Higher education institutions that haven’t earned a rating under the AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) in the past five years can sign up between now and Dec. 31 to get 20 percent off a full access subscription. To see if your institution qualifies, click on the institution in this list. Any previous reports will be listed on the Summary Tab.

The International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) offers students, faculty and staff from AASHE-member schools a $100 discount on the ISSP Sustainability Associate (ISSP-SA) credential exam. The program is designed to recognize the knowledge, skills and abilities of those in the sustainability field, including students with knowledge of core sustainability concepts.

Any college or university that has a direct or indirect contract or a direct agreement to sell PepsiCo products can apply for up to $10,000 in funding for sustainability projects. Proposals will be judged based on the following criteria: environmental impact; social impact; desirability, feasibility and longevity; ingenuity; and cost effectiveness. Proposals will be accepted through Dec. 19.

The Higher Education Institutions and Responsible Research and Innovation project invites abstracts representing practices, projects, programs and initiatives that demonstrate the application of responsible research and innovation in higher education, specifically those that put a spotlight on activities designed to integrate more democratic governance in research and innovation with an emphasis on positive societal impacts. Abstracts are due Nov. 30.

The Educators’ Challenge aims to encourage the development of innovative approaches that engage students and broader audiences in discussions on better frameworks for continued ideation and discussion on how we can better address the greatest challenges of our time. Ten prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to the most creative and effective proposals progressing pedagogy and audience engagement.The deadline for submissions is June 30.

The 2017 Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing colleges and universities in 17 sustainability impact areas and overall by institution type, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The report also highlights innovative and high-impact initiatives from institutions that submitted STARS reports in the 12 months prior to July 1, 2017.

This issue of the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education includes articles about the extent to which campus efforts address regional sustainability needs, nutrition students’ self-reported learning about and understanding of sustainable food systems and dietary practices, an examination of the diverse definitions of sustainability in higher education, and an assessment of the effectiveness of higher education institutions as a sustainability communication channel.

The report examines the numerous barriers preventing low-income students from enrolling and persisting in college, including concerns over high tuition and fees, lack of clarity on award amounts and duration, and a limited understanding of how financial aid works. It also offers institutions 11 best practices to help students pay for college and stay in school.