by Brianna Crandall — May 20, 2015—During its annual analysis of the higher education sustainability movement, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) found a significant increase in sustainability planning, campus living learning laboratory initiatives, and regional drought response efforts in 2014, as noted in its newly published 2014 Higher Education Sustainability Review.
The latest review is a big picture look at the trends captured in the nearly 1,350 stories published in AASHE’s weekly newsletter, AASHE Bulletin, in 2014. This year’s review highlights campus sustainability success stories and implementation tips from colleges and universities in Canada, Denmark, Singapore and the United States. Eleven colleges and universities are highlighted, including two Associate colleges.
Compared to 2013, notable findings for 2014 include:
- Stories related to campus living labs and experiential learning opportunities increased by 63%
- Stories related to reduction milestones and commitments in campus operations increased by 54%.
- Drought response efforts emerged as a new topic of focus, particularly among California institutions.
- Regional and local food initiatives increased by 60%.
- Zero-waste and game-day waste initiatives more than doubled.
- Stories highlighting student-based funding and revolving loan funding for campus sustainability efforts increased by 41%.
- Videos promoting campus sustainability initiatives more than tripled.
Also notable, the number of first-time higher education sustainability-focused job announcements featured in the AASHE Bulletin in 2014 increased by 86% from 2013. AASHE will release an updated 2015 salary and staffing report in summer 2015 to provide additional information about the campus sustainability jobs outlook.
Educational facilities managers and others who would like to further explore the trends toward high-impact transformative learning projects and partnerships to advance sustainability on a local and global front found in this report are invited to attend AASHE’s annual Conference and Expo. Themed “Transforming Sustainability Education,” this year’s conference is taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 25-28, 2015.
