Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.95
Liaison Susan Powers
Submission Date Feb. 12, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Clarkson University
EN-9: Community Partnerships

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Susan Powers
Assoc. Dir. Sustainability
ISE
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have at least one formal sustainability partnership with the local community that meets the criteria as “supportive”?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s supportive sustainability partnership(s) with the local community:

The University partners with the St Lawrence Co. Planning Office to increase diversion of solid waste from the landfill. This partnership led to our Take it or leave it program for recovering un-wanted goods at the end of the semester and annual reporting on our diversion successes. Clarkson's ISE staff started working with the county office in the fall of 2014 to envision suitable programs and adapt our program to the county's needs. The ISE provided organization, volunteers, funding for tents, marketing, and networking with area charitable organizations that could use collected goods. The county provided extra roll-off bins to collect and store materials that would be redistributed in Syracuse NY. This partnership is on-going as we plan for the 2016 program.

+ Date Revised: March 21, 2016

Does the institution have at least one formal sustainability partnership with the local community that meets the criteria as “collaborative”?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's collaborative sustainability partnership(s):

Faculty and staff have worked closely with the Adirondack North Country Assoc (ANCA) on the development of the regional Cleaner Greener Sustainability plan and organization of the annual Clean Energy conference. The partnership was established in 2012 with faculty participation in the development of ANCA's Cleaner Greener Communities strategic plan that addressed sustainability from 11 perspectives (clean energy, vibrant communities,water quality, resilient communities etc.). A significant outcome of that was the initiation of the regional annual energy conference that is looking forward to its 5th annual event in June 2016. Clarkson faculty continue to serve each year on the planning committee for this conference, lead technical sessions and present work. The conference brings together community members, practitioners and academic people interested in clean energy supplies through the sustainable use of regional resources.

+ Date Revised: March 21, 2016

Does the institution have at least one formal sustainability partnership with the local community that meets the criteria as “transformative”?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's transformative sustainability partnership(s) with the local community:

The President of the University has served as the co-Chair of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council since 2011. This group coordinates regional requests for NYS funding to promote economic development in the region in a community-based sustainable manner. The work has included the development of the regional Cleaner Greener Sustainability Plan and promotion of local and sustainable energy production in the region. As co-chair, our President presides over organizational meetings, help to chose the specific projects included in the plan and presents the plans and assessment of successes to the New York Governor and agency leaders. He has continued to emphasize sustainability as critical components of funded projects. The efforts have brought over $67 million to the region from state funds that have been leveraged with an additional $400 million. This substantial influx of funds to the state's poorest county is helping to improve local agriculture, clean energy, clean manufacturing, tourism to appreciate our natural resources and more. http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/north-country

+ Date Revised: March 21, 2016

A brief description of the institution’s sustainability partnerships with distant (i.e. non-local) communities:

The microfinance project in Mbarara Uganda includes the Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Clarkson faculty and students have worked with MUST faculty and students since 2012 to bring microfinance projects to the region. The Clarkson commitment has included providing microfinance funds, supporting and training of the new women owned enterprises, and quantifying the successes and impacts. These projects include envisioning and implementing tree nurseries that are helping with the regional reforestation project for carbon sequestration, economic development and habitat restoration. Students and faculty continue to travel to Uganda annually to promote and assess the microfinance projects.

+ Date Revised: March 21, 2016

The website URL where information about sustainability partnerships is available:
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.