This study analyzes environmental practices and policy at higher education institutions and examines the process it takes to implement them from student advocacy to administrative recognition that results in the implementation of sustainable plans, programs, and structures for the college in order to produce a feasible proposal for sustainable development at Augustana College. The authors conducted interviews with five colleges that have achieved sustainability in various ways and are largely similar to Augustana in religious affiliation, cultural background, and location: Kenyon, Knox, Luther, Moraine Valley Community College, and Oberlin. The goal from these interviews was to generate ideas from colleges like Augustana to show that Augustana is also capable of sustainable change. At the end of the study, the authors developed a sustainable policy proposal tailored for Augustana that was based on common trends identified from the five colleges, including college sustainability programs, informal and formal organization, ratings and certifications, and sustainable structures
