Engagement
- Auburn University (AL)
Sustainable communities evolve as people align together around shared commitments and shared values about the way we want to live and the future we hope to create. Creating sustainable communities ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Tailgating: Generating Sustainable Team Spirit!
- Bowling Green State University (OH)
The "greening" of university football game "tailgating" events and athletic competitions, which are known to generate literally tons of bottles and cans as well as waste, continues to spread, resulting ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Green Spring Break: Lessons in Sustainable Service
- Bowling Green State University (OH)
The presence of "alternative" spring breaks based in service across the U.S. seems firmly entrenched in higher education, and their popularity is increasing as students become more service-oriented. Newer ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Teaching and Learning about Sustainability in Jamaica
- Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
Eastern Connecticut State University has been offering a degree-completion program for Jamaican teachers for several years. Recently, we have begun to explore using our connections with these Jamaican teachers to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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International Collaborative Approaches to Tackling Climate Change Through Higher Eduction
- Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) (Gloucestershire)
Following the success of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), Scotland's universities and colleges have publicly declared their intention to address the challenges of climate change ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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USEPA MOU Program with Colleges and Universities
- Kean University (NJ)
The presentation will review a unique program of Region 2 of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The partnership program is designed to create initiatives to catalyze a just ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Involving the Entire Community: Missouri State University and Sustainability
- Missouri State University (MO)
On June 15, 1995, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan signed into law Senate Bill 340 which gave Missouri State University a statewide mission in Public Affairs. In late 2007 the University ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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"Doing Science" as Service Learning
- Oklahoma City University (OK)
How can a science department in a college or university actually "do science" and be of service to the community; how can scientists-in-training perform testing and experiments in the field ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Strengthening the SEAMS Between Us: Sustainable, Equitable, Actualized Meaning-making & Solidarity
- Prescott College (AZ)
There are myriad reasons why culturally or ideologically diverse individuals (and the groups with whom they affiliate) choose not to interact. This disconnect is a critical component in why the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Students teaching students to save energy in their homes
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Many students living on their own for the first time are on financial aid or work to cover living expenses; making ends meet can be tough. Yet most are not ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Raised Organic Produce: Creation of garden on Auraria campus
- University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus (CO)
Students, faculty, and staff of Auraria campus have been working for over a year to create 'Campus Raised Organic Produce' (CROP). Auraria is home of three institutions, The University of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating broad support for campus sustainability through collaboration
- University of Hawaii - West Oahu (HI)
The new University of Hawaii West O‘ahu campus in Kapolei, opened in summer 2012, is a place where sustainability practices are integrated in the development and operation of the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Commitments and Actions at University of Hawaii Maui College
- University of Hawaii Maui College (HI)
The new energy goals set forth by the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) in 2008 have set the stage for making Hawaii a global model for energy independence and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Collaboration among higher educational institutions for increased sustainability in Pittsburgh
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
The City of Pittsburgh has a climate initiative which outlines goals and directions to reduce emissions and increase economic and societal sustainability in the region. Pittsburgh has become one of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Between Two Worlds
- University of Redlands (CA)
Screening of a 15-minute video documentary film about global sustainability challenges. Between the world in which we live and the world that we hope to build lies a fundamental choice ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Communities through partnership of private, public, and Academic Institutions
- University of Texas at Arlington (TX)
World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus-Community Partnerships for a Sustainable Future: Service-Learning Courses
- University of Vermont (VT)
It is important that universities not work in isolation on their sustainability initiatives, but extend beyond the walls of academe and link with others in the broader community. Service-learning partnerships ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Educating Agents of Change: A Campus-wide Course on Global Sustainability
- University of Virginia (VA)
Professors often collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to create innovative sustainable practices, institutions, and technologies for a resource-constrained world. Yet how can one educate undergraduate students to become future agents ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Doing Makes All the Difference
- Wright State University (OH)
This field report presents information relating to an interdisciplinary service-learning course, Environmental and Social Sustainability in Appalachia, offered through the University Honors Program during Winter Quarter and Spring Break, 2010 ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Power of Engagement: Connecting Community Service with Sustainable Choices
- Wright State University (OH)
This presentation focuses on increased understanding of critical environmental issues with a commitment to action for students and community members engaged in three service learning projects in an environmental literacy ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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How to Kick the Bottle with Bottled Water Alternatives
- American University (DC)
Learn how to replace bottled water with alternatives in order to cut solid waste, reduce upstream water consumption, save money, ensure human health, and protect the public water supply. Many ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Mind the Gap: Campus Sustainability at Home and Abroad
- Augsburg University (MN)
Undergraduate students are participating in experiences abroad in ever-increasing numbers (more than 250,000 in 2007-08). Simultaneously, there has been tremendous growth in the campus sustainability movement nationwide. These two ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Leveraging Sustainability to Bridge the High School-to-College Curriculum Divide
- Bay Area Clean Energy Careers (BayCEC) (CA)
Bringing sustainability into the curriculum is one of most timely challenges facing today's faculty and instructors. While some schools and campuses are designing new courses to address sustainable concepts ...
- 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.