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
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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
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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Cities Need Trees
- Boston University (MA)
Over the past year, I have dedicated myself to promoting sustainability in Boston, Massachusetts by advocating for an increased urban forest to combat climate change and rising summer temperatures. The …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Marquette Career Closet
- Marquette University (WI)
Marquette Career Closet is a student-founded, university-adopted, service that provides access to professional clothes to students on campus to encourage them to pursue their career aspirations. This is done by …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Student-Led Organic Pilot Project at Emory University
- Emory University (GA)
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
Emory University, in partnership with Re:wild Your Campus, launched an organic pilot program to transition the campus away from synthetic weed-killers and towards organic land management. The Emory student leaders …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Eco Film and Media Arts Festival
- University of Southern California (CA)
The inaugural Eco Film and Media Arts Festival was designed to bring together student filmmakers and artists engaged in climate storytelling and activism. The festival featured 11 student films that …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Ameresco leads partnership in establishing Colorado’s largest of its kind battery energy storage system complex at Colorado Mountain College
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- Ameresco, Inc. (MA)
As the largest installation of its kind in Colorado, completed in September 2022, the combined solar and battery work furthers HCE’s goal of increasing the clean energy sources it provides …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Addressing the Social Pillar of Sustainability by Enhancing Racial Equity of Minorities in STEM Higher Education through the CREaTE Pathway
- El Paso Community College (TX)
- University of Texas at El Paso (TX)
The Center for Research in Engineering and Technology Education (CREaTE) is a national center for research in engineering, science, and technology education at The University of Texas at El Paso …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST+) Lives Here for Urban Health
- University of Cincinnati (OH)
The University of Cincinnati’s Office of the President, Office of the Provost, and Office of Research committed $12 million to grow inclusive excellence by leveraging diverse perspectives to advance innovation, …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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USC Trojan Shop Local Initiative
- University of Southern California (CA)
Certainly, since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and the pandemic years through recent months, the focus upon opportunities to close racial economic wealth gaps has heightened throughout Los …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Supplier Diversification program: Increasing procurement spending with diverse businesses
- Seattle University (WA)
Seattle University wants to lead a paradigm shift in how local, large institutions do business. The university specifically intends to address the gap between businesses in the local Black community …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Unanue Scholars Program: Improving College Access for Local Latina Students
- Catawba College (NC)
The Unanue Scholars Program serves junior Latina students from public high schools in Rowan County, North Carolina. Recipients of the scholarship are provided with a cost-free course at Catawba College …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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USC Urban Trees Initiative
- University of Southern California (CA)
The USC Urban Trees Initiative (USC Trees) brings together faculty, staff, and student researchers at the University of Southern California to help the City of Los Angeles and local nonprofits …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Choose to Reuse
- Boston University (MA)
Boston University’s Choose to Reuse program, offered at seven retail dining concepts in the George Sherman Union, provides students staff, and faculty the choice between ordering their meal on reusable …
- Posted May 23, 2023
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Air Travel Offset Program
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
In July 2021, the University of Pennsylvania enacted a University-wide travel sustainability policy that created the Climate Impact Offset (CLIO) charge to pay for projects that offset the carbon impacts …
- Posted May 23, 2023
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Energy and carbon reduction - A total holistic approach by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has been actively implementing various energy reduction efforts to promote sustainability and reduce its carbon footprint. The university recognizes the importance of energy conservation and has …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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The Working Farms Fund: Partnership to Build a Sustainable Local Food System and Support a Diverse New Generation of Farmers
- Emory University (GA)
- The Conservation Fund (GA)
Emory University has partnering with the national non-profit The Conservation Fund (TCF) to support a diverse new generation of farmers in rural Georgia and help build the local food supply …
- Posted May 16, 2023
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Tiffany Jurge plans Soup and Substance collaboration with SCITC
- Central Michigan University (MI)
- Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College (MI)
Central Michigan University (CMU) presents Soup and Substance events through the Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (OIDEI) for students, faculty, staff and community members. Soup and Substance events …
- Posted May 15, 2023
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Soup and Substance: Anishinaabek Food Sovereignty
- Central Michigan University (MI)
- Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College (MI)
Central Michigan University (CMU) presents Soup and Substance events through the Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (OIDEI) for students, faculty, staff and community members. Soup and Substance events …
- Posted May 15, 2023
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Meghan VanDamme leads composting initiative at CMU
- Central Michigan University (MI)
Meghan VanDamme and Central Sustainability collaborated with Facilities Management and CMU Residence Life to erect a compost drop-off at Northwest Apartments. The drop-off promotes sustainability by offering an opportunity for …
- Posted May 15, 2023
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Ava Brewer uses student-athletes as sustainability advocates for CMU
- Central Michigan University (MI)
Central Sustainability coordinator Ava Brewer created a video promoting sustainability at CMU using student-athletes as sustainability advocates. The video will play at football, men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, volleyball and …
- Posted May 15, 2023
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Central Sustainability, CMU Professor Hope May and Cora di Brazza Foundation lead Peace Flag Raising at CMU
- Central Michigan University (MI)
On April 21, 2023, Central Sustainability, Central Michigan University Professor Hope May and the Cora di Brazza Foundation collaborated to present CMU’s annual Peace Flag Raising ceremony. This year, CMU …
- Posted May 15, 2023
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Diverting Food Waste and Educating the Campus Community with Solar Powered Compost Kiosks at Illinois State University
- Illinois State University (IL)
The Illinois State University Compost Kiosks provide a model for other institutions in diverting food waste and reducing single-use plastic while educating and engaging the campus community in the act …
- Posted May 15, 2023
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Creation of a Pollinator Garden at Farmingdale State College
- State University of New York at Farmingdale (NY)
In the Spring of 2023 Farmingdale State College's Office for Sustainability partnered with the college's Horticulture department to design an on-campus pollinator garden. The site is currently a 100 square …
- Posted May 8, 2023
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Franklin University Switzerland’s ACT Program: A Case Study in Stakeholder Carbon Markets for College Campuses
- Franklin University Switzerland (Ticino)
At Franklin University Switzerland, Academic Travel (“AT”) has historically been the university-funded activity that generates the greatest amount of carbon emissions by the Franklin community each year. In order to …
- Posted May 8, 2023
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Building an Embedded Sustainability Approach
- TAFE Queensland Robina Campus (QLD)
The TAFE Queensland Robina Campus has been purpose-built to lead the way as a sustainable vocational education and training (VET) provider across Australia. The campus was designed from the ground …
- Posted May 5, 2023
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Campus RainWorks Challenge
- University of Texas at Arlington (TX)
The Campus RainWorks Challenge is a green infrastructure design competition for American colleges and universities that seeks to engage with the next generation of environmental professionals, foster a dialogue about …
- Posted May 3, 2023
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Enhancing Students’ Environmental Skills Through A Solid Waste Sustainability Hub
- University of South Alabama (AL)
The objective of this project is to establish a solid waste sustainability hub that promotes environmental stewardship and education by focusing on waste reduction, recycling, reuse, and rethinking. A team …
- Posted May 2, 2023
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Endicott College's Environmental Justice Working Group
- Endicott College (MA)
The Environmental Justice Working Group at Endicott College was established in 2023 by Sophia Gosselin-Smoske, a student at Endicott College and a Fellow in the Office of Sustainability. The group …
- Posted April 27, 2023
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Waste Diversion at University of Florida- Case of a student organization
- University of Florida (FL)
I am Ashpreet Kaur, final year PhD student at University of Florida. I got a chance to become a member of a student organization at University of Florida who does …
- Posted April 27, 2023
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Works and Efforts of the Environmental Sustainability Initiatives by the Institute of Technical Education (Singapore)
- Institute of Technical Education
The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) was established as a post-secondary institution in 1992, under the Ministry of Education of Singapore.
ITE is a principal provider of career and technical …
- Posted April 25, 2023
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ReWear It Marquette
- Marquette University (WI)
Student-led monthly clothing swap organization on Marquette University's campus.
- Posted April 18, 2023
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Bicycle Fleet Expansion
- University of Cincinnati (OH)
As part of our commitment with the environment, our community and as a Bicycle Friendly University, we have expanded our bike fleet in order to keep up with the high …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
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UMass Dining Carbon Rating System
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
Announced on Earth Day, 2022, and in partnership with My Emissions, UMass Dining, the nation's award winnning and largest higher education internally operated dining program, has launched an A-E carbon …
- Posted Jan. 10, 2023
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Valparaiso University Waste Audit: Reducing Plastic
- Valparaiso University (IN)
The Office of Sustainability at Valparaiso University recently performed a comprehensive waste audit of all campus buildings to identify opportunities to save money, reduce waste, and to promote better waste …
- Posted Nov. 10, 2022
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Food Justice Fellowships - Rooted in Community
- Saint Mary's College of California (CA)
Food insecurity is defined as the state of being without reliable access to sufficient affordable and nutritious food. Food insecurity in the San Francisco Bay Area (and our state, country …
- Posted Sept. 20, 2022
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TRU Campus Tree Program: What We Learned From Year One
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
The TRU Sustainability Office started the new TRU Campus Tree Program in September 2021 as a one year pilot. The program was designed to allow members of the TRU community …
- Posted Sept. 1, 2022
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WMGIC: Expanding Student Involvement in Sustainable Development
- College of William & Mary (VA)
The Global Innovation Challenge at William and Mary (WMGIC) encourages and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and applied learning opportunities among students, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers by bringing innovative and sustainable perspectives …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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We Feed Aggie Animals
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Chartwells Higher Education (NY)
Texas A&M Aggie Dining launched a new "We Feed Aggie Animals" food waste initiative to enhance goals of eliminating food waste while supporting the campus community. Starting in January 2022, …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Root: Centering Social Identity and Environmental Justice in First-Year Orientation
- Williams College (MA)
Root is one of 6 topical opt-in first-year orientation programs, called EphVentures, offered by Williams College. It runs for four days at the beginning of new student orientation and introduces …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Mapping Concordia’s Sustainability Ecosystem, a system mapping experiment
- Concordia University (QC)
Tristan Harris, the founder of the Center for humane Technology, once said: "Our ability to meet the world's challenges depends on us making sense & coordinating together." It means that …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Improving Laboratory Water and Energy Efficiency at Tufts University
- Tufts University (MA)
The Biomedical Engineering (BME) and Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) Departments at Tufts University installed a small autoclave (a laboratory sanitation machine) to reduce energy and water consumption in our …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Engaging with Indigenous Communities for Climate Action: The Bayano-McGill Reforestation Project
- McGill University (QC)
The Bayano-McGill Reforestation Project is an initiative that is at the leading edge of carbon offsetting projects in higher education. The multi-faceted initiative, financed by the University, provides benefits to …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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EchoWorks: An Electronics Recycling College-Community Partnership
- Western Dakota Technical College (SD)
There are more than a thousand toxic substances associated with electronic waste (e-waste), and improper disposal can lead to soil, water, food, and air contamination. E-waste is the fastest growing …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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UBC Sustainability Scholars Program
- The University of British Columbia (BC)
Since 2010, the creativity, skills and passion of close to 600 UBC graduate students in the Sustainability Scholars Program have made a positive impact on sustainability issues in the Vancouver …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and Resilience
- California Polytechnic State University (CA)
- California State University, Chico (CA)
- California State University, Monterey Bay (CA)
- California State University, San Marcos (CA)
- California State University, Stanislaus (CA)
- Cal Poly Humboldt (CA)
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
In the Spring of 2022, 62 faculty from six different California State University campuses representing over 30 disciplines participated in the CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Establishing and sustaining Indiana’s first higher education chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby at Purdue University
- Purdue University (IN)
- Citizens' Climate Lobby (CA)
In an effort to learn how to meaningfully engage with my community on the issue of climate change, I joined Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization which advances …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Climate Action Commitment Roadshow Series
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Virginia Tech recently approved a revised version of the Climate Action Commitment. To educate the campus community about it, our Climate Action, Sustainability, and Energy (CASE) Office went on a …
- Posted May 19, 2022
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Contactless Food Box Deliveries: Driving Down Food Insecurity
- University of California, Merced (CA)
The University of California, Merced (UC Merced) launched the Contactless Food Box Delivery Program in December 2020 which continues to this day. 5-10 boxes are delivered every week to those …
- Posted May 19, 2022
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Climate Impact Offset Charge (CLIO) for University of Pennsylvania Air Travel
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
As of July, 2021, the University of Pennsylvania enacted a University-wide travel sustainability policy that created the Climate Impact Offset (CLIO) charge to pay for projects that offset the carbon …
- Posted May 19, 2022
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