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Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education resources, membership benefits

Virginia Tech has recently become a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Membership covers everyone on campus (faculty, staff, and students). As a member, you have access to an array of online resources and numerous opportunities for networking, information sharing, collaboration, and professional development. In addition, you can take advantage of the following:

• Resource Center - As members you may access AASHE's extensive online resources, including assessment tools, fact sheets, publications, presentations, policy databank, reports, and other resources. To establish an account, follow this link: www.aashe.org/members/memberlogin.php and click "create new account." Use your Virginia Tech email address as your username (i.e. myname@vt.edu). AASHE's database will then send a password to your Virginia Tech email inbox. Go back to the login page, enter your username, and type or paste the emailed password into the password box. This should give you access to all of the locked resources in AASHE's Resource Center. If you have difficulty with this process, please either send an email to membership@aashe.org, or contact Andrea Webster, AASHE Membership & Outreach Coordinator at (859)-258-2551 or andrea@aashe.org.
• Discounts - You are eligible for reduced registration fees for conferences, workshops, and other AASHE-sponsored events, and receive discounts on products and services offered through AASHE.
• Professional Awards - AASHE administers a professional awards program to recognize outstanding efforts in advancing campus sustainability. The Campus Sustainability Achievement Award is presented to institutions that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to sustainability. The Student Sustainability Achievement Award is given each year for superior work in campus sustainability by an undergraduate from a member institution.
• Directories - AASHE maintains online directories of Campus Sustainability Coordinators and other sustainability contacts at campuses that can directly benefit you.
• Publicity and Recognition - AASHE publicizes and celebrates member achievements through its newsletters, website, and other communications. The Member Spotlight highlights sustainability efforts of individual campuses such as ours.
• Authorized Use of Member Logo - You may use the AASHE Member Logo to emphasize our commitment to sustainability. This logo may also be used on signage, reports, brochures, and other publicity or display materials.
• Networking - AASHE events offer premier opportunities to connect with colleagues at regional, national, and international levels, to share resources, and to collaborate with others on projects and publications.
• Professional Development - AASHE offers workshops and trainings at member campuses such as ours, and Interest Groups for us to connect with others and share our knowledge, ideas, and resources.
• Individual Consulting - AASHE offers individual phone and email consultation to members.
• Governance - You may participate in AASHE governance, committees, and working groups.

In addition to the member benefits listed above, you may wish to take advantage of the following AASHE resources:

• AASHE Bulletin - A free weekly e-newsletter that keeps subscribers up-to-date on the latest news, resources, opportunities, and events related to campus sustainability. You can sign up here: http://www.aashe.org/publications/bulletin.php.
• AASHE Update - AASHE's bimonthly newsletter keeps all members informed about AASHE activities, programs, new resources, special announcements, and opportunities to get involved.
• Annual Conference - AASHE's annual conferences brings together every sector of higher education as well as business, government, and NGOs. The next conference is in Raleigh, NC, November 9-11. Mark your calendars!

AASHE's most recent offering is a blog, appropriately named "Campus Sustainability Perspectives," featuring on-going conversations on news, opinions, and ideas provided by AASHE staff. I encourage you to visit the blog and participate in these stimulating conversations.

If you have any questions, you can write to info@aashe.org. An AASHE staff person will be more than happy to help you. I hope you take advantage of these membership benefits from AASHE.

Contact Denny Cochrane at (540) 231-5184 or email to denniscc@vt.edu.

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