In fall 2012, UT joined nearly 900 other universities and businesses throughout the country in establishing a membership with the Association for the Advancement in Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). AASHE’s goal is to advance sustainable initiatives in higher education settings. Brooke Mason, UT’s Interim Sustainability Specialist, said, “The association is a network of schools and companies that focuses on higher education sustainability. Anything that has to do with sustainability and higher education is listed there, whether it is education, dining, energy, waste, water and transportation. It works like an idea-sharing network. The site has resources for almost any sustainability initiative you can dream up.”

As long as UT renews their membership every year, AASHE resources are free for students, faculty and staff. Students, faculty and staff can sign up for biweekly email updates without an account.

There are several ways that students can get involved with AASHE:
1) Create an AASHE account.
2) If your institution is not an AASHE member, help convince them to join the cause.
3) Help your institution conduct a sustainability assessment with AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Learn more about STARS here.
4) Volunteer! Visit the website for opportunities.

As a student, you can also publicize your efforts through a student diary, applying for an award, submitting research papers, participating in discussion forums, and spotlighting your institution’s initiatives.

There are also resources for faculty and staff. Faculty and staff can access lists, databases, and publications to develop a sustainability education curriculum. There are also sustainability workshops for those whose institutions are members. For Sustainability Officers, there are specific resources available to assist in sustainability endeavors. These include case studies databases, bulletin databases, a business directory, steps to create an Environmental Coordinator position and much more. Click here for more faculty and student resources, and here for professional resources.

If you’re interested in what AASHE has to offer, click here to make an account! Join AASHE today!

Tags: AASHE, account, resources, STARS, sustainability

Brooke Mason is the Interim Sustainability Specialist for The University of Toledo. A 2012 Bowling Green State University graduate with a degree in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management, Brooke is obsessive about environmental sustainability. In her position, she works on initiatives ranging from energy conservation, to recycling, to transportation, and much more. She is passionate about working with and educating students about the topic of sustainability. Everyday Brooke works to ensure the current generation can meet their need without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. In her spare time, she loves reading novels, oil painting, and exploring the outdoors.
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This entry was posted on Friday, January 25th, 2013 at 2:09 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
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