Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 48.20
Liaison Lauren Poole
Submission Date Dec. 10, 2021

STARS v2.2

Colorado School of Mines
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.33 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Local advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
The Colorado School of Mines is currently engaged in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Golden, MillerCoors, and NREL to support local community sustainability projects. Mines has worked to support EV charging station installation, heating infrastructure renovations, and otherwise within the community.

The Colorado School of Mines recently partnered with the City of Golden and the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance on launching the nation's largest fleet of autonomous, electric shuttles in Colorado. Mines worked with the City of Golden, RTD, and other local groups to develop a pilot on the Mines campus for the campaign launch. For more details, read https://www.minesnewsroom.com/news/nations-largest-fleet-autonomous-electric-shuttles-launches-colorado

Regional advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
---

National advocacy

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:
At the national level, the Colorado School of Mines has advocated for continued support of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). In a Sept. 1, 2017 letter, President Paul Johnson, along with over 700 university presidents across the U.S., signed a national letter of solidarity released by Pomona College urging the Trump administration and Congress to do more to protect and expand the DACA program. See https://oredigger.net/2017/10/mines-builds-community-amidst-daca-controversy/

In April 2020, Colorado School of Mines President Johnson signed a letter along with leaders of 26 Colorado universities and colleges addressed to Colorado U.S. Senators and Representatives urging them to join Colorado universities in supporting DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Specifically, the letter urged them to:

• Automatically extend work authorization for DACA recipients for two years through legislation and simultaneously call upon the administration to do the same.
• Draft and approve legislation that would provide permanent protection for Dreamers without hurting or penalizing other immigrant communities;
• Call upon the Administration to refrain from arresting, detaining, or deporting Dreamers until Congress enacts permanent relief.

Read the full letter here: https://www.presidentsalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Colorado-Higher-Ed-Institutions-Support-for-DACA-Recipients.pdf

The Mines Payne Institute of Public Policy spoke to congress about the need to ensure domestic minerals were available that are essential for solar and electric vehicles. See https://gazette.com/news/colorado-school-of-mines-professor-advocates-in-congress-for-us-rare-earth-minerals/article_6605a72c-da7d-11e9-ad76-bb60015c0004.html

International advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
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Optional Fields 

A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
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None
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:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The Colorado School of Mines’ Payne Institute of Public Policy works closely with the UNFCCC on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from supply chains that are used by governments in policy decision making.

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.