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
Hixon Center for Urban Ecology
- Yale University (CT)
The Hixon Center for Urban Ecology was established in 1998 with a generous gift from Alec (’38) and Adelaide Hixon. The work of the Center reflects the Hixon’s interest ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Research Centers & Institutes
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Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment
- Stanford University (CA)
The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment is working toward a future in which societies meet people’s needs for water, food, health and other vital services while protecting and ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Research Centers & Institutes
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Major University Towns Seek University Partners to Improve Energy Efficiency in Off-Campus Rental Housing
- City of Bloomington (IN)
In Bloomington (pop. 83,565), where 75% of Indiana University’s 40,000+ students live off-campus, the impact is tremendous. Two-thirds of local housing units are rentals, making it exceedingly ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Top Ten AASHE Bulletin Stories of 2015
- AASHE (MA)
To celebrate the campus sustainability community’s accomplishments in 2015, AASHE has compiled a list of the 10 most clicked AASHE Bulletin stories in 2015.
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Attends the White House’s American Campuses Act on Climate Round Table
- AASHE (MA)
On Nov. 19, I joined college and university executives, student leaders, nonprofit representatives and Obama administration officials at the American Campuses Act on Climate Round Table organized by the White ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Opportunity - Upcoming White House Day of Climate Action to Feature Campus Climate Leadership
- AASHE (MA)
On November 19th, the White House and the State Department will bring together leadership from higher education institutions, including school administrators and student leaders, to collectively call for action on ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Collaborating for the Future of Higher Education Sustainability
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
- AASHE (MA)
Last week Julian Keniry from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Jaime Van Mourik from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Tim Carter from Second Nature and I came together ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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2015 Sustainable Campus Index
- AASHE (MA)
The 2015 Sustainable Campus Index highlights top-performing colleges and universities in 17 areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The Index also highlights best practices ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Environmental Fixes + Urban Problems
- The New School (NY)
Social preservation and the preservation of nature have for too long been treated as separate matters but when looked at as a holistic system, operating under market-driven devices, it is ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Listening Project Report: Recap
- AASHE (MA)
Through the ongoing Listening Project (LP), the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is working to instill a listening culture throughout our programs and operations. However ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Visits England at the EAUC Conference
- AASHE (MA)
- Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) (Gloucestershire)
I was proud to represent the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) at the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) annual conference at the University ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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The AASHE Collaborative Vision Tree – A Study in Creative Assessment and Feedback Processes
- Portland State University (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
To build a resilient sustainability movement in higher education, we need to bring together diverse perspectives and work to design collaborative solutions. This paradigm shift includes refining the processes by ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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STARS 2014 Annual Review
- AASHE (MA)
The STARS 2014 Annual Review highlights recent sustainability innovations and best practices from over 100 colleges and universities worldwide. The publication features 105 higher education institutions that earned a STARS ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Survey: Fans More Likely To Attend Games, Buy Hot Dogs if Stadium Composts Trash
Our latest national survey gives universities a new reason to go green: It’s smart business. Nearly a third of Americans said they’d be more likely to attend a ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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2014 Higher Education Sustainability Review
- AASHE (MA)
During its annual analysis of the higher education sustainability movement, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) found a significant increase in sustainability planning, campus living ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Filling a Local Transportation Gap: Planning for a Cycling Future at York University
- York University
PURPOSE: This multifaceted study set out to: a) assess the current state of York University's cycling infrastructure; b) determine of feasibility of a bike share at York University's ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Sustainability within Collegiate Athletics: Recommendations For Sustainable Improvement
- Clark University (MA)
This paper addresses the current day issue involving the lack of sustainable efforts occurring in collegiate athletic departments and their respective facilities. Based on the general nature of athletics, sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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STARS 2013 Annual Review
- AASHE (MA)
The STARS 2013 Annual Review discusses the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), providing a look back at STARS and a glimpse at what is in store with the ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Analysis of Student Behaviors Impacting Carbon Emissions Through Community Based Social Marketing Research
- Oberlin College (OH)
Academic institutions cannot achieve climate neutrality through technology alone; members of the college community must also be engaged in creating a culture of sustainability. This research project employed a community-based ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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The University of Hawai'i System Heads Toward its First Sustainability Policy
- Hawaii Pacific University (HI)
- University of Hawaii Maui College (HI)
- University of Hawaii at Hilo (HI)
- AASHE (MA)
This month AASHE was invited to give a keynote presentation and overview of its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) at the first-ever Hawai’i Sustainability in Higher Education ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE @ Clinton Global Initiative University
- AASHE (MA)
President Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world. Each year, CGI U hosts ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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2013 Higher Education Sustainability Review
- AASHE (MA)
This year’s Higher Education Sustainability Review highlights the achievements of more than 60 institutions across the globe. You’ll find inspiring examples of regional and global partnerships for sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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STARS Quarterly Review: Winter 2012
- AASHE (MA)
The Winter 2012 SQR: Recap & A Look Ahead, reviews recent developments related to the evolving concept of global campus sustainability and introduces changes that can be expected for STARS ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Promoting Lasting Ecological Citizenship Among College Students
- Lehigh University (PA)
Declines in environmental literacy and civic and political activism among youth suggest the need for an increased focus on sustainability in schools and the advancement of ecological citizenship among students ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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STARS Quarterly Review: Fall 2012
- AASHE (MA)
The Fall 2012 SQR: The Role of Institutional Diversity, explores how the diversity of STARS institutions has changed over time and how participation in STARS according to institution type compares ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Student Diary Series: The Norway Edition
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- University of Oslo
UC Davis hosted the annual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference on [June 18-22]. While other Norwegian delegates on this tour decided to attend the International Sustainable Campus Network Symposium, I ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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The Power of Partnerships - Reporting on the 2012 International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) Symposium
- AASHE (MA)
How often does an international conference that you’ve always wanted to attend come to your very own back yard? Luckily for me, this was the case with the 2012 ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Rio+20 Outcomes Document-What will it say?
- AASHE (MA)
As the heads of state have been meeting in Rio the past two days there appears to be little effort or desire to take on changing the text of the ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Rio+20 Has Officially Begun
- AASHE (MA)
Earlier this morning the official opening of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) occurred amid dreams, hopes and disappointment. The watering down of the language to achieve ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Rio+20 - Fear and Hope
- AASHE (MA)
As the negotiations continue at both Rio+20 and the G-20 Summit I'm seeing reports of both hope and fear. The hope seems to be coming from the non-government ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Rio Update – Monday June 18, 2012
- AASHE (MA)
The international sustainability scene is getting increasingly complex. Not only is UNCSD aka Rio+20, the world’s biggest meeting on sustainability, taking place this week but the agenda for ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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What’s going on at Rio+20
- AASHE (MA)
As we go into the last few days before the official Rio+20 conference, I think it is important to reflect on not only what is happening there but how ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Global Green Campus Forum in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- AASHE (MA)
Last week, I participated on AASHE’s behalf in the 3rd annual Gyeonggi Green Campus Global Forum, held at Kangnam University in the Gyeonngi province of South Korea. The theme ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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STARS Quarterly Review: Summer 2012
- AASHE (MA)
The Summer 2012 SQR: Innovations in Campus Sustainability, explores the critical linkages between education, innovation, and sustainability. This issue highlights new and ground-breaking practices within the Innovation (IN) category of ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Higher Education Sustainability in Pittsburgh
- AASHE (MA)
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
- Chatham University (PA)
- Duquesne University (PA)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
Supported by the Heinz Endowments, this AASHE publication profiles the sustainability innovations of the Pittsburgh institutions that hosted campus tours during the AASHE 2011 conference. Profiled innovations include green building ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Interview Series: Frances Moore Lappé, Founder, Small Planet Institute
- Small Planet Institute (NY)
Frances Moore Lappé, Founder of the Small Planet Institute, talks to AASHE about her newest book, EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think to Create the World We Want. Lappé discusses ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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STARS Quarterly Review: Spring 2012
- AASHE (MA)
The Spring 2012 SQR: Framing Campus Sustainability, features stories that frame the evolving concept of sustainability in higher education. Included in this issue are a snapshot of ratings-to-date, a focus ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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2012 Higher Education Sustainability Review
- AASHE (MA)
The 2012 Higher Education Sustainability Review outlines 2012 AASHE Bulletin trends in three areas: New Developments, Changing Dynamics, Areas of Prevalence. Highlights from over 40 institutions are included, summarizing innovative ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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STARS 2010: A Year in Review
- AASHE (MA)
This report details the sustainability efforts found in the inaugural submissions to the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, Rating & System (STARS), such as sustainability research opportunities, sustainable dining efforts, and campus-wide ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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2011 Higher Education Sustainability Review
- AASHE (MA)
Looking through the lens of AASHE Bulletin stories in 2011, this year's review reveals an increased focus on higher education access, affordability, and success; more green building efforts than ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Starting from Scratch: Greening Your Game Day
- AASHE (MA)
- Keep America Beautiful (CT)
- College & University Recycling Coalition (DC)
Supported by AASHE, Keep America Beautiful, and the College and University Recycling Coalition, this toolkit provides a guide for institutions of higher education across the country to implement or improve ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Cross-Border Carbon Footprints: University Study Abroad and Carbon Offsetting Programs
- American University (DC)
The progress made in the past decade in incorporating higher education institutions into the carbon emissions reduction equation is remarkable. Organizations like the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Real-world learning opportunities in sustainability: from classroom into the real world
Academic sustainability programs aim to develop key competencies in sustainability, including problem-solving skills and the ability to collaborate successfully with experts and stakeholders. These key competencies may be most fully ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Creating Carbon Offsets: A New Alternative for Colleges and Universities?
- Whitman College (WA)
Mandatory and voluntary carbon offsets have been promoted as an important part of the solution to the climate crisis. They are touted for their economic and environmental efficiency as well ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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2010 Higher Education Sustainability Review
- AASHE (MA)
Revealing new ways of thinking about and incorporating sustainability into campus operations, planning and curriculum, the "2010 Campus Sustainability Review" takes a look at the higher education sustainability movement through ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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2009 Collegiate Athletic Department Sustainability Survey Report
- AASHE (MA)
Shows that while sustainability efforts appear to be growing within collegiate athletics, commitment to sustainability is lower among athletic departments than compared to their institutions as a whole and to ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Digest 2009
- AASHE (MA)
Includes over 1,250 stories that catalog a broadening and deepening commitment to campus sustainability by colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. The 380-page report categorizes stories ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Appropedia as a Tool for Service Learning in Sustainable Development
Numerous studies have demonstrated that university students are capable of contributing to sustainable development while improving their academic skills. Unfortunately for many institutions, the expense of sending large cohorts of ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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SOGreen: An environmental undertaking for the School of Government
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
In January of 2008, four Masters of Public Administration students launched the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government's (SOG) initiative towards more sustainable facilities and operations: "SOGreen." The School of ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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AASHE Digest 2008
- AASHE (MA)
Includes over 1,350 stories that illustrate the continued expansion of sustainability practices into every sector of campus. Initiatives from nearly 700 institutions are organized into 28 chapters, spanning education ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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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.