Furman University
EN-6: Community Partnerships
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.00 / 9.00 |
Laura
Bain Associate Director of Sustainability Assessment David E. Shi Center for Sustainability |
6.1 Sustainability-focused community partnerships
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s sustainability-focused community partnerships:
https://www.furman.edu/sustainability/programs/community-conservation-corps/
The Community Conservation Corps (CCC), founded in 2009, provides free home weatherization to low-income homeowners in the greater Greenville community. We partner with Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County to reduce energy consumption and promote the financial stability of homeowners through weatherization, energy conservation, and education. Furman students help track program savings and volunteer on certain projects.
To ensure a positive and professional experience for our clients, the CCC hires experienced, certified home energy auditors to determine each home’s needs. Expert contractors working with campus and community volunteers then perform all necessary services and provide all clients with the most relevant information for their household. Some of our services include new or additional insulation in attics and crawlspaces, weather stripping, air-sealing, crawl space vapor barriers, safety checks on combustion appliances, and more. We estimate that by providing these and other home weatherization services, we can help our clients save up to 25% on their home energy bills.
More Community Services: https://www.furman.edu/business-community/community-services/
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6.2 Partnerships to support underrepresented groups and vulnerable populations
Description of the institution’s community partnerships to support underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations in addressing sustainability challenges:
https://www.furman.edu/sustainability/programs/community-conservation-corps/
The Community Conservation Corps (CCC), founded in 2009, provides free home weatherization to low-income homeowners in the greater Greenville community. We partner with Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County to reduce energy consumption and promote the financial stability of homeowners through weatherization, energy conservation, and education. Furman students help track program savings and volunteer on certain projects.
Using an average over the last three years, the CCC serves these populations:
- 100% of CCC clients are considered “low income” meaning they have a household income of 80% or less of the area median income.
- 27% are seniors
- 22% are minors under the age of 18
- 74% are non-white
Bridges to a Brighter Future
Since 1997, Bridges to a Brighter Future has engaged students whose potential outdistances their circumstances in a comprehensive college access and success program in Greenville County. Our program is designed to not only expose students to college, but to address and eliminate the personal, social, and cultural barriers that often prevent low-income and first-generation students from achieving college graduation.
Linking two nationally distinguished campus efforts, Furman’s summer research programs and Bridges to a Brighter Future (BBF), has proven to be a great success and to date, over 30 BBF students have participated. This two-week science exposure program was developed to enable students to engage in creative science activities across multiple disciplines, participate in field research and reflect on their experiences through daily journaling. This experience is providing the stimulation for BBF students to consider STEM fields in their future college endeavors and to date over 30% of these students are majoring in STEM fields.
Students work together as a team (3 to 4 students per team) to learn about and engage in research associated with a specific discipline. Week-long exposures in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology/Neuroscience have been offered over the past two summers and opportunities in additional science disciplines (Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Earth and Environmental Science) are being developed. Students are mentored through this program by Furman University researchers and Furman University students. Rising junior and senior BBF students with a strong interest in science and math careers can apply (applications will be available in March). Students accepted into the program receive a stipend for their two-week commitment and will also be provided transportation should that be requested.
College Advising Corps https://collegeadvisingcorps.org/partners/furman-university/
The Furman College Advising Corps places well-trained recent college graduates in under-resourced communities to establish a stronger college-going tradition.
Furman University’s advisers serve in rural South Carolina, Lancaster, and Chester Counties.
TICTAC (Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center) - Andrew Predmore serves on the TCTAC Board which helps connect the EPA funded center to organizations throughout the state that are working on Environmental Issues in South Carolina. Andrew is contributing to a public-private partnership working group that is exploring how to leverage private sector funding to advance environmental justice work in SC.
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6.3 Community partnership assessment
Publication that includes the community partnership guidelines:
Online resource that includes the institution’s community partnership guidelines:
Are all of the institution’s community partnerships for sustainability subject to an assessment process that includes joint evaluation by the institution and its community partners?:
Description of the institution’s approach to community partnership assessment and how the results are used to improve reciprocity and mutual benefit:
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Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.