Greening the campus: a theoretical extension of the dialogic communication approach. Issue 4 (4th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carpenter, Serena; Takahashi, Bruno; Lertpratchya, Alisa P.; Cunningham, Carie
• Editors: Leal Filho, Walter; Zint, Michaela
• Is Part Of: International journal of sustainability in higher education. Volume 17:Issue 4(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-07-04
• Subjects: Environmental education -- Periodicals; Environmental responsibility -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 333.70711
• DOI: 10.1108/IJSHE-02-2015-0036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-6370

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the strategic organization-public dialogic communication practices of universities in the US. We used the dialogic model of communication to explore to what extent higher education sustainability leaders at the top 25 US sustainable engage in relational communication strategies. Design/methodology/approach: The qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with campus sustainability and student group leaders from a mix of regional areas in the US. We examined the transcripts following the concepts argued to exist within the dialogic model of communication from the public relations field. Findings: Results reveal that sustainability leaders rely on dialogic communication strategies to recruit active participants, build stakeholder bridges across campus and empower individuals to have an impact within specific sustainability areas. Communicators most likely engaged in empathy, followed by propinquity, mutuality, commitment and risk of the dialogic model. Research limitations/implications: We extended the dialogic model of communication by identifying theoretical issues and scale items that can be used to measure each dimension of the model in future work. Practical implications: The results reveal several ways that institutes of higher education could successfully use relational strategies to promote sustainability across multiple campus groups and departments by recruiting campus ambassadors, collectively defining sustainability and sharing public progress reports. Originality/value: Few studies of sustainability in higher education holistically examine the relationship building practices of organizations that promote sustainability, despite the fact that communication is identified as a key factor in the successful implementation of sustainable actions.