SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE IN AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY OF FOUR EXEMPLARY INSTITUTIONS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE SUSTAINABILITY TRACKING, ASSESSMENT & RATING SYSTEM

The purpose of this study was to describe the campus sustainability performance at four exemplary higher education institutions, i.e., Doctoral, Master’s, Baccalaureate, and Associate’s, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The case-by-case analysis and the cross-case analysis demonstrated the similarities and differences that emerged across the four cases in the area of the institutional dynamics, sustainability performance, the journey of campus sustainability, and challenges, as well as drivers. In addition, the research aims to provide some implication to other institutions that intend to advance sustainability on their campuses.
A multi-site case study was used to investigate the sustainability performance of four exemplary institutions that participated in the STARS program. Two forms of data collection techniques used for this research study were document analysis and in-depth interviews. Nurturing the student, serving the community, taking social responsibility, and making changes was the internal motivations which drove the four institutions to what they have achieved today. They shared the same purpose of helping students become more aware and informed on how they could apply sustainability into their work, business, and many other places to make the change.