| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.14 |
| Liaison | Bremen Leak |
| Submission Date | July 10, 2024 |
Brigham Young University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Bremen
Leak Associate Director Sustainability & Continuity |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
BYU students and staff strive to care for the earth and one another in a spirit of disciple-stewardship. As the flagship university of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU has created an Office of Belonging focused on covenant communities and a Sustainability Office centered on stewardship over earthly blessings. Collectively, they're preparing students “to improve the moral, social, and ecological environment in which they and their families live,” as stated in the aims of a BYU education.
In recent years, many of BYU's weekly devotionals—enlightening messages from leaders and educators to the entire student body—have focused on these complementary themes: belonging in 2021 and stewardship in 2022, with talks by climate scientist Kathryn Hayhoe, conservationist Paul Allen Cox, and others. In 2024, a faculty conference titled "Stewardship Over the Earth and Human Family" showcased intersectional work on these topics, supported by the Office of Belonging, the Sustainability Office, the Ballard Center for Social Impact, and the International Vice President's Office. At that event, new funding for interdisciplinary research on environmental stewardship was announced by the Academic Vice President's Office.
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taught, "As beneficiaries of the divine Creation, what shall we do? We should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations. And we are to love and care for one another." Belonging and stewardship, in that spirit, increasingly drive the campus community to serve, lift, and lead as an expression of faith.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Coordination & Planning
Optional Fields
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Second Point of Distinction
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
The BYU Marriott School of Business's Ballard Center for Social Impact empowers students to do good in the world, harnessing their unique skills and interests to pursue educational experiences that lead to a meaningful life. With collaborative labs, curriculum, internships, competitions, and other events, the Ballard Center is addressing regional and global problems, such as poverty alleviation and climate vulnerability. The Ballard Center is also a major employer on campus, preparing BYU students for careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Designated a Changemaker Campus by Ashoka U, the Ballard Center reaches thousands of students per year through its events—from TEDxBYU, held from 2011 to 2022, and the ongoing Peery Film Series—and courses on social impact, corporate social impact, impact investing, virtuous organizations, and more. Its Ballard Brief research initiative invites students to explore an issue’s context, contributing factors, and consequences to gain a holistic view of complex challenges that people face around the world. Its Global and Community Impact Minor is open to all majors, and its Social Impact Projects connect students with employers who want to make a difference. It also offers an MBA social impact emphasis.
Supporting BYU's Sustainability Office, the Ballard Center is a trusted partner during Green Week and other campus-wide events, from an annual banquet that benefits local refugee assistance programs to a student-led sustainability and social impact career fair that debuted in 2024.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Research
Campus Engagement
Public Engagement
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Third Point of Distinction
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.