Bucknell University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.33 / 2.00 |
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
Fully backed by the administration, the Office of Campus Sustainability, Facilities Department and some Faculty members at Bucknell University helped East Buffalo Township to enact a solar farm zoning ordinance that otherwise would not have been established. Staff and faculty testified and provided input during the hearing. The ordinance resulted in the approval for the deployment of a 1.7MW solar farm at Bucknell campus.
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
Through the Civil Engineering Department, Bucknell has had involvement with transportation-related public policy including the Route 15 crossing which is one of the top ten issues in the State of Pennsylvania. As one example, Bucknell leadership signed a letter of support seeking grant funding to improve both vehicular and pedestrian safety at this intersection.
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
The President of Bucknell University have strongly advocated for the continuation of DACA, evidenced by the more than 600 higher education leaders who signed this November 2016 letter of support. As I stated in a recent letter to our U.S. Congressional leaders:
"The young people who benefit from DACA - children who had no control over how they arrived in the United States - are active, engaged and contributing members of higher education learning communities across the country. ... The individuals (DACA) protects add immeasurable value to our colleges and universities, our communities, and our country as a whole.". Please see the link below for details.
https://www.bucknell.edu/sept-5-2017-daca-decision
Public policy opportunities are identified and vetted by leadership up to and including the Board of Trustees (as required). In some cases, Bucknell chooses to advocate for these issues. In other cases, we chose to follow the intent, but do not sign a formal commitment for that initiative. In some cases, national leaders are invited to address the campus on specific issues through the Bucknell Forum. The 2022-23 Bucknell Forum discuss the theme “The State of American Democracy” and feature speakers from across the political spectrum offering their perspectives on some of the most pressing issues facing society.
https://www.bucknell.edu/meet-bucknell/bucknell-leadership/meet-president-bravman/bucknell-forum
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
As shown in the link below, Bucknell University is a part of the "We Are Still In" coalition which publicly opposed the USA withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. The Biden Administration has not only rejoined the Agreement but has been able to pass national legislations that influences the global actions and on climate activities.
https://www.wearestillin.com/organization/bucknell-university
Public policy opportunities are identified and vetted by leadership up to and including the Board of Trustees (as required). In some cases, Bucknell chooses to advocate for these issues by joining and participating in International organizations such as the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) where the university is a member.
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:
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.