| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.62 |
| Liaison | Darcy Coughlan |
| Submission Date | Dec. 22, 2022 |
Coastal Carolina University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.33 / 2.00 |
Darcy
Coughlan Associate Director Sustain Coastal |
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:
CCU informs and engages in public policy at the local, regional, national and international levels via participation in councils, committees, commissions, consortiums, etc. The expertise provided by CCU faculty influences decision-making in public policy at these respective levels. While research is required to develop expertise in the subject-matter, it does not necessarily translate into engagement with the community on sustainability-related issues. The following are examples of CCU faculty participating in councils, committees, commissions, etc. with the support of top university officials.
LOCAL RESILIENCE PLANNING
CCU participates in resilience planning with the Waccamaw Council of Governments, counties (Horry and Georgetown), and municipalities (i.e., Andrews and City of Georgetown). We also won a NOAA grant on climate adaptation planning (2017-2020); and were just awarded the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation award for resilience planning in vulnerable communities. President David DeCenzo and then Dean, now Provost Dan Ennis, signed formal agreements for the NOAA climate adaptation project grant that resulted in a resilience task force for Georgetown County.
https://coastalobserver.com/simulation-leads-to-call-for-task-force-on-flooding/
COASTAL WACCAMAW STORMWATER EDUCATION CONSORTIUM (CWSEC)
The Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium (CWSEC), in collaboration with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control – Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (DHEC OCRM), Horry County Stormwater Management (HCSW), Georgetown County Stormwater (GCSW), Myrtle Beach State Park (MBSP), Coastal Carolina University (CCU), Keep Horry County Beautiful (KHCB), and the Waccamaw Riverkeeper Program of the Winyah Rivers Foundation (WRF), implemented a cigarette litter reduction project that was modeled after the Cigarette Litter Reduction Pilot Study in Folly Beach, SC. Funded by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) in coordination with the NOAA Marine Debris Program (NOAA MDP), this project sought to enhance public awareness and promote proper disposal of cigarette litter on the beaches and rivers along the Grand Strand of coastal South Carolina. The project took place June 2018 through January 2019.
The CWSEC was formed in 2005 in an effort to help Horry and Georgetown counties and municipalities tackle stormwater issues and maintain the quality of water resources in the coastal area. Monica Gray, Associate Professor/Director for CCU’s Engineering Program was Director of the CWSEC until 2021. CWSEC is a collaborative effort providing stormwater education and outreach programs to meet federal requirements and satisfy local environmental and economic needs. Coastal Carolina University's Center for Marine and Wetland Studies is one of the education providers of CWSEC.
http://cwsec-sc.org/cigarettelitter/
https://www.coastal.edu/ccustories/news/news-article/index.php?id=1127
HWY 544 COASTAL CAROLINA PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Following fatal accidents involving our students on S.C. 544, the University explored various options to increase safety for our students utilizing S.C. 544 to access our campus. The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and Coastal Carolina University (CCU), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), have proposed to make pedestrian safety improvements along SC-544 between Carter Lane and Elvington Loop in Horry County. CCU Vice President for Executive Initiatives & Chief of Staff, Travis Overton, advocates for the project on behalf of CCU to gather support within the community for the local project. https://scdot-environmental-project-site-scdot.hub.arcgis.com/pages/coastal-carolina-pedestrian-improvements
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:
THE SOUTH CAROLINA FLOODWATER COMMISSION
South Carolina faces an environmental challenge of the utmost urgency. Frequent flooding from rains, storms, hurricanes and tides threatens our people, our property and our way of life. To identify a comprehensive solution, and better facilitate a coordinated and collaborative mitigation effort, Governor McMaster - by Executive Order - established the South Carolina Floodwater Commission. The Commission works to provide solution-based discussions and to identify and implement short-term and long-term recommendations to alleviate and mitigate flood impacts to this State, with emphasis on the coastal and river-based communities.
A number of CCU top administrators are members of the South Carolina Floodwater Commission including, but not limited to Thomas S. Mullikin (Chairman), William G. Ambrose Jr., Dr. Paul Gayes, Dr. Richard Viso, and Robert Young.
• Tom Mullikin is an Adjunct Professor at CCU
• Dr. William G. Ambrose, Jr. is Vice Dean & Chair of MSCI, School of the Coastal Environment
• Dr. Paul Gayes is the Executive Director, Burroughs & Chapin, Center for Marine & Wetland Studies
• Dr. Richard Viso is the Associate Dean for the Gupta College of Science
From the Post and Courier:
“The South Carolina Floodwater Commission has begun to act on recommendations to address the severe weather and flooding the state continues to experience each year.
Just last year, a state Office of Resilience was established, and the first chief resilience officer was appointed and confirmed. Additionally, the Floodwater Commission organized S.C. Power Plant, which planted 3.4 million trees in one day in April.
But the commission’s chair, Tom Mullikin, said more must be done. He said the frequent flooding along the coast, rivers and low-lying areas of the state highlight the need for a statewide plan to accommodate and mitigate flooding impacts.
Mullikin said the additional lands protected through Campsen’s proposal will provide a “firewall of natural support” from flooding and protect some of the most fragile and beautiful areas for generations.”
The CCU President has publicly thanked Dr. Tom Mullikin for his work as SC Flood Water Commissioner.
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:
SC SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM
President Michael T. Benson is on the Board of Directors for the SC Sea Grant Consortium. The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium was created in 1978 as an independent state agency through Act No. 643 of South Carolina’s Code of Laws. The Consortium is a member of a nationwide network of 34 Sea Grant College Programs that are certified by the National Sea Grant College Program , which is located within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , U.S. Department of Commerce. The Consortium is charged with managing and administering the Sea Grant program for the State of South Carolina and regionally.
The purpose of the SC Sea Grant Consortium is to generate and provide science-based information on issues and opportunities to improve the social and economic well-being of our coastal residents while ensuring the optimal use and conservation of our marine and coastal natural resources.
The Core Focus Areas of the Consortium include:
• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
• Sustainable Coastal Development and Economy
• Weather and Climate Resilience
• Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Scientific Literacy and Workforce Development
How the Consortium Supports Sustainable Coastal Development and Economy: The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium supports research and outreach to generate and deliver science-based information and programs in response to the needs of local communities and decision-makers in the following areas:
• The interrelationships among social, economic, and environmental concerns in coastal South Carolina, and optimizing each.
• Regional approaches to coastal land-use and watershed planning.
• Enhancing waterfront-related economic opportunities without diminishing the long-term health of the coastal environment.
• Robust and healthy working waterfronts, fisheries, and aquaculture.
• Tools to help manage coastal areas for tourism, recreation, and other uses.
• Identifying ways for small coastal communities to engage in the tourism economy in an economically, environmentally, and culturally diverse way.
• Developing planning and policy tools for coastal access.
• Understanding the effects of population growth and changes in land use.
• Offshore energy issues, policies, technologies, infrastructure, and impacts.
https://www.scseagrant.org/sustainable-coastal-development-and-economy/
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:
Dr. Pamela Martin is on the Expert Panel and Network for the UN Harmony with Nature Programme; she also serves on the Academic Hub Steering Committee of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. This policy advocacy was supported by university administration when she was given scholarly reassignment in Fall 2019 and provided funds to travel to a United Nations Harmony with Nature Conference.
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.