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
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
- Case Studies
- View more
Binghamton 2 Degrees: Building Community Resilience Through Collaborative Action
- Binghamton University (NY)
Binghamton 2 Degrees is a transformative initiative uniting Binghamton University and the greater Binghamton community to envision a resilient future under the looming threat of two degrees of warming. Through …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
TASTE Food: The Automated Scope 3 tool for Tracking Emissions from Food
- The Culinary Institute of America (NY)
- Stanford University (CA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- AASHE (MA)
- World Resources Institute (DC)
Currently, estimating purchased food emissions requires time intensive methods and cost prohibitive software which are often limited to estimating emissions based on spend. Previously, institutions that analyzed purchased food emissions …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
The evolution of on-campus catering through single-use plastic reduction
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Aramark (PA)
Arizona State University (ASU), the largest public university in the United States, has reimagined its catering services to align with its ambitious sustainability goals. Anchored in service design methodology, this …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
Fault Detection and Diagnostics at California State University, Northridge
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
- Siemens Industry, Inc. (IL)
This project has enhanced CSUN's understanding and management of its building mechanical systems, fostering collaboration among building controls specialists, HVAC mechanics, and sustainability staff. The Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
Cat Trax Bike Share Program
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
Cat Trax bike share is a collaborative program between the town of Durham, NH and the UNH Sustainability Institute. We manage and maintain a fleet of 30 bikes that are …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
Tackling Scope 3 Emissions at CSUN – A Commitment to Comprehensive GHG Reporting
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
California State University, Northridge (CSUN) has taken strides in addressing Scope 3 transportation emissions as part of its sustainability and climate action initiatives over the past seven years. This encompasses …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
The Seafood Shift: Making Tufts Dining More Sustainable
- Tufts University (MA)
Saskia Zimmerman, a Sustainable Solutions Fellow at Tufts University helped Tufts Dining find new ways to quantify their sustainable impact and further integrate sustainable food sourcing into their work. This …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
Design for Vulnerables
- Tecnológico de Monterrey – Campus Monterrey (Nuevo Leon)
- Tecnológico de Monterrey – Campus Chihuahua (Chihuahua)
Design for “Vulnerables – Technology Challenge” is a project idealized and created in Tecnológico de Monterrey, Chihuahua Campus, it aims to understand how design processes can facilitate the introduction …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
“Up-cycling”: Amherst College’s Tread Shed - Our Campus Spoke Easy
The Tread Shed is a bike co-op on the Amherst College campus that is designed to collect and repair abandoned bikes from around campus and return them to students, staff, …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
Northeastern's Climate Justice Action Plan
- Northeastern University (MA)
Northeastern University’s Climate Justice Action Plan (CJAP) is a comprehensive, forward-thinking initiative designed to integrate climate justice principles into the institution’s sustainability framework. At the heart of this plan is …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
Wi-Fi Inferred Occupancy Count for Air Conditioning Optimisation
- Nanyang Technological University
An effective strategy to reduce building energy consumption is to optimise building controls using occupancy information. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) is trialling an innovative method for determining occupant counts …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC) - Mandatory Sustainability Education for all Undergraduate Students
- Nanyang Technological University
In 2021, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) introduced the Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC) as a mandatory component of its undergraduate curriculum. This initiative aims to equip students with essential transferable …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
University of the Immaculate Conception - Sustainable Education for Culinary Professionals
- University of the Immaculate Conception
Developed by Worldchefs in collaboration with an esteemed panel of culinary experts, educators, and scientists, the Sustainability Education for Culinary Professionals curriculum offers a transformative learning experience for chefs and …
- Posted Jan. 22, 2025
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
Climate Action Clinic at UNH: Training Carbon Management Professionals in Collaboration with Community Organizations
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
The Climate Action Clinic is a high-impact learning opportunity that builds off UNH's decades-long role supporting carbon footprinting and climate action by other organizations--leveraging the expertise rooted in UNH’s own …
- Posted Oct. 24, 2024
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
Embracing Plastic-Free: Reusable Takeout at Carleton College That is Actually Reused
- Carleton College (MN)
- USEFULL (MA)
College campuses have an opportunity to positively impact the waste stream with reusable container programs in campus dining. Bon Appétit at Carleton College partnered with USEFULL to offer tech-enabled reusable …
- Posted May 31, 2024
- Case Studies
- View more
Composting at EMU Dining's Facilities
- Eastern Michigan University (MI)
- Chartwells Higher Education (NY)
Currently, three of EMU’s dining facilities are a part of a program that diverts pre and post consumer food waste from landfill. Our teams have a contract with a local …
- Posted April 23, 2024
- Case Studies
- View more
University of Rochester’s Analysis of WexWindows
- University of Rochester (NY)
A pilot study was conducted at the Medical Center G7011 area to evaluate the effectiveness of WexWindows as a potential retrofit solution for University of Rochester’s aging and underperforming windows. …
- Posted Jan. 10, 2024
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- Case Studies
- View more