This award recognizes published and unpublished research that contributes to the advancement of higher education sustainability. One award will be given in the first two categories, and four awards will be given in the published journal article category (Academics, Engagement, Operations, and Planning and Administration):
- Unpublished undergraduate research
- Unpublished graduate research
- Published journal article
Application Process
Authors can apply for a Campus Sustainability Research Award by submitting research to AASHE’s Campus Sustainability Hub. You will need to login to the Hub with an AASHE Account in order to submit. Published journal article submissions will be placed into their respective award category based on the sustainability topic that is selected on the submission form (e.g., a submission with a sustainability topic of Curriculum will be considered for the Academics Award).
Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis and are due on the last Friday in May. Your application will be considered in the 2023 award season if you submit it by the deadline. Submissions received after the last Friday in May will be considered for the next award season. If you have any questions, please email awards@aashe.org.
Timeline
| Submission/Nomination Deadline | Last Friday in May |
| Judging Underway | May – July |
| Submitters/Nominators Notified. Finalists Announced. | Mid-August |
| Winners Notified and Announced | Mid-September |
Prizes
Award winners receive:
- Recognition via a live virtual awards ceremony
- One complimentary pass to AASHE’s annual conference
- One plaque provided by Rivanna Natural Designs
- Recognition in Sustainability and Climate Change
Criteria
Applications will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the following criteria:
- Applicability – For what proportion of higher education institutions is the research relevant?
- Impact – How significantly can the lessons from the research contribute to improved sustainability performance?
- Racial equity and social justice – To what extent does the research reflect racial equity and social justice, and how significant is its potential contribution to racial equity and social justice?
- Methodology – Is the research methodology appropriate to answer the research question?
- Clarity and coherence – How easy is it to understand the research?
Eligibility
To be considered for a Campus Sustainability Research Award, submissions must be in English. Papers must have been completed (in the case of unpublished student research) or published within 12 months prior to the application deadline. Students who graduated within this period are still eligible for the student awards. Authors do not have to be associated with an AASHE member organization.