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
Total Resources
Organizations
Countries
U.S. States & Territories
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.
New Resources
Recycling plastic bottle initiative at the University of Sharjah, College of Medicine
- University of Sharjah (Sharjah)
The aim of this project was to raise awareness about recycling plastic bottles due to the increased use of plastic bottles - and subsequently, the amount of discarded plastic bottles …
- Posted June 6, 2025
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Implementing Recycling-Friendly Infrastructure in Residence Halls
- University of Dayton (OH)
This project was developed as part of the University of Dayton’s Hanley Sustainability Institute Summer Undergraduate Fellowship program and Student Leaders program. HSI was established in 2014 by a gift …
- Posted April 28, 2025
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University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute: Energy Assessment Bootcamp
- University of Dayton (OH)
Energy may oftentimes be an intimidating topic for those who are not directly immersed in the field. In reality, energy is not always as complex as it seems, and when …
- Posted April 28, 2025
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Considering the Accessibility of Compostable Straws
- Williams College (MA)
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
While plastic straws have drawn attention in the past few years as having negative environmental impacts, organizations looking to make progress at the intersection of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and …
- Posted Feb. 14, 2025
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B.Y.O. Campaign and Romeoville Repair Cafe: Reducing Waste by Promoting a Circular Economy through Single Use Waste Reduction and Product Repair
- Joliet Junior College (IL)
American throwaway culture is rapidly expanding garbage landfill around the world; majorly, it’s caused by planned or perceived obsolesces and daily disposables. Many people unknowingly throw away items that could …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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So Local It Has an Accent: Vanderbilt University Campus Dining’s Local Suppliers Program
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
Vanderbilt University Campus Dining has long been a major advocate for increasing its local supplier purchasing. Officially beginning in 2010, VU Campus Dining has held partnerships with a wide variety …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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Case Study Title: Drexel University Organic Land Care
- Drexel University (PA)
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
In 2022, students at Drexel launched a bold campaign advocating for organic land care on their campus. After countless meetings with campus staff, their hard work paid off. In 2023, …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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University of Wisconsin- Madison Organic Land Management Pilot Project
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
In the fall of 2022, students at UW-Madison were selected to participate in the Re:wild Your Campus Fellowship, and began advocating for an end to the use of synthetic pesticides …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Holistic Inclusive Education On Climate Change
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
The American College of Greece (ACG) is committed to advancing climate action and sustainability through an inclusive, multi-faceted approach to education. Under the umbrella of Holistic Inclusive Education on Climate …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Sparking Student Engagement with Sustainability
- McGill University (QC)
The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) Ambassador Program is an academic year-long volunteering opportunity for students to promote the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) and encourage the development of new sustainability projects …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Resilient Climate Leaders: Redefining Sustainability Programming to Meet the Needs of Students Today
- Tufts University (MA)
In the early 2020’s with the onset of the pandemic and accelerating impacts of the climate emergency, students in Tufts University’s sustainability programs began asking for ways to more effectively …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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ACG’s Commitment to Reducing Food Waste On Campus and the Broader Community
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
ACG is dedicated to reducing food waste both on campus and in the broader community through ongoing volunteer initiatives, awareness-raising events, and relevant research.
Since November 2018, The American College …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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The ACG Sustainability Leaders Student Organization
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
The ACG Sustainability Leaders student organization is consistently making an impact both on and off the ACG campus through a variety of sustainability-related activities, including community contribution initiatives.
Established in …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Leading the Fight Against Food Waste and Insecurity: Food Recovery Heroes at the University of Pittsburgh
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
The University of Pittsburgh’s Food Recovery Heroes student organization has been recovering and donating surplus food from campus dining facilities and local restaurants since 2014. Over the years, the organization …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Leading the way: Developing a new approach to sustainability education for the college sector
- Mohawk College (ON)
- Students Organising For Sustainability (SOS-UK)
Mohawk College has a track record of innovation and leadership in the college sector in Canada and globally. Over the past two years they have led the way in developing …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Zero Waste Football
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
When the gates opened for the 2019 football season, Chanticleer fans were introduced to a brand-new game day experience inside Brooks Stadium at Coastal Carolina University. In addition to 11,000 …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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The 10-Year Challenge (IE University)
- Instituto de Empresa SL
The 10-Year Challenge is a transformative initiative launched by the IE University Sustainability Office in 2020. Its primary aim is to address sustainability challenges annually by focusing on a specific …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Sustainability Vision 2036: an Inclusive Process for Strategic Planning
- Emory University (GA)
Since Emory adopted sustainability as a guiding principle in its 2005 Strategic Plan, the enterprise has published two Sustainability Vision and Strategic Plans. These documents have guided Emory through two …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Sorting it Out: A People-Centered Perspective on a Stadium Zero Waste Program
- University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)
In 2022, the Office of Sustainability at UNC Charlotte took responsibility for an existing football stadium zero waste program. This shift in leadership, along with other changes to equipment, supplies, …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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IE University’s Sustainability Week
- Instituto de Empresa SL
Each year, the entire IE University community comes together to celebrate one of our most impactful flagship events – the Sustainability Week. This student-led initiative is driven by a collaborative …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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CSUN’s CA Climate Action Corps Workforce Development Service Program
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
The California State University, Northridge (CSUN) CA Climate Action Corps (CCAC) program is part of California’s statewide effort to address climate change through community-focused action. Launched in 2021, the program …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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From Waste to Resource: Building a Culture of Circularity and Engagement at ISU's Share Shop
- Illinois State University (IL)
Illinois State University (ISU) has developed and successfully implemented The Share Shop, a free secondhand store located inside the Office of Sustainability. The Share Shop has had a transformative impact …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Fostering Action Through Campus-Wide Engagement: A Case Study of NYU’s 2040 Now Campaign
- New York University (NY)
This case study provides an overview of New York University’s (NYU) campus engagement campaign aimed at promoting sustainability actions. Initiated in 2023, 2040 Now brought together students, faculty, and staff …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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SUNY Student Assembly’s Sustainability Town Hall
- University at Albany (NY)
- University at Buffalo (NY)
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
- State University of New York System Office (NY)
On September 24th, 2024, I, Eden Gardner, hosted a virtual sustainability town hall on behalf of the SUNY Student Assembly, in coordination with the SUNY Office of Sustainability, and the …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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System-wide STARS completion for Tecnológico de Monterrey
- Tecnológico de Monterrey – Campus Monterrey (Nuevo Leon)
Tecnológico de Monterrey is a private, non-profit, independent institution with no political and religious affiliations. The work of Tecnológico de Monterrey and all its campuses is supported by civil associations …
- Posted Jan. 22, 2025
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Green For Good
- Nanyang Technological University
The Green For Good is the flagship initiative of Earthlink NTU, one of the largest student-led sustainability group in Singapore. Held in Nanyang Technological University Singapore, the one-month long sustainability …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2025
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Multi-modal Commute Matching to Build Community and Reduce Scope 3 Emissions
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Provide Cal State Fullerton students, faculty, and staff with a way to find each other according to commute point of origin, schedule, and travel mode in order to form carpools, …
- Posted Jan. 14, 2025
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The ASU Eco Reps Program
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Coca-Cola (GA)
The Eco Reps program is a student sustainability engagement joint initiative between Coca-Cola and University Sustainability Practices with additional funding from internal units. Spring 2025 marks the sixth semester of …
- Posted Jan. 14, 2025
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Student Education for Environmental Development (SEED)
- McGill University (QC)
Student Education for Environmental Development, or SEED, is an initiative that brings free, interactive environmental education lessons to schools in Canada and the US with a focus on underprivileged students. …
- Posted Jan. 7, 2025
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CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and Resilience 2024
- California State University, Chico (CA)
In the Spring of 2024, 210 faculty from twenty-one California State University campuses and three California Community College campuses participated in the second CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate …
- Posted Dec. 2, 2024
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UC San Diego Seventh College Synthesis Program Decarbonization Living Laboratory
- University of California, San Diego (CA)
Beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, faculty from the Seventh College Synthesis Program have partnered with staff from Operations Management and Capital Programs to develop living laboratory, project-based courses for …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2024
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BEACON® SaaS Makes Water Visible at UC Merced
- University of California, Merced (CA)
- Badger Meter (WI)
A group of staff and students form the University of California, Merced (UC Merced) in Central Valley California joined forces to dramatically cut water, energy and gas usage per student …
- Posted Jan. 10, 2024
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It’s Really Free! Patriot Packout Expands to Support George Mason University Community Members’ Basic Needs
- George Mason University (VA)
This case study focuses on George Mason University’s sustainable move-out initiative, Patriot Packout (PPO) 2023. Existing in some form (unofficial and official) since 2003, the PPO initiative was expanded in …
- Posted Dec. 7, 2023
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Aligning with Place: A case study in xeriscaping at Gonzaga University's Office of Sustainability.
- Gonzaga University (WA)
This project's goal was to xeriscape the front lawn of the Office of Sustainability, transforming it from a grass lawn into a lawn with mulch and drought-tolerant plants. The xeriscape …
- Posted July 17, 2023
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Student Led Composting in Residence Halls
- Drake University (IA)
In 2021, a student recognized the opportunity to reduce waste landfilled from residence halls. Working with Facilities, Residence Life, and Community Engaged Learning, a grant was applied for and received …
- Posted June 7, 2023
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Ohio State's Composting Expansion
- The Ohio State University (OH)
Ohio State’s Compost Program Expansion led by Facilities, Operations, and Development (FOD), in collaboration with Student Life, Athletics, Wexner Medical Center, the Sustainability Institute, and many student groups, enabled the …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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FRESH to Table: A Homegrown Dining Initiative
- Boston College (MA)
Boston College (BC) seeks to foster the ethical and personal formation of its students to prepare them for citizenship, service, and leadership in a global society. In addition, as a …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Resilience Cohort, Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
The Resilience Cohort (RC) is a program of the Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) at Indiana University (IU) that helps Indiana city, town, and county governments to measure and reduce local …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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OwlSwap– A Social Equity and Environmental Sustainability Textiles and Apparel Initiative at Kennesaw State University
- Kennesaw State University (GA)
Clothing production is one of the most polluting, resource-intensive industrial processes on the planet. On average, over 80 lbs of textile waste per person ends up in landfills every year, …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Sustainability into Action: Undergraduate Certificate Catalyzes Sustainability Progress
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
A generation of students faced with a sustainability crisis have the appetite to learn how to "do sustainability" and put their learning into action. We developed an innovative interdisciplinary program …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Sustainable Lab Community Engagement Campaign
- McGill University (QC)
McGill University is working toward two ambitious sustainability targets: to become zero-waste by 2035 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. As one of the top research universities in Canada …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Earth Fest
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls (WI)
Earth Fest, a free and inclusive community celebration of the past, present, and future sustainability efforts in River Falls and the surrounding area. This family friendly event was held for …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Brandeis University’s Year of Climate Action
- Brandeis University (MA)
In 2019, a task force set out to write a new climate action plan for the university. Among its recommendations was to dedicate an entire year to catalyzing and deepening …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Addressing Climate Anxiety through Resilience and Community Building
- Portland Community College (OR)
Sustainability and climate work require resilience to fend off burnout and avoidance. While our college does good work promoting sustainability through our Climate Action Plan and curricular and co-curricular environmental …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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"Improv to Improve the Earth"
- University of California, Merced (CA)
The University of California, Merced (UC Merced) in partnership with Quarantine Improv (QI) hosted its second annual Earth Day event, "Improv to Improve the Earth". The goal was to bring …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Bottle Filling Stations at UCI 2023
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
UCI Facilities Management in collaboration with the Campus as a Living Lab class brought together interns to embark on the revitalization of the bottle filling stations program. The pandemic halted …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Equity and Justice Working Group- Tufts Eco Reps
- Tufts University (MA)
I implemented an Equity and Justice Working Group (EJWG) within the Tufts Eco Rep program Fall 2022 with the goal to integrate DEIJ principles into the core of the Eco …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Yale Undergrad Confronts the Emanating Climate Threat of Refrigerant Leaks through the Yale Refrigerants Initiative (YRI)
- Yale University (CT)
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many (if not all) universities’ sustainability offices had to reimagine what engaging with their communities looked like and how they’d meet campus sustainability …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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WSU Office of Campus Sustainability
- Wayne State University (MI)
The Office of Campus Sustainability holds around 25 engagement events throughout the year and reaches around 350 students and countless community members. Each of the student leaders within the Office …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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