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
Changing Hearts: Sustainability in the Long Term
- Pepperdine University (CA)
For many, the environmental movement is a consumer fad with very little intellectual or emotional investment. Generally, sustainability is deemed a "good thing" but given low priority at both the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Towards Place-based Engagement in the University District of Portland
- Portland State University (OR)
The City of Portland's EcoDistrict Initiative is an emerging concept for modeling sustainable development within the Portland Metro region. The EcoDistricts Initiative is a multi-sectoral collaboration which seeks to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Gaian Methodologies - An Emergent Confluence of Sustainability Research Innovation
- Prescott College (AZ)
Gaian Methodologies flourish as a green and growing global research convergence. Sustainability extends beyond campus infrastructure; nature's design and organizing insights and patterns can inform research methods and guide ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnering with Local Government to Promote Sustainable Development
- Randolph College (VA)
Research partnerships between colleges and local government can be an effective way to promote sustainability at the community level. This project applied principles of conservation development to the analysis of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Promoting Sustainable Communities: The Randolph College Permaculture Program
- Randolph College (VA)
Randolph College has a thriving permaculture and organic garden program, well-integrated into the college curriculum and offering semester and summer internships. The garden includes an orchard of heirloom fruit and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Social Sustainability in Practice: Pay 30 Forward at Rio Salado
- Rio Salado College (AZ)
Rio Salado College believes that investing in volunteerism is good business. In July 2009, Rio launched Pay 30 Forward to promote social sustainability at Rio Salado. The program honors Rio ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Grí¼nen der Universití¤t: Sustainability Perceptions and Practice at a German University
- Royal Roads University (BC)
North Americans often perceive that governments, institutions and individuals in Europe have a very high degree of consciousness and action with regard to environmental protection and sustainability. This paper explores ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fostering Sustainability, Community and Service from Middle-School through Higher Education
- Saint John's University (MN)
In a collaboration between the St. John's University School of Education, the Office of Sustainability, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Grow NYC, Queens Botanic Gardens and the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Community Through Collaborative Education: Partnerships for Sustainable Design
- San Francisco State University (CA)
As educators it is critical that we recognize our obligation to take an active role in developing curriculum that engages students in understanding the issues of environmental and social sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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State Policy Influence on ACUPCC Climate Action Plans
- Stetson University (FL)
Climate change policy in the US has been highly variable, with little structure at the federal level and great variability among states. The lack of overarching national climate change policy ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fostering change agents for sustainability
- Tufts University (MA)
Graduate work on the effectiveness of a social psychology-based, experiential learning course on generating undergraduate civic leaders in sustainability behavior change is described. This presentation outlines the structure of the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Achieving Campus Sustainability through Service-Learning
- University of Alberta (AB)
How can you overcome budget cuts and staffing shortages while still achieving campus sustainability goals and empowering your student body? The University of Alberta's liberal arts campus, Augustana, has ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustaining Sustainability: Paradigms for Motivation and Collaboration
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Sustainability cannot exist outside of the context of the community or society engaging with its pursuit. It is a value, just like equity, liberty, or efficiency, that requires groups efforts ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Ralphies Green Stampede: Innovative Zero Waste Events at CU-Boulder
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
In 2008, Folsom Field became the first major sports stadium in the nation, professional or collegiate, to collect all materials in recycling or compost containers, eliminate trash cans and transform ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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From Controversy to Collaboration: Case Studies for Environmental Community Engagement
- University of Connecticut (CT)
Campus sustainability professionals are well positioned to lead public engagement and environmental community relations efforts for their college or university. One obvious reason is that environmental impacts from the institution ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Role and Responsibility of Higher Education in "The Great Turning"
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (MA)
In the face of Peak Oil and Climate Change, many communities are initiating systemic change, some of them using Transition Town or Eco-Community models. Others are just beginning to awaken ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Strengthening community through partnerships around local food and sustainability
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
Strong communities are places where people depend upon each other and work together for the common good, where all community members are appreciated and supported (particularly the poor and underprivileged ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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How to engage people in behavioural change for sustainable development
- University of Ottawa (ON)
The University of Ottawa, Canada, has been advancing sustainable development through its communications and outreach strategies. Considering the budget, and the problem faced by any institutions of its size, the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Campus Partnerships for Successful Behavior Change Campaigns
- University of Utah (UT)
Campus sustainability initiatives often hinge on influencing other people to change their behavior towards more pro-environmental actions. A growing body of social science research demonstrates that to achieve significant progress ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Are College Students Representatives for Future Generations?
- University of Virginia (VA)
The Brundtland Conference Definition of Sustainability: "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Many ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Art + Environmental Design: Collaborations through Research Service Learning
- University of Virginia (VA)
Art and environmental design should be powerful and integral aspects of sustainability education, though they are often excluded from comprehensive discussions that include science, technology, economics, society and politics. Successful ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Safety and Sustainability through Student-Contracted Mass Transit
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
In 2008, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh student governance body, the Oshkosh Student Association (OSA), created a contracted mass transit service. "Titan Transit" extended the current city service from 6pm ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Pushing energy sustainability through innovative partnerships
- University of Wyoming (WY)
We will share the challenges and rewards of working toward energy sustainability through an innovative partnership. In April 2010, we began working with the Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project (JHESP ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Service-Learning in the Classroom
- Ursinus College (PA)
One pedagogical method of integrating sustainability into the classroom is through service-learning. A service-learning partnership was created between an upper-level environmental studies climate change class at Ursinus College (UC) and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Heifer International's Alternative Spring Break: Experiential Immersion Course
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Heifer International (HI) facilitates an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) in Perryville, Arkansas, teaching individuals across the country about the organization's mission to "work with communities to end hunger and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Redefining the possible: Community engagement, operational congruency and curriculum integration at York University
- York University
York University, one of Canada's largest post-secondary institutions, is set in a rapidly changing region of urban Toronto. York has a deep commitment to social justice and environmental sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Sustainability & Community in a Student-Led, Service-Learning Environment
- Truman State University (MO)
Often, there is a perceived divide between a campus and the greater community and an actual divide between university practices and sustainable ones. We seek to break down both barriers ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Innovative Programs from UNC's Center for Sustainable Enterprise
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
UNC's Center for Sustainable Enterprise at the Kenan-Flagler School of Business has developed two innovative sustainability programs: 1) CSE Consulting is a one of a kind, award-winning program that ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Role of Higher Education in the Climate Policy Debate
- The Student PIRGs (OR)
Comprehensive climate policies have already passed in California and New Jersey. A dozen other states are currently debating similar policies. Congress will likely adopt some kind of climate policy in ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Two Paths to Integration: Developing Formal and Informal Networks for Campus Sustainability
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- University of Florida (FL)
The University of Florida and Arizona State University both enjoy grassroots support and top level leadership for sustainability. With 50 and 60 thousand students respectively, the development of a sustainable ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Collaborations Leading to Campus Sustainability: Bridgewater State University Center for Sustainability
- Bridgewater State University (MA)
The Center for Sustainability at Bridgewater State University (BSC) fosters the study and application of sustainable practices both on campus and throughout the region. The Center was developed as a ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Illinois Community College Sustainability Network
- Kankakee Community College (IL)
The estimated 9.6 million Illinois residents over the age of 18 will directly benefit from an organized effort led by community colleges to learn about, and be encouraged to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Agriculture on a Community College Campus
- College of DuPage (IL)
This presentation discusses work at a community college in Chicago's western suburbs, where we combine the interdisciplinary (English and Biology) academic study of food and agriculture with hands-on experience ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Framing Sustainability using a Range of "Traditionally Conservative" approaches
- Auburn University (AL)
Given the relatively short time frame needed to gather support for sustainability and pressing concerns such as climate change, rapid buy-in from many sectors of society is needed, not just ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Societies
- Environic Foundation International, Inc. (MD)
Developing Education for Sustainable Development that includes a balanced examination of social, economic and environmental issues is a challenge. The Environic Foundation International (EFI), in partnership with the United Nations ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Impacting Campus & Community Sustainablility Initiatives Through the Scholarship of Engagement
- Florida State University (FL)
Higher education plays a pivotal role to ensure the world in which we exist is sustainable. We nurture individuals who will live their personal and professional lives based, largely, on ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Higher Education Partnerships for Sustainability: Building Collaborative Networks
- Michigan State University (MI)
- Oakland Community College (MI)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- Yale University (CT)
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
Many of the challenges campuses face in becoming more sustainable are systemic - the ability to purchase renewable energy, opportunities to finance major infrastructure upgrades, and mandatory construction and purchasing policies ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Appropedia and Sustainable Development for Improved Service Learning
- Queen's University
By labeling this the "Decade of Education for Sustainable Development" (2005-2014), the United Nations, representing the global community, has emphasized both the urgent need to promote sustainable development and the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Boldly Sustainable: Developing a Town-Gown Climate Action Plan in Ithaca, NY
- Cornell University (NY)
- Ithaca College (NY)
- Second Nature (MA)
- Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (WI)
- Performance Systems Development (NY)
The success of the ACUPCC depends to a large extent on whether higher education institutions can not only move forward on their own campuses, but also build support for greenhouse ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Working Beyond the Campus with Government to Promote Sustainability
- Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
Eastern Connecticut State University's Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) exemplifies the expanding role of Sustainability Research Centers as it leverages the impartial academic discipline of the University to promote ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Sustainability Films in a General Education Science Course
- Furman University (SC)
Making students aware of and peaking their interests in campus environmental and sustainability initiatives can be difficult, given students wide range of interests and competing demands for their time. I ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability in Education Abroad
- Keene State College (NH)
- Living Routes, Inc. (MA)
- CIEE (ME)
International Education exposes students to the world. It also exposes the world to the environmental, economic, and social impacts of travel and program activities. Program decisions about transportation, accommodations, food ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Together, We Can Do More: Examples of Campus-Community Sustainability Partnership in NH's Monadnock Region
- Antioch University, New England (NH)
- Keene State College (NH)
- City of Keene (NH)
Achieving community sustainability requires striking a balance between social, environmental, and economic costs and benefits. Because no one entity or sector can achieve solutions on its own, sustainability requires collaboration ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Education in the Developing World
- Oakland Community College (MI)
- University of Vermont (VT)
- SolarQuest (VT)
Of the more than 3 billion people currently living in the world's urban areas, over 2 billion are in less-developed regions. By 2015, these regions will include an estimated ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Chico and Butte: Working Together for Sustainability On Campus and Beyond
- Butte College (CA)
- California State University, Chico (CA)
Butte Community College and California State University, Chico have embraced the concept of sustainable development as part of their individual strategic plans, and as a way of connecting to and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnering for Sustainable Transportation in Greensboro, NC
- Martin-Alexiou-Bryson PLLC (NC)
- City of Greensboro (NC)
Fall 2006 marked the beginning of Higher Education Area Transit (HEAT) service in Greensboro, NC. Initiated by the Greensboro Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (GUAMPO) and the Greensboro Transit Authority ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Lighten Up Caroline - A Community Project For Energy Efficiency
- Cornell University (NY)
- Town of Caroline (NY)
On Saturday, April 19th, 2008, approximately 90 volunteers distributed one compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL) in a reusable bag containing information about household energy conservation and CFL use and recycling to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Can Higher Education Change Regional Culture? How Pittsburgh's Universities are Leading a Transition Toward Sustainability
- Duquesne University (PA)
- EvolveEA (PA)
This presentation looks to (1) juxtapose potential approaches to engaging in university sustainability planning and implementation in two local urban case studies, (2) describe emerging opportunities for increased inter-university best ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Case Study in Partnership and Collaboration: The Home Depot Smart Home at Duke University
- Duke University (NC)
- SmithGroup (MI)
The presentation will focus on the Home Depot Smart Home as a case study of the integration and collaboration of an Institution's administration, faculty, students, and the design team ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Walking the Talk Together: Queen's University's Sustainability Collaboration Model
- Queen's University
Sustainability and collaboration are among today's popular buzz words. However, rigid organizational lines, resource challenges, and a fast-paced environment severely constrain well-intended efforts. There is no shortage of great ...
- 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.