Schedule at a Glance

Educational content at the conference will be organized into the following session types:

Field Reports (45 minutes): Field reports showcase innovative, high-impact approaches led by higher education sustainability professionals. These sessions highlight lessons learned, challenges overcome, and practical strategies that can be adapted on other campuses. 

Learning Labs (2 hours): Take a deep dive into sustainability skills and strategies in these hands-on, interactive sessions designed to strengthen sustainability-related competencies. With more time for engagement and discussions, these sessions encourage active participation and practical application, helping attendees leave with actionable insights. 

Student Field Reports (45 minutes): Part of the dedicated student track, these sessions provide a platform for students to share their sustainability projects, research, and campus initiatives with their peers and highlight student-driven impact. At least one presenter must be a current student or recent graduate.

Student Learning Labs (105 minutes): Part of the dedicated student track, these interactive workshops are designed to equip and empower students with the skills and connections needed to drive change on their campuses and in their communities. Priority will be given to proposals that connect students to a network or organization that will be able to continue to support them after the conference. 

Networking Meetings (45 minutes): Connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas! These sessions bring together regional networks and other affinity groups (e.g., zero waste managers or community college representatives) to network, and discuss issues relevant to the group. With no formal presentation, the emphasis is on interactive dialogue and peer-to-peer sharing.

Pre-Conference Workshops (3 hours): These extended learning sessions, held on Wednesday, Oct. 22 (before the opening program), provide in-depth professional development opportunities. Offered at an additional fee, these workshops are designed for deep engagement and skill-building. Presenters should have experience leading and facilitating professional development sessions and will be required to sign a memorandum of understanding outlining responsibilities and benefits.

Topic areas describe the focus of your proposal and help participants find programs that are relevant to their interests. They generally align with the subcategories of the Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System (STARS) version 3. You will be required to select one primary topic area that best characterizes the focus of your proposal.

• Curriculum (e.g., academic programs in sustainability; sustainability across the curriculum efforts; sustainability literacy assessment; pedagogy for sustainability; and teaching/assessing sustainability competencies)
• Research (e.g., sustainability research institutes; incentives for sustainability research; research partnerships; and responsible research and innovation)
• Campus Engagement (e.g., communications and social media; co-curricular programs; student organizations; staff engagement and training; and sustainability culture assessment)
• Public Engagement (e.g., civic engagement and community service; advocacy; community partnerships; and inter-campus collaboration)
• Buildings & Grounds (e.g., building design and construction; building operations and maintenance; water use; ecologically managed grounds; and campus biodiversity) 
• Energy & Climate (e.g., campus decarbonization; renewable energy; energy efficiency; greenhouse gas emissions inventories; and carbon offsets)
• Food & Dining (e.g., plant-based dining; sustainable food; and food recovery)
• Procurement & Waste (e.g., supply chain sustainability; zero waste programs; reuse; ecolabels; and recycling)
• Transportation (e.g., electric vehicles; air travel; commuting; bike programs; alternative fuels; and fleet management)
• Coordination & Planning (e.g., change leadership; sustainability plans; sustainability staff and offices; and assessment and reporting)
• Investment (e.g., investor engagement; divestment; and sustainability funds)
• Social Equity (e.g., racial equity and social justice; diversity and inclusion; and affordability)
• Wellbeing & Work (e.g., employee compensation; worker safety; mental health; avoiding burnout; eco-anxiety; and wellness programs)