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AASHE Programs

American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)
The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort by college and university presidents to address global warming. Signatories commit to eventually neutralize their institution's greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate their sustainability research and educational efforts. AASHE is one of three organizations providing support for this initiative.

Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS)
AASHE is leading a collaborative effort to develop a formal classification system for campus sustainability, with guidelines by which institutions may measure themselves and qualify for different levels of recognition of accomplishment. The project responds to the need expressed by many stakeholders for a standard campus sustainability rating system that compares higher education institutions on progress toward sustainability.

Resource Center
Our online Resource Center is a rich source of information on campus sustainability. It includes: a policy bank with over 300 sustainability related policies organized by category (e.g., building, procurement, energy, general policies, etc.); master and strategic plans that incorporate sustainability, a directory of full-time campus sustainability professionals and a list of job descriptions; extensive lists of campus solar electric and wind turbine installations; archives of AASHE Bulletin; articles, reports, fact sheets, and books related to campus sustainability; and links to over 200 campus websites describing their sustainability efforts. New resources are added on a regular basis.

Professional Development
AASHE offers a variety of opportunities for professional development, including:

  • Biennial North American conference - participants are welcome from every sector of higher education as well as from businesses and NGOs.
     
  • Workshops and trainings - offer sustainability practitioners opportunities to network, share resources, and collaborate on projects.
     
  • Interest groups - discussion lists targeted at those with specialized interests, to facilitate networking, learning, and collaboration.
     
  • Co-sponsored events - professional development opportunities such as webinars, workshops, and conferences, with discounts for AASHE members.

AASHE Awards
AASHE offers professional recognition for sustainability leadership by students and campuses though its Awards program.  Each year, AASHE presents four Campus Sustainability Leadership Awards, one Student Sustainability Leadership Award, and one Student Research on Campus Sustainability Award.

Publications & Communications
Online communications are the core of AASHE's outreach efforts, and include:

  • AASHE Bulletin (weekly) - a free e-newsletter providing the latest campus sustainability news, announcements, resources and opportunities.
     
  • AASHE Digest (annual) - a compilation of campus sustainability stories that appeared in AASHE Bulletin during the previous year, arranged by category.

Collaboration & Partnerships

Campus Climate Challenge (Energy Action)
AASHE is a member organization in the Energy Action coalition. We promote the coalition's Campus Climate Challenge, long term initiative to reduce global warming pollution from campuses. AASHE also provides resources and technical information to coalition partners.

Campus Sustainability Day
AASHE helps promote this annual fall event sponsored by the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). The centerpiece is a live webcast downloaded by several hundred campuses. Each campus is encouraged to plan additional events.

Campaign for Environmental Literacy
The Campaign for Environmental Literacy seeks to secure and significantly increase the amount of federal funding dedicated to environmental literacy, including restoring federal funding for environmental education in NOAA and EPA. AASHE supports these efforts with letters to Congress and notifications to members.

Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability (DANS)
The Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability (DANS) is an informal network of professional associations. Among other activities, they are working on professional development around sustainability as well as changing curricula, standards, and tenure requirements to reflect sustainability. DANS members are committed to supporting sustainability within the disciplines, across the disciplines, and beyond the academy. Educating the public and promoting sustainability-related legislation are among their goals.

Higher Education Associations' Sustainability Consortium (HEASC)
HEASC was formed in 2006 to leverage the efforts of mainstream 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.

Net Impact's Campus Greening Initiative
Net Impact is a network of MBA students and young professionals committed to using the power of business to improve the world. The Campus Greening Initiative engages Net Impact members to use their business skills to improve their school's impact on the environment, as well as to raise awareness of environmental problems and solutions among emerging business leaders. AASHE serves as an advisor for the initiative.

US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
The US Partnership is a voluntary partnership of individuals, organizations, and institutions dedicated to fulfilling the goals of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). AASHE is an active partner.