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
Transforming Sustainability Storytelling Through GIS: an Introductory Learning Lab
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (MD)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a tool traditionally associated with the management and display of geospatial data. The tool is very prevalent, in both the academic and professional realm, with ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Teaching Learners, Preparing Leaders: Using Peer Education to Complement the Academic Experience
- Cornell University (NY)
- Ithaca College (NY)
Grappling with the effects of the climate crisis will require new and innovative ways of teaching, learning, and leading to ensure emerging leaders are equipped with the skills necessary to ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Developing Sustainability Internships Through an Employer Relations Lens: A Pilot
- The College of Saint Scholastica (MN)
A brief talk on how grant funding and new academic programming in sustainability fostered a pilot to increase experiential learning opportunities. This session presenter is not a subject matter expert ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Community College Partnership: Forty-Eight Members in One State
- Illinois Green Economy Network (IL)
The Illinois community college system is the third largest in the United States, educating nearly one million students each year. The Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) is a consortium of ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Visualizing sustainability: building a robust online sustainability dashboard
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
The University of Washington's recently redesigned its sustainability dashboard. Starting with a group of static graph images presented largely without context, we moved all of our data into Tableau ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Enhancing Sustainable Approaches to Food Security and Community Engagement through Design of Space
- University of Kentucky (KY)
The Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky (CKUK) is a student-led service organization that is a partner agency of God's Pantry Food Bank within the Feeding America's ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Green Advisors, Sustainability Advocates, and More: Building Engaged Community
- Swarthmore College (PA)
This session will focus on innovative, action-oriented engagement opportunities in sustainability for a diverse range of stakeholders at the college and university level. At Swarthmore College, more than 80 faculty ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Using Hand-crafts to Engage a Campus on the Climate Crisis: 50 Years of Tempestries & a Sketch-crawl
- University of California, Davis (CA)
For the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in April 2020, the UC Davis Office of Sustainability coordinated a master list and website (https://earthday.ucdavis.edu/) of more than 60 ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Skill Development Workshops for Impact at UC Berkeley‚ Green Initiative Fund
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Established in 2007, The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) at UC Berkeley provides funding, via grants, for projects that improve and support UC Berkeley's campus sustainability efforts. TGIF allocates funds ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Creating a Sustainability Professional Learning Network
- Colorado State University (CO)
Professional Learning Networks are commonly used by educators to share innovative and unique teaching and learning ideas. In this presentation I will build from the idea of a professional learning ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Food Waste Warriors: Combating Food Waste with Strong Relationships and Education
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
Through strong partnerships with community members both on and off campus, UNC Asheville Dining Services continues to reduce waste, while increasing educational opportunities around food waste. UNC Asheville Dining Services ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Land Acknowledgements
- Bemidji State University (MN)
A Land Acknowledgement is a statement that 'recognizes the Indigenous peoples who have been dispossessed from the homelands and territories upon which an institution was built and currently occupies and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Leveraging Town Gown Relationships to Promote Community Sustainable Development Initiatives
- Denison University (OH)
Colleges and Universities are uniquely positioned to leverage resources to drive sustainable development initiatives in their respective communities. These efforts can and should be mutually beneficial to the school and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Implementing the Renewable Energy Rider Program
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
In 2020, the University of Wisconsin-Madison partnered with its electric utility, Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), to invest in a 10 megawatt (MW) solar development through the Renewable Energy Rider ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Just Transition in Action: Lessons from Freiburg, Germany and New York
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
This dynamic workshop inspires participants with detailed case studies of just transition in action. It challenges participants to engage in practical solutions in ways that build economic and community solidarity ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Climatepedia.org: A Nationwide Student Effort to Spread Climate Change Information
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Climatepedia (CA)
Over 97% of publishing climate scientists agree that climate change is a real, anthropogenic threat to all life on earth. However, various polls show that amongst the American public, there ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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EchoWorks: a Cooperative e-Recycling Program
- Western Dakota Technical College (SD)
Globally, electronic waste is the fastest growing segment of municipal waste. Unfortunately, there is a widespread lack of availability of safe disposal options for the often-toxic e-materials. To provide this ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Communiversity Resiliency Mobilization
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
- University of Notre Dame (IN)
In response to partisan and divisive politics and relationships in our nation and our communities, the University of Notre Dame, in partnership with Indiana University South Bend and the city ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Teaching the UN SDGs: Developing local goals in the classroom
- Central Community College (NE)
In 2015, Central Community College (CCC) developed a faculty-driven program to incorporate sustainability issues across the curriculum. The presenter is co-chair of the Environmental Sustainability Across the Curriculum (ESATC) committee ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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From Dissonance to Harmony: Transforming Campus Events to Align with Institutional Priorities
- Colgate University (NY)
Campus events bring together students, faculty, staff, and community members together; while they often build community and enhance academics, they also frequently diverge from institutional wellness and sustainability goals. Hundreds ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Empowering Underserved Populations Through Community Programs
- Weber State University (UT)
Learn about Weber State University's focus on sustainability-forward community programs over the last five years and how they have become more focused on serving underserved and underrepresented populations over ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Building Campus-Community Relationships and Resilience
- Bemidji State University (MN)
- Precipitate, PLLC (MN)
Located in Northern Minnesota, Bemidji State University (BSU) operates within a dispersed, rural, and diverse community. Bemidji State staff and faculty will be joined by planning consultant Precipitate to share ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Veterans and Sustainability Education: Why Aren't we Taking Better Advantage of it?
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
While many veterans take advantage of the educational benefits provided by the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the number of student veterans participating in the earned benefit by the Veterans ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Managing from the Side: a Sustainability Officer's Role Institutionalizing Campus Civic Engagement
- Emory University (GA)
As the contentious 2018 mid-term elections approached, our sustainability office looked across the campus landscape for a coordinated, unified entity raising up voter registration and education, improving voter access, and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Own Your own Backyard: Farm to Keg
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
This presentation will be a reflective narrative of multiple voices from a research project intended to assess the transformational learning of students engaged in a partnership between Grand Valley State ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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SDG101: Sustainable development integration in the classroom with the SDG Academy
- United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (NY)
The SDG Academy creates and curates the best available educational content on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and makes it available as a public good. As the flagship education ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Developing and Executing an Equity-Focused Mobility Strategic Plan
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Employers and universities are challenged to make their buildings, facilities, and programs more inclusive and welcoming. The absence of transit access and inclusive mobility programs or amenities may create barriers ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Environmental Activism in the age of Social Media
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Whether or not you're an active user of social media, you cannot deny the power that it possesses to spread information and ideas globally. In the last few years ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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SCP Arts: A Collaborative, Applied Learning Partnership Model for Creative Community Engagement
- University of St. Thomas (MN)
Communities locally and globally face the challenge of re-imagining and implementing systems that restore interconnected human and environmental well-being. Creative forms of engagement can inspire broad-sector participation with community sustainability ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Sustainability Institute at a PUI: Vision, Formation, and Our First Three Years.
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
In 2017 the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh launched the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations (SIRT). As an Institute at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI) and with a focus on fostering ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Developing an introductory Chemistry and Sustainability course for Sustainability majors
- The College of Saint Scholastica (MN)
This talk will discuss the pedagogical experiences and challenges of developing and teaching an introductory level Chemistry and Sustainability course as part of a new Sustainability Studies major at The ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Visualizing Climate Change/Justice in 2020 Political Campaigns: Deep Democracy or Greenwashing
- Maryville College (TN)
Environmental issue salience in the 2020 election cycle is the highest in two generations. How are candidates presenting their sustainability and climate justice records to prospective voters? Campaign branding, print ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Mushroom Canoe, Algae Biofuels, and Earthwalls at the Nebraska State Fair Sustainability Pavilion
- Central Community College (NE)
CCC's environmental sustainability office has hosted student projects at the Nebraska State Fair Sustainability Pavilion and at on campus Earth Month events. Sustainability Director Benjamin Newton will give an ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Green Career Planning Toolkit: Helping You Help Students Prepare for Sustainable Jobs
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
Learn about a free, online Green Career Center featuring an annual two-day online conference, webinars, interviews, and more. View an illustration of the Green Career Planning Tool developed by the ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Organizing a Campus-Community Resilience Building Workshop
- Second Nature (MA)
This workshop will train participants in how to organize and facilitate a Community Resilience Building (CRB) Workshop. The CRB Workshop is a community-driven process, rich with information, experience, and dialogue ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Breaking into Academics Without a PhD: Creating Sustainability Curriculum from Facilities
- Florida State University (FL)
How can Offices of Sustainability change the academic culture of their institutions without an academic home? Colleges and universities are institutions of learning, and sustainability curriculum that engages students in ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Stories from the Real Meals Campaign: Student Organizers Building a Just Food System on Campus
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Students at campuses all across the country are building power to transform our current food system to one that is grounded in racial equity, justice, and dignity for us and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Racial Equity and Social Justice Essay Series: Resources for Higher Education Staff on Understanding Key Concepts...
- Boston University (MA)
- Portland Community College (OR)
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- AASHE (MA)
Better understanding, supporting, and addressing racial equity and social justice issues as they relate to sustainability work in higher education is paramount in creating institutions that welcome and nurture intellectual ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Accelerating Just Energy Transitions by Inviting Faith Communities to the Table
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Pressures to solve the climate crisis through clean, inclusive energy transitions are intensifying. Scientific indicators and natural disasters draw perspective to how human suffering and environmental stresses breach ecological and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Meeting Immediate Needs: A Curriculum for Worker Cooperatives
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Cooperacion Santa Ana (CA)
UCI Community Resilience Projects fosters people-centered and inclusive solutions to climate challenges. Our community-driven academic partnerships work from a shared understanding that the problems of climate change, racism and all ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Embedding sustainability in Colombian higher education institutions' strategy
- Universidad EAN
With the objective of to build capacities for all relevant actors in embedding Sustainability in Higher Education in Colombia, based on PSU's and the known AASHE experience for integrating ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Building cross-institutional sustainability and equity partnerships
- Bemidji State University (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
This workshop will include real-life examples, strategies and tactics to support successful cross-institutional partnerships that promote interconnectedness and integration of equity, diversity, inclusion and sustainability. Learn why a strong partnership ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Sustainability Strategic Planning: Meaningfully Integrating Sustainability into Campus-Wide Planning
- Williams College (MA)
During the 2019-2020 academic year, Williams College embarked on a college-wide strategic planning process. Sustainability was designated as one of the eight working groups and as one of three principles ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Student Leadership Institute for Climate Resilience: A Just Transition Introductory Curriculum
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
Developed at UC Irvine and in its ninth year, the Student Leadership Institute for Climate Resilience (SLICR) is an annual three-day residential program that provides a select cohort of incoming ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Student Voices in Sustainability: Incorporating Student Interns In Sustainability Communications
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Student interns play a critical role in communications initiatives at the UW-Madison Office of Sustainability (OS). In this informational session, attendees will learn how the OS incorporates student voices into ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Moving to a Circular Economy: a Framework for Building Networks, Capacity, and Strategy
- Michigan State University (MI)
As hundreds of colleges and universities are committing to carbon neutrality, the forward discussion is now moving to circularity. Circularity is more than zero waste, recycling, and even energy. The ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Bail on Balloons: Institutionalizing a Green Events Standard
- New York University (NY)
NYU hosts thousands of events each year. Whether they're massive conferences or office parties, events are integral to our community. But they notoriously result in unnecessary waste, both material ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Meeting Campus Sustainability Goals by Showcasing Them in College Sports
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette (LA)
The University of Colorado Boulder is the nation's first NCAA Div 1 sports sustainability program-and has compiled lessons learned about how to use the sports platform to elevate campus ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Successful Transitions: Guiding Student Groups Through Leadership Changes
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
As second year students ourselves, we understand that student groups are empowered to create bold impacts in higher education. They benefit from peer connections in a way that departmental or ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Partnering the university with correctional facilities for equitable education
- Butler University (IN)
College is a privilege not accessible to everyone. The structure of higher education is elitist and promotes a specific ideology in even the most liberal of schools. How can we ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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.