| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 83.20 |
| Liaison | Maddie LoDico |
| Submission Date | Nov. 5, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Colby College
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Matthew
Mulcahy Senior Director of Operations Facilities Services |
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, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
As a representative of Colby, the Director of Sustainability is a member of the board of directors of the Sustain Mid Maine Coalition, a local non-profit that supports sustainability in central Maine. In the fall of 2018, SMMC spearheaded a ballot initiative to ban single use plastic bags from large retailers within the city limits.
In 2018, Colby supported Waterville in its application for a federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant. On December 6, 2018, Waterville received a $7.4-million BUILD award from the United States Department of Transportation to support improvements for roadways, sidewalks, intersections, and public green spaces in downtown Waterville. The City’s grant application enjoyed strong support from U.S. Sen. Senator Collins, U.S. Sen Angus King, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, the Central Maine Growth Council, the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, Colby College, and many local business owners and civic leaders in Waterville.The grant is part of a larger revitalization strategy that aims to create a sustainable, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly downtown.
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, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
Colby is a member of the Maine Independent Colleges Association (MICA), an organization that lobbies for renewable energy. In 2013, Laurie Lachance, President of Thomas College, testified before the Maine Public Utilities Commission on behalf of MICA. The testimony was delivered in opposition to a proposed electric rate structure that would stifle development of large-scale solar in Maine. Colby College supported this advocacy and Lachance explicitly referenced Colby College, among other schools, when asked on whose behalf she was giving testimony.
President David Greene is responsible for our membership in this organization.
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, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
Colby is a member of the Maine Independent Colleges Association (MICA), an organization that lobbies for renewable energy and sustainability education. In 2010, MICA lobbied Senator Susan Collins of Maine to support funding the Department of Education University Sustainability Program. Colby is also a member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), which lobbied in support of the federal Perkins Loan program in 2017. Perkins Loans provide financial aid for low-income students. President David Greene is responsible for our membership in both of these organizations.
http://member.naicu.edu/member_center/page/information-on-becoming-a-naicu-member
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, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
Our environmental studies senior seminars are good examples of how the College engages in public policy advocacy in the state of Maine. Senior Environmental Science students create an annual report on the ecology of the Belgrade Lakes and present their recommendations and findings at a community meeting at the Maine Lakes Resource Center. Environmental Policy students investigate international issues including seed networks and invasive species, create a policy brief, and share their findings with their international partner organizations like Oxfam in Ethiopia.
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
N/A
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.