Overall Rating Platinum - expired
Overall Score 87.10
Liaison Alex Davis
Submission Date March 5, 2020

STARS v2.2

Arizona State University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Alex Davis
Asst. Director
University Sustainability Practices
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:

See additional documentation in note below.


Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:

The Arizona Board of Regents and ASU President Michael Crow advocated to the Governor of Arizona and Arizona State Legislature for "additional new teachers to meet the teacher shortage for K-12 in Arizona". This supports UN SDG target 4.1: "By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes"

More information:
https://www.azregents.edu/sites/default/files/news-releases/New_Economy_Initiative_ABOR_FY_2021_Budget_Request.pdf

ASU President Michael Crow testified before the Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee in January 2020 to discuss the state's budget and how increased higher education funding would benefit the state's economy. Crow focused the first part of his testimony on health sciences, specifically addressing the healthcare workforce shortage and fueling further economic growth. He mentioned using the money to create readying curriculum for students studying health so they can address Arizona's aging and rural populations. This supports UN SDG target 3.c: "Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States" [over a quarter of Arizona is tribal land where medical resources are significantly underdeveloped.]
https://www.statepress.com/article/2020/01/sppolitics-president-crow-speaks-at-state-senate

ASU's Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development and Office of Government and Community Engagement (part of the Office of the President) sponsored “Revolutionizing Arizona’s Water Future” at the 2019 Congressional Conference. The conference brought together regional stakeholders with ASU experts to find sustainable ways to manage water in the context of a changing climate.
This supports UN SDG targets 6.4 and 6.5:
"By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure
sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity"
"By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate"

More information:
https://asunow.asu.edu/20190827-arizona-impact-water-experts-share-challenges-optimism-climate-change-bears-down


Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:

ASU President Michael Crow has made clear ASU’s intention to honor its mission to provide a quality education to Arizona’s college bound students – all of them. To that end, ASU engaged in a significant, multi-year effort to advocate for various bills that would address DACA.

Statements from President Crow on DACA:
https://president.asu.edu/statements/message-regarding-the-pending-presidential-decision-on-daca
https://president.asu.edu/statements/update-daca-message-from-asu-president-michael-crow (“We will work with the Arizona Congressional Delegation and other members of Congress to enact the DREAM Act or other appropriate federal legislation to provide an alternative to DACA”)
https://president.asu.edu/statements/statement-from-asu-president-michael-m-crow-on-daca

ASU supported in full or amended form various legislative efforts in the US House and Senate to extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for qualified individuals, including:
- HR 496: Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy Act.
- HR4760: Goodlatte 3 year DACA extension, no path to citizenship
- HR4796: Hurd/Aguilar, a permanent legislative solution for DACA, path to citizenship
- S128: Graham (Flake)3 year temporary extension
- HR496: Coffman 3 year temporary extension
- S2199: Flake Permanent legislative solution for DACA, path to citizenship
- S127: Flake 3 year temporary extension

(Jeff Flake was one of Arizona’s two senators)

Lobbying documentation from the second quarter of 2017 through the second quarter of 2018:
https://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=812EDC2D-A5E3-42DB-B6D8-C70255472DB6&filingTypeID=60
https://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=FE30D5B0-70C3-4DEC-8B80-904210B6035D&filingTypeID=69
https://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=2D679AE0-BB22-4D49-9371-7998580A98A4&filingTypeID=78
https://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=3F95D4AE-58EA-4EED-A18D-6AD45B4AFF09&filingTypeID=51
https://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=222C587F-EEB3-4EAC-B18D-34F32554FB58&filingTypeID=60

In addition to the above, ASU has disclosed support for public broadcasting, medical research, veteran support, financial aid, increased research funding for carbon reduction and carbon capture technologies, increased research and development expenditures for water infrastructure, conservation, and supply sustainability, and support for the USDA Biomass Research and Development program, which focuses on algae to fuels research.


Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:

President Michael Crow signed the We Are Still In Declaration in support of the Paris Climate Accord:
https://www.wearestillin.com/organization/arizona-state-university

Related UN SDG targets:
Multiple Goal 13 targets


A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
---

A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
---

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

ASU regularly engages with the communities its campuses are located on many areas of sustainability.

For example:

ASU works with the City of Tempe to support sustainable transportation options and sustainable, applied food waste management research. Each of these efforts requires ASU's advocacy in the local government systems. This work is coordinated by the Office of Government & Community Engagement, which is part of the Office of the President. In turn, these collaborations require formal approval of the respective City Council. Additionally, ASU's assistant director of commuter services is a member of the City of Tempe Transportation Commission.
- Since 1994, ASU has supported the FLASH system. The system was expanded in 2009 to include a portion of the Orbit system. This is supported by Dr. Morgan Olsen, the Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of ASU.
- ASU attended City of Tempe government meetings and worked with the City to host and financially support a community bike-share system
- ASU worked with the Cities of Tempe and Mesa to support applied research on the co-digestion of food waste and fats, oils, and grease in municipal facilities.
- ASU supported the Tempe streetcar project: "Arizona State University has also lent financial support, as well as vocal support" (https://azbigmedia.com/business/transportation-biz/tempe-streetcar-project-will-boost-bustling-downtown/)

The Office of Government & Community Engagement, which is part of the Office of the President, coordinated work by ASU faculty to advocate for Maricopa County to fund research on urban heat and air quality in the Phoenix area. Related UN SDG target: 11.6 "By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management"
https://www.maricopa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=611&ARC=1733

ASU staff serve on the City of Tempe Sustainability Commission, which includes designated seats for one Sustainability Scientist or staff member associated with Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability and one faculty or staff member of Arizona State University, At-large. More information:
https://www.tempe.gov/government/city-clerk-s-office/boards-and-commissions/active-boards-commissions-committees-and-other-public-bodies/sustainability-commission

ASU faculty, staff, and students are engaged in supporting sustainability planning in the City of Tempe. Example: https://www.statepress.com/article/2019/04/spcommunity-city-of-tempe-works-with-asu-to-craft-climate-action-plan


ASU regularly engages with the communities its campuses are located on many areas of sustainability.

For example:

ASU works with the City of Tempe to support sustainable transportation options and sustainable, applied food waste management research. Each of these efforts requires ASU's advocacy in the local government systems. This work is coordinated by the Office of Government & Community Engagement, which is part of the Office of the President. In turn, these collaborations require formal approval of the respective City Council. Additionally, ASU's assistant director of commuter services is a member of the City of Tempe Transportation Commission.
- Since 1994, ASU has supported the FLASH system. The system was expanded in 2009 to include a portion of the Orbit system. This is supported by Dr. Morgan Olsen, the Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of ASU.
- ASU attended City of Tempe government meetings and worked with the City to host and financially support a community bike-share system
- ASU worked with the Cities of Tempe and Mesa to support applied research on the co-digestion of food waste and fats, oils, and grease in municipal facilities.
- ASU supported the Tempe streetcar project: "Arizona State University has also lent financial support, as well as vocal support" (https://azbigmedia.com/business/transportation-biz/tempe-streetcar-project-will-boost-bustling-downtown/)

The Office of Government & Community Engagement, which is part of the Office of the President, coordinated work by ASU faculty to advocate for Maricopa County to fund research on urban heat and air quality in the Phoenix area. Related UN SDG target: 11.6 "By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management"
https://www.maricopa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=611&ARC=1733

ASU staff serve on the City of Tempe Sustainability Commission, which includes designated seats for one Sustainability Scientist or staff member associated with Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability and one faculty or staff member of Arizona State University, At-large. More information:
https://www.tempe.gov/government/city-clerk-s-office/boards-and-commissions/active-boards-commissions-committees-and-other-public-bodies/sustainability-commission

ASU faculty, staff, and students are engaged in supporting sustainability planning in the City of Tempe. Example: https://www.statepress.com/article/2019/04/spcommunity-city-of-tempe-works-with-asu-to-craft-climate-action-plan

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.