Wellbeing & Work
Introduction
An institution’s people define its character and capacity to perform; and so, an institution’s achievements can only be as strong as its community. An institution can bolster the strength of its community by offering benefits, wages, and other assistance that serve to respectfully and ethically compensate workers and by acting to protect and positively affect the health, safety and wellbeing of the campus community.
Featured Resources
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Sustainability & Measuring Happiness
- University of Calgary (AB)
There is global recognition for the need to champion better indicators of social well-being. The United Nations resolution, 'Happiness: towards a holistic approach to development', recognized that, “...the pursuit of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Task Force Transforms Sustainable Strategies and Implementation For a Bicycle Friendly Campus
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
A severe debt-service, a campus culture of parking pressures and contention, and a parking committee stagnated by budget pressures, all lead to the inaction on alternative transportation measures. Sustainability in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Aggie Blue Bikes; How AmeriCorps Grants Can Bring Bicycle Lending to Your Campus
- Utah State University (UT)
Aggie Blue Bikes (ABB) is Utah State University’s (USU) premier bicycle lending, education and advocacy program; its mission is to get more people on more bikes, more often. Throughout this …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Demystifying Bike Share: Explaining Current Systems, Options and Implementation Strategies
- Western Michigan University (MI)
Universities, colleges, cities, and towns have been looking to bike share systems to encourage ridership and to reduce the barriers to entry for bicycle transportation. Currently the system options in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Preventing Burnout in an Age of Permanent Crisis
- New York University (NY)
"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." -Audre Lorde
As we care for ourselves, we become more effective activists and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Equity, Well-Being, and the Environment: Building New Programmatic Bridges
- Cornell University (NY)
- Washington State University, Pullman (WA)
Healthy people working together across differences are critical to building a sustainable campus and community. Today there are new approaches on our campuses that simultaneously enhance the well-being and equity …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Campus as a Training Ground for Careers in Sustainability
- Duke University (NC)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
- Wake Forest University (NC)
In keeping with the theme of the conference, representatives from three universities (two private research universities and one land grant university) will present practiced and proven models for training students …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Breaking into the Sustainability and Higher Education Profession
- Northwestern University (IL)
After speaking with numerous sustainability coordinators and directors, it has become clear that this emerging field brings in creative, hardworking, and versatile professionals from varying backgrounds. This is both exciting …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Combining Sustainability and Environmental Health and Safety Offices
- New Mexico State University, Grants (NM)
Environmental Health and Safety Office is the perfect department for Office of Sustainability to partner with. Cross campus collaboration in Facilities and Services is a natural fit for these two …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Green League: An Innovative Tool for Employee Learning & Engagement
- Michigan State University (MI)
This presentation will discuss the criteria and outcomes of a web-based game designed to engage foster a deeper understanding of sustainability for non-credit faculty and staff who are volunteer "environmental …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
IGEN Career Pathways: Building Partnerships to Prepare Learners for High-Skill and High-Demand Green Jobs
- College of Lake County (IL)
- Heartland Community College (IL)
Discover how the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) Career Pathways Initiative, a collaboration of 17 Illinois community colleges, will develop, share and implement more than 30 online-hybrid associate degrees and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Achieving Sustainability Through Happiness
- University of Michigan (MI)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that, "We need a new economic paradigm that recognizes the parity between the three pillars of sustainable development. Social, economic and environmental well-being are …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Role of Food Service Workers in Campus Sustainability Programs
- Occidental College (CA)
- UNITE HERE (DC)
Higher education institutions are at the forefront of a movement to reform the food system by promoting sustainable practices at campus cafeterias and dining services.
Yet the central role of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability Officers 1.0 to 2.0 Toolkit: Strategic and Sane Workload Management of People, Projects, and Programs on Your Campus
- Baylor University (TX)
- Duke University (NC)
- Santa Clara University (CA)
- University of Vermont (VT)
Sustainability staff are involved in many initiatives at a time, and often these are run in collaboration with multiple stakeholders. The Sustainability Office version 1.0 consisted of one staffer--it was …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
What if People Really Mattered? Designing a Socially Sustainable Workplace
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
- Kent State University (OH)
- Maharishi University of Management (IA)
- The Social Design Group (OH)
Workers and workplace systems have been viewed and treated as having instrumental value for organizations to date, rather than given recognition of the full measure of their intrinsic value. Most …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Preparing Students for the 21st century Green Workforce
- American Association of Community Colleges (DC)
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
- AASHE (MA)
Hosted by American Association of Community Colleges and AASHE, this workshop will highlight best practices, innovative partnerships and collaborative successes preparing community college students to build a green and sustainable …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability Officers Workshop: Leveraging Leadership for Campus Sustainability - Breakout Session 1
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
- Environmental Leadership Program (MD)
This workshop will focus on strengths-based leadership and systems thinking for the sustainability professional. Participants will map your own personal and professional strengths while considering how those strengths can move …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Mentoring Student Workers to Increase the Potential for Advancing Sustainability
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Traditional mentorship models, similar to traditional internship models, often feature a top-down relationship with knowledge flowing in one direction. In this model a power structure is established that can make …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Embedding Sustainability Into the Collegiate Recreation Culture: the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association's Journey Forward
- Oregon State University (OR)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Sonoma State University (CA)
- NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation (OR)
Within the past year, embedding sustainability throughout the collegiate recreation culture has emerged as a strategic initiative with the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). NIRSA is the leading resource …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A World Café on the professional challenges of working at the intersections of equity, environment, and economy
- Cornell University (NY)
- Yale University (CT)
- McGill University (QC)
At the AASHE 2010 Conference, Julian Agyeman urged the audience to begin an important conversation about "Just Sustainability" on our campuses. He made a compelling case for the need to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Collaborating with Campus Recreation Departments: How Students and Sustainability Directors Can Engage Campus Recreation in Sustainability Efforts
- Oregon State University (OR)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Sonoma State University (CA)
- Washington State University, Pullman (WA)
Campus recreation departments and student recreation centers have become one of the largest hubs for student activities on campuses in recent years. In addition to often serving 50-90% of the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability Internship Programs: Strategies for Creating and Managing Successful Programs
- Connecticut College (CT)
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
- University of Arkansas (AR)
Sustainability Internship Programs (SIPs) foster unique opportunities to integrate rigorous academic experiences in campus operations, engage operational staff in the academic mission, enhance the capacity of campus sustainability staff, and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Influencing the Culture of Sustainability through Campus Recreation Programs and Services Across North America
- Oregon State University (OR)
- Sonoma State University (CA)
Sustainability is rapidly becoming an established factor in the construction and operation of recreational facilities on campuses everywhere. Whether implemented in the design and construction of new recreation centers or …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Powered By Sweat: Engaging Athletes and Campus Recreation in Meaningful, Incremental Steps
- Santa Clara University (CA)
Our campus does not have workout machines that generate electricity or charge an iPod. This presentation will explain why we're OK with that, and how we went beyond the "green" …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Hiring a Sustainability Professional in Residence Life: How One Campus Made it Happen
- University of Arizona (AZ)
This innovative Residence Life department hired a full-time Sustainability Education Coordinator in 2007. After taking five years to understand the intricacies and possibilities of the position, this department would like …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Changing Your Paradigm - Choose With Purpose and Create Inclusive, Sustainable Environments
- Portland State University (OR)
- Washington State University, Pullman (WA)
As one of the largest classrooms on campus, recreation centers have an impact on our environmental and social sustainability. By using three real-world case studies of significant purchasing choices, this …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Transitioning To Impact: From Classrooms To Careers In Sustainability
- Davidson College (NC)
This presentation introduces Davidson College's new Sustainability Scholars program and examines how it successfully transitions students from the classroom into sustainability careers. Sustainability Scholars are undergraduate students who address critical …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Re-envisioning Our Physical World to Fit Our Community's Needs Through the Use of Human Movement
- Delta College (MI)
Human movement can teach us about our physical world and present options for using our environment to fill our needs for teaching, learning, working, and engaging with our community. How …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building Green Bridges: Sustainability Career Paths for Students in Higher Education
- Green Training Associates LLC
Students seeking sustainability careers need supporting processes, tools and resources to enable them to follow appropriate educational paths and prepare them with the competencies, qualifications and relevant degrees/certificates to meet …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building Green Bridges: Sustainability Career Solutions
- Green Training Associates LLC
The poster represents the approach taken by the Sustainability Career Paths Initiative of New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS) headed by Pam Sammarco, Green Training Associates, LLC and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Body-Based Experiential Change for Cultural Sustainability
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
This workshop is based on the understanding that earth, human bodies, & societies are living, breathing systems that influence each other. The sustainability movement so far has focused primarily on …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Meditation for Green Practitioners
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
Our work, as stewards and advocates, taps a wide spectrum of mental and emotional energy. We use all available means to accomplish our goals, and must constantly devise new methods …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Animal Free Dining: The University of North Texas' Success with an All Vegan Dining Hall
- University of North Texas (TX)
The presentation will focus on the essential tools needed to integrate animal free diet options into campus dining services. Topics will include partnerships between dining services and sustainability programs, the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Green Experience to Green Career
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
We have all had that amazing student who has worked so hard for their university on sustainable programming. Now, that student is a senior about to graduate into an economy …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Fostering a Local Food Procurement System: UVa Dining's Relationship with the Local Food Hub
- University of Virginia (VA)
Interest in local and sustainably produced food is at an all-time high on college campuses, as illustrated by the rising number of campus gardens and courses on local foodsheds. The …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Optimism and Inspiration in Sustainability Education
- Empire State College (NY)
With all the depressing news on various local, national, and global problems how can we connect with students, as well as others on campus, around these issues without turning them …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Sustainability Officers Communications and Project Management Toolkit- Organizational Tips for Long-Term Sanity
- University of Vermont (VT)
Do you feel like you have a million projects going on at your campus? Are you having a difficult time keeping track of and managing these projects? This briefing will …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Integrating Education for Sustainability into Sport and Recreation Management
- Victoria University (Victoria)
The baseline of successful Education for Sustainability (EfS) in Higher Education is the integration into subjects and courses learning and teaching that will provide students with the knowledge, skills and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Power and the Art of Weaving Sustainability into New Employee Orientation
- University of Louisville (KY)
Many of us are passionate about campus sustainability because we understand that important lessons are learned not only in classrooms, but in everyday surroundings and the broader campus culture. Students …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Training Needs of University Sustainability Managers
- Kent State University (OH)
As colleges and universities continue to increase their engagement with sustainability, questions arise concerning the hiring requirements and professional support for the jobs of Sustainability Managers and Sustainability Coordinators. This …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building Pathways to Green Careers: Transforming Campus Service Learning into Green Workforce Training
- Alliance to Save Energy (CA)
The demand for a highly skilled workforce in the energy sector and green industries is rapidly growing as the nation moves towards a greener economy. Students involved in our multi-campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Community Colleges, National Resources and You
- American Association of Community Colleges (DC)
Community colleges are taking the lead in creating a workforce necessary to build a robust green and sustainable economy. Learn about some of the challenges two-year colleges are facing and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Integrating Sustainability Principles in Human Resource Operations
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." In that spirit, Human Resource Services and the Office of Sustainability set …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainable Design and Technology for Health and Fitness Centers
- Community College of Allegheny County (PA)
The Health and Wellness profession has experienced profound changes in how facilities remain energy efficient and sustainable. This presentation will review the basic procedures for creating environmentally enriching facilities that …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Growing community: healthcare sustainability in higher education
- Georgetown University (DC)
Higher education is evolving to include healthcare sustainability training. At its core, sustainability is a natural component of healthcare. Sustainability supports the basic healthcare mission to provide safe, quality, compassionate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Problem-based, innovative teaching strategies for preparing high performance building technicians for sustainable jobs
- Laney College (CA)
HVAC technicians and building operators present high-wage, high-demand occupations that are traditionally overlooked in the sustainability education context. Yet, building technicians play an increasingly important role in the sustainable operations …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Meaningful Advocacy in the Age of Permanent Crisis: Strategies for Preventing Burnout and Creating Sustainable Change
- New York University (NY)
This dynamic workshop aims to explore the "binary star system" represented by a pair of interrelated challenges that confront all leaders and advocates working to advance sustainability in higher education: …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
PSU Community Environmental Services: Case Study of Dynamic Partnership Training Resource Conservation Managers
- Portland State University (OR)
This poster presentation will provide an illustration of a dynamic partnership between a university and its community will inspire organizations to test the limits of robustness in forming partnerships that …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Pathways to Wholeness: The Regenerative Capacity of the Planet and Resiliency of the Human Spirit
- Prescott College (AZ)
This paper explores environmental literacy, defined in this paper as the relationship that human beings have to their surroundings. It examines questions about how one perceives his, or her, relationship …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Path to Energy Independence: Green Workforce Development on the Most Remote Islands in the World
- University of Hawaii Maui College (HI)
The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) calls for 70% energy independence in the State of Hawaii by 2030. A recent Hawaii Green Workforce Development Report claimed that the future is …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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.
PA 12: Employee Compensation
- Local living wage for a family of 4
- Percent of employees that receive a living wage
- Living wage policy or commitment
- Website URL - Employee compensation
PA 13: Assessing Employee Satisfaction
- Methodology for evaluating employee satisfaction and engagement
- Website URL - Assessing employee satisfaction
PA 14: Wellness program
- Description of the institution’s wellness program
- Smoke-free policy (upload)
- Smoke-free policy (description)
- Website URL - Wellness programs
PA 14: Workplace Health & Safety
- Annual number of employee work-related injury incidents per 100 FTE employees
- Website URL - Workplace health and safety
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.