Abstract
In the United States (US), campus sustainability planning (CSP) is an integral component of the operations and cultures of higher education institutions (HEIs). Despite being an esteemed practice, the emergence and practice of CSP in US higher education is not well understood or documented. This article addresses this research gap by providing a nuanced exploration of CSP in the US, examining the strategies US HEIs employ in their pursuit of sustainability. A systematic review was conducted, using a qualitative approach with reflexive thematic analysis to synthesize over 30 years of CSP literature. We conclude that US HEIs largely interpret the concept of sustainability solely in environmental terms, neglecting the interconnected elements of social justice and economic equity. In addition, the complex, change-resistant bureaucratic landscape of US higher education poses a major barrier to the successful implementation of sustainability initiatives. The most effective CSP strategy is to institutionalize commitments to sustainability, enabling sustainability to become a university-wide ethos guiding all operations and affairs. The findings of this review will provide US HEIs with a “theoretical toolkit” with which they can improve their CSP efforts by promoting holistic forms of sustainability while navigating common institutional barriers.