Case Studies

Introduction

AASHE’s case study library contains hundreds of detailed case studies on a wide variety of higher education sustainability initiatives from faculty development programs to whole campus energy retrofits to community partnerships. All case studies are entered in the annual AASHE Awards Program.

At a Glance

880
Total Resources
472
Organizations
21
Countries
48
U.S. States & Territories
7
Canadian Provinces

Bars in graphs can be clicked to view resources that align with a particular category. Because a resource may be listed under multiple topics and disciplines, graph data may include higher total counts than what is indicated in total resources above.

880 resources

Seattle University’s Decision to Divest from Fossil Fuels

  • Seattle University (WA)

One of Seattle University’s largest accomplishments in sustainability leadership has been the university’s recent decision to divest from fossil fuels. In September 2018, after six arduous years of ...


University of Pittsburgh Student Office of Sustainability

  • University of Pittsburgh (PA)

The student office of sustainability was created in 2015, before the university of Pittsbugh had a campus wide sustainability office, which opened in 2018. Not only was the student office ...


UMCycle Bike Kiosk and Cycle Plaza

  • University of Manitoba (MB)

The UMCycle Bike Kiosk offers a four-season community bike shop where University students, faculty, staff and surrounding community can come together to get their bikes serviced; connect with other cycle ...


The Carleton Utility Master Plan: Transitioning a 100-year Legacy of Campus Steam to 21st Century Geothermal

  • Carleton College (MN)

The last time Carleton College made a major shift in its campus utilities was over 100 years ago with construction of the central plant in 1910. Before that, each building ...


Making the Most of Meals

  • Harvard University (MA)

Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) established a food donation program in 2014, which includes bulk donation of nutritious foods from residential dining buffets (approximately 27,000 pounds in 2017), as ...


Carpool Program

  • Santa Rosa Junior College (CA)

This carpool program was created to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce traffic and single-occupancy driving, and increase parking availability in our overcrowded parking lots on campus. A pilot program was ...


Student Engagement in Sustainability at Northern Illinois University

  • Northern Illinois University (IL)

The Environmental Studies department and student community at Northern Illinois University have been engaged in a variety of sustainability initiatives. However, even with this focus on sustainability NIU does not ...


Styrofoam Densifying and Waste Diversion

  • Georgia State University (GA)

Styrofoam, one of the most unwieldy and uncooperative forms of waste, came to the forefront of Georgia State University’s sustainability concerns upon evaluating its large volume in the University ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

How Can Wolves & Ag Co-Exist? (Earth Day Event)

  • Feather River College (CA)

Feather River College's Sustainability Action Team hosts a Spring Sustainability Series. This year it culminated with an event called "How Can Wolves and Ag Co-Exist" in partnership with the ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Tarrant County College Southeast Campus Aquaponics Cultivation Center and Wildlife Development

  • Tarrant County College Southeast (TX)

This is a massive, on-going project that we have been developing as a committee over the past 2 years. Right now, I am in the process of developing 2 miles ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

UW-Madison Reusable To Go Containers- Ticket to Take Out!

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

Beginning in Fall 2018, all University Housing Dining Markets moved exclusively to a reusable to-go container program for all carry-out food. The goal of this program, named Ticket to Take ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Growing Sustainable Communities Together Through Leadership in Higher Education

  • Governors State University (IL)
  • Joliet Junior College (IL)
  • Lewis University (IL)
  • Moraine Valley Community College (IL)
  • Prairie State College (IL)
  • University of St. Francis (IL)

The South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (SMHEC) is a unique partnership of 10 higher education institutions in the south metropolitan area of Chicago extending west to Joliet, south to Kankakee ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Connecting Academic and Administrative Units through Sustainability Professional Development

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)

The Sustainability Certificate program was developed in 2017-18 to foster meaningful dialog and empower leadership in sustainability among campus employees. The program connects a diversity of departments and initiatives engaged ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Zero Waste Program

  • University of Southern California (CA)

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has influenced generations across the world through events such as the Olympics, World Series, and Super Bowls as well as community events like papal and ...

  • Posted March 15, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Greening to campus Landscape

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

Convert the campus landscape maintenance equipment from gas electric

  • Posted March 6, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Harvard's Challenge: Institutional Green Power

  • Harvard University (MA)

This case study examines the options that Harvard University has for complying with one aspect of its Climate Action Plan, which was announced in February 2018. It specifically focuses on ...

  • Posted March 1, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Regional Centers of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development

  • University of Texas at Arlington (TX)
  • University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (TX)
  • The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)
  • Dallas College (TX)

Why UT Arlington Deserves the Excellence in Sustainability Award

Under the leadership of Office of Sustainability at the University of Texas at Arlington, North Texas was recognized on Feb 7 ...

  • Posted March 1, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

PCC, Sustain Me! A Higher Education Sustainability & Environmental Justice Podcast

  • Portland Community College (OR)

This has been an ongoing project that has blossomed from a local/regional production and has now been promoted, recognized, listened to, and presentations have been given nationally and internationally ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2019
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Sustainability Competition and Interactive Map

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

This project was developed to accomplish grant deliverables focusing on campus education surrounding sustainability initiatives and upgrades to Illinois electrical infrastructure. The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Office of ...

  • Posted Dec. 11, 2018
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Global academic conferencing: A semi-virtual approach

  • University of Graz

Scholars and their institutions contribute significantly to global warming by flying to conferences. An intercontinental return flight in economy class can be compared with burning a ton of fossil carbon ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2018
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Water Audit: Campus Housing Residence Halls Restrooms

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

This project was set to evaluate the student residence restrooms of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) East and West campuses and to provide viable solutions to any problems ...

  • Posted Aug. 29, 2018
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Carbon Neutral Campus: Solar Research

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

This project was set out to analyze two UIC buildings, the Student Services Building and the Pharmacognosy Field Station, in order to determine their potential for solar energy along with ...

  • Posted Aug. 10, 2018
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Food Recovery At UIC

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

At the University of Illinois at Chicago's (UIC) dining facilities, there is much food that is prepared but not eaten. It goes to the landfill, but it could be ...

  • Posted Aug. 10, 2018
  • Case Studies
  • View more

UIC Campus Bike Rack Inventory

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

In the summer of 2018, this project was undertaken to inventory all bike racks at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Knowing for certain the capacities and locations of the ...

  • Posted Aug. 10, 2018
  • Case Studies
  • View more

University of Vermont Eco-Reps Greenride Bikeshare Campaign Case Study

  • University of Vermont (VT)

In early April of 2018, Burlington, Vermont, and the University of Vermont campus welcomed Greenride, a pilot regional bikeshare. Though long in the works, there was little student awareness of ...

  • Posted June 28, 2018
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Initiating STARS at Soka University of America

  • Soka University of America (CA)

In the Spring of 2016, our group of four Sustainability Committee student representatives came together and decided that our primary goal was to succeed in getting our university’s first ...


Walking the Talk: Applying Fair Trade Learning Principles to Alternative Breaks

  • Oregon State University (OR)

Alternative Breaks at Oregon State University: We integrate sustainability education and leadership via fair trade learning into our community-engaged learning/service-learning program.

Break away from apathy. Break away from the ...


Project Delta

  • University of Texas at El Paso (TX)
  • Engineers for a Sustainable World (CO)

Project Delta was created by ESW-UTEP to evaluate and enhance The University of Texas at El Paso's (UTEP's) current recycling system. This project is expected to be finalized ...


Creating a Composting Culture at Colorado State University

  • Colorado State University (CO)

As Colorado State University (CSU) students, many of us were drawn to this school because of its unique ability to institutionalize sustainability. However, during our time here, we have often ...


Project Juarez

  • University of Texas at El Paso (TX)
  • Engineers for a Sustainable World (CO)

When our phones are no longer aesthetically pleasing, we tend to either disregard or throw away our phones. The question is why? Essentially, we are throwing away a small computer ...


The Catastrophic Meal--Exploring the Food Systems and Cultures of the Future

  • Vestjyllands Højskole

Vestjyllands Højskole hosted The Catastrophic Meal to demonstrate both a utopian and dystopian view of future food culture. As part of the EU's Aarhus City of Culture celebrations, the ...


University of Northern Colorado Student Leadership for Environmental Action Fund (Student LEAF)

  • University of Northern Colorado (CO)

Student LEAF is a student driven environmental action fund run by a committee of 7 students advised by one faculty and one facilities staff member.

The mission of Student LEAF ...


University of Memphis - Green Fee

  • University of Memphis (TN)

The Sustainability Fee, commonly known as the Green Fee, at the University of Memphis, was initiated by students and launched in 2007. The purpose of the fee is to support ...


MEND

  • Princeton University (NJ)

This semester, Princeton's EcoReps launched “Mend Monday,” a bi-weekly clothing repair initiative in Frist Campus Center. Cecilia Shang '18 and Nico Viglucci '17, the group's organizers, believe that ...


Princeton Student Climate Initiative

  • Princeton University (NJ)

On the Friday night after midterms week, seven Princeton undergraduates gathered in the Pace Center for Civic Engagement to talk climate change legislation. Decked in hoodies, sweats, and mismatched socks ...


Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) at UC Berkeley

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

SERC is a collaborative space to strengthen the collective effectiveness of the sustainability community, and provides resources for students to actualize their vision of a more equitable, socially just, and ...


Sustainability Strategic Planning

  • University of California, Merced (CA)

The University of California Merced (UC Merced) within the next five years will undergo significant infrastructure expansion to accommodate student, faculty and staff growth. The acceleration of the university’s ...


Francis Feast and Learn: Sustainability Teach-In and Local Foods Dinner

  • Loyola University Maryland (MD)

The Francis Feast and Learn is a sustainability teach-in and locally sourced meal, inspired by the life’s work of St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si ...


Ditch the Disposables

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA)

Ditch the Disposables is a WPI student-run campaign that was started in 2016 to reduce single-use plastic items at WPI. The project began with a reusable container program in the ...


R.W. Kern Center- A Living Building

  • Hampshire College (MA)

Located at the heart of Hampshire College campus, the R.W. Kern Center is a multi-purpose facility that embodies the highest threshold of forward-thinking sustainable design: generating its own energy ...


A Joint Student/Staff Eco-Reps Program Led by Students: Swarthmore’s Green Advisors

  • Swarthmore College (PA)

The Green Advisors (GAs) are a growing student group that works to encourage sustainable lifestyles among all Swarthmore community members. The GAs facilitate environmentally-friendly behaviors in the residence halls, oversee ...


Campus Mapping Project

  • Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)

Florida Gulf Coast University is located on over 300 acres of wetland and upland preserves. Our unique location has led to the values of environmental stewardship, literacy, and service to ...


Plastic Entanglements: Ecology, Aesthetics, Materials

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

The exhibition, PLASTIC ENTANGLEMENTS: Ecology, Aesthetics, Materials was on view at Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art from February 13, 2018 to June 17, 2018 with additional commissioned and ...


University of California Irvine's PUMP2PLUG Electric Vehicle Adoption Program

  • University of California, Irvine (CA)

The UCI Pump2Plug Electric Vehicle (EV) Adoption Program is widely recognized as the first university incentive program for EV adoption through the replacement of gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles. With ...


Sustainable Choices

  • Chandler-Gilbert Community College (AZ)

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) is a fast growing community college in a suburb of the Phoenix Metro area. As one of ten colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District ...


American University Achieved Carbon Neutrality Two Years Ahead of 2020 Target

  • American University (DC)

In 2018, American University became the first university, first research university, and first urban higher education campus to achieve carbon neutrality. This major goal was reached two years ahead of ...


Making Climate Commitments into Climate Action

  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)

The Climate Action Implementation Plan (CAIP) is the sustainability action plan for the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The UIC Climate Commitments, announced in April 2016, form the basis ...


Loyola University Chicago Biodiesel Program

  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)

The Biodiesel Program, part of the Searle Center for Sustainability Innovations in Loyola’s Institute of Environmental Sustainability, saw its humble beginnings grow from an ingenious student idea to one ...


Paperbark Literary Magazine

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)

Paperbark Literary Magazine is an interdisciplinary journal of creativity and sustainability publishing art, writing, photography, poetry, science journalism, interviews, and other creative content both in print and online at paperbarkmag ...


Portland State University: Driving Rigorous Sustainability through Top-Level Policies

  • Portland State University (OR)

Portland State University (PSU), situated in the University District of downtown Portland, Oregon, is the only public urban university in the state located in a major metropolitan city. A recognized ...