2020 Student Engagement Finalist: Yale University - USA

Yale University - Sustainability in Action: Using Action Plans to Empower and Inspire Yale Undergraduate Students 

In 2018, Yale Sustainability launched a program to create Sustainability Action Plans for its 14 residential colleges to drive sustainable culture shifts within the undergraduate community while helping to advance progress towards Yale’s institutional sustainability ambitions. To ensure meaningful and impactful goals, over the course of one year the Office consulted with operational professionals and college leadership, and led student focus groups to identify the priorities, strengths, and challenges of each college. The insights gathered allowed Yale Sustainability to customise each of the Action Plans to the distinct culture, character, and physical context of the undergraduate residential colleges. Once the Plans were launched, the Office hired student Sustainability Liaisons in each of the colleges to implement the plans and engage their peers with campaigns and activities. 

Top three learnings: 

1. One size does not fit all. Plans should reflect the unique context of different communities. 
2. Fully engage and earn the trust of stakeholders. Culture change takes time, diversity of perspectives matters, and the process cannot be rushed. 
3. Welcome change and innovation. Sustainability action plans provide a foundation, but they are evolving documents.