Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.20
Liaison Gary Cocke
Submission Date March 1, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Baylor University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Smith Getterman
Assistant Director of Sustainability and Special Projects
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

1st Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
Baylor/Keep Waco Beautiful

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? :
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe?:
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus?:
The partnership supports at least one, but not all three, dimensions of sustainability

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (Yes, No, or Not Sure):
Not Sure

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above:
This partnership includes board and committee memberships that come with indefinite terms, most of which are served by the Director of Sustainability and Special Projects or another member of the University Sustainability Committee. This organization has also served as members of the university's sustainability committee. Students volunteer with this group and this group works with the Director of Sustainability to address issues on campus that may impact the community as well.

2nd Partnership

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Baylor University/City of Waco Wetlands Project

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (2nd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (2nd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (2nd partnership):
The partnership supports at least one, but not all three, dimensions of sustainability

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (2nd partnership) (Yes, No, or Not Sure):
Not Sure

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above (2nd partnership):
The University partners with the City of Waco at the Waco Wetlands Project. Located adjacent to the Wetlands, the 6,000 sq. ft. Wetlands Research and Education Center has proven to be a valuable resource to many area schools and universities. The center augments existing and future water-related educational programs at Baylor University, provides professional and technical training and support services, and implements outreach efforts to educate the community and local school children about reservoir systems and related water issues. The Research and Education Center is the site of classes for students of Baylor University's Biology Department. Baylor calls their program CRASR, the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research. A comprehensive evaluation of Lake Waco will provide Baylor scientists and students with a living lab and the City of Waco with important information for managing its water supply for years to come.

3rd Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
City of Waco-Portland State Urban Accelerator

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (3rd partnership):
The partnership simultaneously supports social equity and wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (3rd partnership) (Yes, No, or Unknown):
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above (3rd partnership):
As a part of the Portland State Urban Sustainability Accelerator, Baylor University joined with other members of the Waco cohort, formed by the Waco Chamber of Commerce, to explore more opportunities for sustainable development and areas of collaboration for the city, private partners, and the university. Many of the goals and ideas gleaned from the PSUSA continue to be integrated into the overall university focused sustainability goals with an eye on opportunities for continued future partnerships with the City and other community partners. The Urban Sustainability Accelerator provides a year-long program of expert advice and support for participating cities in implementing an important sustainability project or program. Each city creates an implementation team with leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The implementation teams form a cohort group for mutual learning and support during the year. The year begins and ends with the convening of the city implementation teams during the summer in Portland, Oregon.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution’s other community partnerships to advance sustainability:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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