About AASHE | Membership | Programs & Projects | Staff | Governance
AASHE Programs
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS)
STARS resulted from an AASHE-led collaborative effort to develop a standardized instrument by which higher education institutions could measure their progress toward sustainability and achieve recognition. Using this self-assessment and rating system, institutions can benchmark their sustainability progress over time and compare with others. Participants qualify for different levels of recognition based on level of accomplishment.
Resource Center
AASHE's online Resource Center is a clearinghouse of information on campus sustainability. It contains example policies and plans incorporating sustainability; publications and how-to guides; job descriptions for campus sustainability staff, sustainability profiles of campuses, and extensive publications and databases.
Professional Development Program
AASHE offers a wide variety of opportunities for professional development. All of the following are described at the link above:
- Annual conference
- Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums
- Workshops
- Webinars
- Co-sponsored events (with discounts for AASHE members)
Awards Program
Our awards offer professional recognition for sustainability leadership. Awards are given annually at the AASHE conference.
Publications
Our publications are almost all online and include the following:
- AASHE Digest (annual)
- Campus Sustainability Perspectives Blog (AASHE staff and guest bloggers)
- How-to guides
- Climate Action Planning Wiki
- Surveys of Sustainability Staff
- Special Reports
Newsletters
AASHE publishes three newsletters:
- AASHE Announcements (occasional special news & opportunities)
- AASHE Bulletin (weekly, plus twice yearly Global Edition)
- STARS Update (montly news and events related to STARS)
Long-term Partnerships & Collaborations
American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)
The ACUPCC is a high visibility effort by college and university presidents to address global warming. Signatories commit to neutralize their institution's greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, and accelerate their sustainability research and educational efforts. AASHE is one of three organizations providing support for the ACUPCC. We host the reporting tool where signatory institutions can report their progress.
Campus Sustainability Day (CSD)
AASHE promotes this annual fall event sponsored by the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). The centerpiece is a CSD webcast for all institutions. Each campus is encouraged to plan additional events around the webcast.
Campaign for Environmental Literacy (CEL)
CEL seeks to secure and increase the amount of federal funding dedicated to environmental literacy, including funding for environmental education in NOAA and EPA. AASHE supports CEL's efforts by signing letters to Congress and informing our members.
Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability (DANS)
DANS is an informal network of professional associations working on professional development around sustainability, and on changing curriculum, standards, and tenure requirementsy. Goals include educating the public and promoting sustainability-related legislation. AASHE hosts the DANS website and supports its efforts.
Energy Action Coalition (EAC)
We promote the coalition's Campus Climate Challenge - a long term initiative to reduce global warming pollution from campuses - and provide resources and technical information to coalition partners.
Higher Education Associations' Sustainability Consortium (HEASC)
HEASC was formed in 2006 to leverage the efforts of higher education associations to advance sustainability in their operations, programs, and professional development. AASHE is an active HEASC member and provides resources and services to the group, in addition to hosting its website.
US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development (USPESD)
The US Partnership is a voluntary partnership of individuals, organizations, and institutions dedicated to fulfilling the goals of the U.N. Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). AASHE is an active partner.
