Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.57
Liaison Juliana Goodlaw-Morris
Submission Date Dec. 18, 2020

STARS v2.2

California State University, San Marcos
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Juliana Goodlaw-Morris
Sustainability Manager
Safety, Risk and Sustainability
"---" 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:
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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 California State University (CSU) participates in public policy through open dialogue with the State Relations & Advocacy Office which advocates through lobbying efforts on behalf of the CSU system. The CSU’s Advocacy and State Relations (ASR) team monitors all sustainability legislation that impacts the CSU specifically. It also participates in state-wide advocacy on issues, such as climate change policy, energy efficiency, water resources and other utility issues that impact the operation and physical facilities. ASR and the Chancellor’s Office also work with the Governor’s Offices and are members of the Direct Access Customer Coalition (DACC) and the Alliance for Retail Markets advocacy groups to advocate for the best interest of the CSU on energy and sustainability efforts.

The CSU provides public comment, meets with legislative staff, and testifies at budget subcommittee hearings in order to express CSU support for regulatory initiatives and activities related to carbon emission reductions and climate resiliency.

The CSU’s advocacy, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, work to ensure diverse stakeholders are represented and considered in decision-making processes


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:

In 2017, the CSU signed the We Are Still In pledge and coalition of over 1,400 cities, states, businesses and universities who are standing together to maintain U.S. leadership on climate change and clean energy. For more information, please visit: https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/CSU-Statement-on-Joining-%E2%80%98We-Are-Still-In%E2%80%99-Climate-Declaration.aspx

Chancellor Timothy White said in February 2018: “As I have stated repeatedly since before last September, providing those with DACA status a clear path for the future – to complete their education and build their careers – is indeed a wise decision for California and our nation. I continue to call on federal policymakers to stand up for our shared American values of inclusivity, opportunity and excellence – regardless of background or birthplace.”
Read more at: https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/Chancellor-White-Statement-on-DACA-February-26-2018.aspx


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:

The CSU, and over 300 other universities signed the White House pledge "American Campuses Act on Climate Change" to amplify the voice of the higher education community in advance of the United Nations COP21 climate negotiations in Paris, and to inspire world leaders to commit to action on climate change. In addition to supporting the Paris conference, the CSU committed to reducing carbon emissions from energy use and transportation, increasing on-site generation of clean renewable energy, and utilizing campuses as living laboratories to educate the climate change leaders of the future.


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

During 2017 and 2018, the CSU took a clear and public position to support and lobby for the protection of DACA students (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Specifically, the CSU offers free legal support services (https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/student-services/resources-for-undocumented-students/Pages/legal-support-services.aspx) throughout the system, and additionally, all 23 CSU campuses offer resources to support (https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/student-services/resources-for-undocumented-students/Pages/campus-support.aspx) undocumented students.

Read more at: https://www2.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/advocacy-and-state-relations/Pages/default.aspx


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

N/A


Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.