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Sustainability Organizations

Local

 

State

  • Vermont Campus Sustainability Network
    A project of the Vermont Campus Energy Group, VCSN promotes environmental awareness and action on Vermont’s campuses and within Vermont’s larger communities through the free exchange of information, focused education and events, creative collaborations, and specific projects and initiatives.
     

Regional

  • Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence (C2E2)
    C2E2's mission is to support the continued improvement of environmental performance in higher education through environmental professional networking, information exchange, the development of professional resources and tools, and the advancement of innovative regulatory models. Environmental performance includes campus regulatory compliance, environmental management, and sustainability initiatives. C2E2 holds bi-monthly meetings, active workgroups, and projects identified by the consortium's membership.

 

  • Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities
    The Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities was established in 2004 to advance our understanding of the cultural, social, political, economic and natural factors affecting the Hudson-Mohawk River watershed. By promoting collaboration among its members, the Consortium works to provide ecosystem-based curricular and co-curricular programming aimed at improving the health of the regional ecosystem. Comprised of more than 55 institutions of higher education, the mission of the Environmental Consortium is to harness higher education’s intellectual and physical resources to advance regional, ecosystem-based environmental research, teaching, and learning with a special emphasis on the greater Hudson-Mohawk River watershed. Pace University is the host institution of the Environmental Consortium, with headquarters located at Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies.

 

  • Northeast Campus Sustainability Coalition (NECSC)
    Established in 2004, NECSC represents more than 40 institutions of higher education from the northeast United States and Eastern Canadian provinces. The main event is a campus sustainability annual gathering. Steering committee consists of representatives from 9 states and 3 provinces (Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland.)

National

 

  • Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF)
    ULSF works to strengthen the capacity of colleges and universities to make sustainability and environmental literacy a major focus of teaching, research, service, and operations. ULSF is the secretariat for signatories of the Talloires Declaration. Founded in 1992, ULSF pursues its mission through research, resource development, assessment, membership support, and international partnerships to advance education for sustainability. It is housed in the Center for Respect of Life & Environment, which is an affiliate of the Humane Society of America.

 

  • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) 
    AASHE is a professional, membership-based association of colleges and universities whose mission is to promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education - from governance and operations to curriculum and outreach - through education, communication, research and professional development. Businesses, NGO's, and government agencies serve as AASHE partners. The association provides a professional home for campus sustainability coordinators and other practitioners. Founded in 2005, AASHE's goal is to to leverage the efforts of the growing campus sustainability community, uniting diverse initiatives and connecting practitioners to resources and professional development opportunities, including workshops, trainings and conferences.

    The University of Vermont is an institutional member of AASHE. Current students, staff, and faculty have access to their vast databases and resources that relate to campus sustainability efforts. In order to get free access to this site, you must create an account on their website with your UVM email address.
  1. General Resources on Campus Sustainability
  2. Resources for Students
  3. Case studies

 

  • Campus Ecology Program of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
    Campus Ecology supports and promotes positive and practical conservation projects on campus and beyond to protect wildlife by restoring habitat and slowing global warming. Since its founding in 1989, Campus Ecology has been helping transform the nation's college and university campuses into living models of an ecologically sustainable society, and training a new generation of environmental leaders.

 

  • College and University Recycling Council (CURC) of the National Recycling Coalition
    CURC is a network of campus-based recycling professionals who face similar challenges and opportunities in managing college and university programs. It was formed in 1992 and became a technical council of the National Recycling Coalition in 1995. It's mission is to organize and support environmental program leaders at institutions of higher education in managing resource, recycling, and waste issues.

 

  • 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.

 

  • Green School Listserv: 
    This is a helpful resource with postings from campus sustainability officers, staff, and faculty. 

 

 

  • Second Nature (SN)
    Since 1993, Second Nature (SN) has worked with over 4,000 faculty and administrators at more than 500 colleges and universities to help make the principles of sustainability the foundation of all learning, practice, and collaboration with local communities. Led by SN's founder and President, Dr. Anthony Cortese, SN has conducted hundreds of consultations on various aspects of education for sustainability, as well as over fifty workshops on topics such as institutionalizing sustainability education and practice, faculty and curriculum development, sustainable planning, operations, and design, and sustainable purchasing. In addition to advisory services, SN initiates, advises, and supports select high-leverage national and regional education for sustainability (EFS) activities for which there is a clear need and committed support.

 

  • Higher Education Sector Team of the US Partnership for the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (USPDESD)
    The US Partnership consists of individuals, organizations and institutions in the United States dedicated to education for sustainable development. The partnership was formed to support implementation of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development in the United States. The primary goal of the Partnership is to bring about a new cultural norm in which Americans are more "literate" about sustainability challenges and have both the skills and attitudes to participate in solutions. The Higher Education Sector Team has engaged over 14 U.S. higher education associations - including some of the largest and most prominent - in formal partnerships, project collaborations, and national initiatives to promote education for sustainable development.

 

International

  • Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) - Australia and New Zealand 
    ACTS is a non-profit member based organisation representing higher and further education institutions within Australia and New Zealand. ACTS aims to inspire, promote and support change towards best practice sustainability within the operations, curriculum and research of the tertiary education sector. ACTS seeks to build community and business partnerships at the local, regional and international level, in order to bring together a network of people for positive engagement, capacity building and change.

 

  • COPERNICUS Alliance - Europe 
    The COPERNICUS Alliance is the European Network on Higher Education for Sustainable Development. The vision of the COPERNICUS Alliance is to promote the role of Sustainable Development in European Higher Education to improve education and research for sustainability in partnership with society.

 

 

  • The International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) 
    The International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) provides a global forum to support leading colleges, universities, and corporate campuses in the exchange of information, ideas, and best practices for achieving sustainable campus operations and integrating sustainability in research and teaching.

 

 

  • Korean Association for Green Campus Initiative (KAGCI) - Korea 
    Korean Association for Green Campus Initiative (KAGCI) was founded for the purpose of promoting sustainable education and research, taking the initiative in preserving campus environment and energy conservation, and contributing to the promotion of green culture through cooperation with local communities so that universities can participate through practical means in sustainable development and low carbon green growth.

 

 

Student-Focused Campus Sustainability Organizations

International/National Organizations

  • Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive (CoFed)
    CoFed is a national training program and research institute empowering students to create ethically-sourced, cooperatively-run sustainable food storefronts and cafes on college campuses.

 

  • Energy Action Coalition
    Energy Action is a coalition of 30 organizations working to support and strengthen the student and youth clean energy movement in North America. Currently Energy Action is working on the Campus Climate Challenge, a grassroots effort to organize and win hundreds of clean energy victories on college campuses throughout the US and Canada.

 

  • Engineers for a Sustainable World
    Established in 2002, ESW is comprised of students, university faculty and professionals who are dedicated to building a more sustainable world for current and future generations. The ESW website contains a list of campus sustainability projects of its members. Through the efforts of students and faculty in its collegiate chapters, ESW is working to integrate sustainability into the engineering curriculum at institutions across the country, including Cornell, Northwestern, Stanford, and the University of Iowa.

 

  • Focus The Nation
    Focus the Nation (FTN) is the country’s leading clean energy youth empowerment organization. Since 2008, they have helped more than 300,000 young people embrace the challenges, excitement and realities of moving their communities toward clean energy solutions. All FTN programming is intensely focused on empowering young people’s imaginative, civic and systems-thinking capacities so they can become powerful agents of change in their own communities on this very issue.

 

  • National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology Program
    National Wildlife Federation has a 20-year history of working with colleges and universities through its Campus Ecology program to improve their overall green educational programming and onsite sustainability. Its student outreach programs, campus consulting, climate action competition, and educational events and resources reach about 1,000 campuses each year.

 

  • Net Impact
    Net Impact is a network of more than 10,000 new-generation leaders (MBAs, graduate students and young professionals) committed to using the power of business to improve the world.

 

  • Roots and Shoots - University Network
    Roots & Shoots is the Jane Goodall Institute's international environmental and humanitarian program for youth of all ages. The Roots & Shoots University & College Program links institutions around the US to further Jane Goodall's mission: empowering individuals to make a difference. The network is based out of Western Connecticut State University.

 

  • Sierra Student Coalition (SSC)
    The Sierra Student Coalition is a broad network of high school and college students from around the U.S. working to protect the environment. It has over 250 affiliated groups based at schools around the country. The SSC is the student arm of the Sierra Club. Like the Sierra Club, the SSC is run by volunteers who work on national and local campaigns that promote smart energy solutions and protect the environment. It develops environmental leaders through grassroots training programs and works to maximize its campus-based effectiveness through the creation and maintenance of state and national networks of high school and college students. A small staff supports the work of the Sierra Student Coalition's volunteer-run activities.

 

  • Sierra Youth Coalition (SYC)
    The Sierra Youth Coalition is a Canadian organization run by youth for youth, serving as the youth arm of the Sierra Club of Canada. SYC desires to see the working realities of sustainability integrated into the daily operations of life. Alongside promoting sustainable lifestyle choices, SYC works to transform high schools, universities, and governments into models of sustainability.

 

  • Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC)
    SEAC is a student and youth-run national network of progressive organizations and individuals whose aim is to uproot environmental injustices through action and education. Students in SEAC work to create progressive social change on both the local and global levels. SEAC builds networks, teaches skills, educates about issues, and puts ideas into practice with campaigns. It has conferences, email lists, a magazine, trainings, caucuses, campaign packets, and organizing guides.

 

  • SustainUS
    SustainUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of young people advancing sustainable development and youth empowerment in the United States. Through proactive education, research, and advocacy at the policy-making and grassroots levels, we are building a future in which all people recognize the inherent equality and interdependence of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

 

  • United States Student Association (USSA)
    USSA works to build grassroots power among students to win concrete victories that expand access to education at the federal, state and campus level. USSA is a voice for students on Capitol Hill, in the White House, and in the Department of Education.

 

  • United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS)
    USAS is an international student movement of campuses and individual students fighting for sweatshop free labor conditions and workers' rights. USAS' three cornerstone campaigns are the Sweat-Free Campus Campaign, the Ethical Contracting Campaign, and the Campus Living Wage Campaign.

 

  • United Students for Fair Trade (USFT)
    USFT is a United States network of student organizations advocating around Fair Trade products, policies, and principles. They work to consolidate and coordinate the power of the over 100 active student Fair Trade organizations in the U.S. They also offer leadership development and capacity building, and serve as a resource group for student fair trade organizers.

 

  • USGBC Students
    Representing college and university-based groups of students, USGBC Students provides a way for hundreds of young leaders to come together and participate in hands-on green building experiences on their own campuses through service initiatives. USGBC helps students integrate sustainability themes into their coursework and advocate for sustainable university practices and policies. USGBC Students is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council.