Oberlin College
EN-10: Inter-Campus Collaboration

Professors at Oberlin research the effect of real-time feedback on resource use and developed an instrument to measure an individual's connectedness to nature, which has been found to be correlated with proclivity to engage in pro-environmental behavior. This research -- both on resource use feedback and connectedness to nature -- has been presented in various conferences, papers, and campus visits. Oberlin College's Office of Environmental Sustainability fields many inquires about programs (from the bottled water ban to local food procurement, from position descriptions to communication tactics) with other institutions. We make good efforts to that many resources are available online, including videos from past events, articles about programs or events, and data and information (like writing comprehensively about subjects on STARS and expanding our GHG Inventory and Progress Reports on ACUPCC). Furthermore, the Office of Environmental Sustainability has informal relationships with local institutions in the Northeast Ohio area as well as with other sustainability officers whom we know personally or connected with through past collaboration. The Sustainability Coordinator shares information on the Green Schools listserv. The office is also a part of a regional Ohio sustainability schools listserv. The office presents locally about initiatives, participates in interviews and articles about programs, and presents and at conferences throughout the year. The Sustainability Coordinator has contributed to the Sustainability Internship Program Guide published by AASHE to allow other institutions to learn about OES' internship program.

• American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education • Collegiate Sustainability Group • The Oberlin Project • US Green Building Council • Great Lakes College Association (subsections related to sustainability like the facilities & sustainability officers annual gathering and the GLCA Dashboard Project Group) • Ohio 5 • International District Energy Association (IDEA) • Ohio Sustainability officers (listserv, twitter group, and in-person summits) • APPA

Oberlin routinely hosts tours of our campus and organizes sustainability related conferences. Oberlin staff also attend local, regional, and national conferences on sustainability, such as the annual AASHE Conference, annual Ohio sustainability officers summit, and GLCA facilities and sustainability conference. OES communicates with other institutions via listservs, webinars, and events, and other means. OES regularly reaches out to and is contacted by staff or researchers at other schools to share best practices.