Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.23
Liaison Josh Lasky
Submission Date March 5, 2020

STARS v2.2

George Washington University
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Meghan Chapple
Director of Sustainability, Senior Advisor on University Sustainability Initiatives
Office of Sustainability
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Is the institution currently a member of a national or international higher education sustainability network?:
Yes

The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, The Climate Leadership Network, National Council for Science and the Environment, Planet Forward, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Listening Post/Ivy+ Sustainability Consortium


Does the institution actively participate in a regional, state/provincial, or local higher education sustainability network?:
Yes

The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):

Washington DC College and University Sustainability Network as part of the Consortium of Universities


Has the institution presented at a higher education sustainability conference during the previous year?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):

Following are a sample of meetings GW has hosted for inter-campus collaboration:

1. 2017-2020 Planet Forward Consortium
Planet Forward Salons – Expert panels with online and in person discussion.
In The Classroom – Workshops on sustainability and science storytelling on your campus.
Planet Forward Summit – Flagship event held on with experts in journalism, science, environmental policy, and other areas.
Planet Forward Correspondents – An elite group of students from across the country contribute 4 stories to Planet Forward and are provided a travel grant to attend the Planet Forward Summit, where their work is featured.
Storyfest Competition – Students submit stories in text, pictures, video, or music that reflect innovation, sustainability, and science from campus or community. Finalists attend the Summit where the six grand prize winners are announced.

2. 2019-2020 Washington, D.C. Consortium Building Energy Performance Standard Technical Working Group for new climate legislation out of the local government

Following are presentations given by GW faculty, students, and staff at higher education confernces on sustainability:
2017 Smithsonian Institution’s In-Service Training: Practical Sustainability Solutions in Play: The George Washington University’s Capital Partners Solar Project
2017 The Case for Renewable Power in the Southeast: Conference on College and University Renewable Power Demand at Vanderbilt University: The George Washington University’s Capital Partners Solar Project
2017 Smart & Sustainable Campuses Conference, GW sustainability director served on the Sustainability Directors Panel
2017 AASHE Conference, GW staff presented on large scale renewable energy purchases and the Innovation Lab for the sustainable development goals
2019 National Council for Science and the Environment Annual Conference: How to Be an Effective Change Agent, Career Pathways and Opportunities in Environment and Science
2018 Metro-DC University Sustainability Annual Meeting: Affecting Change Beyond Campus Boundaries
2018 AASHE retreat at Swarthmore College: Being a Change Agent for External Carbon Pricing
2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit: Women's Leadership, Discussion Facilitator
2019 Second Nature Webinar: Large-Scale Renewable Energy for CFOs
2019 International Society of Sustainable Development Research Symposium at the George Washington University: An Annual Assessment of Sustainability Progress in Action
2019 Research to Action: The Science of Drawdown at Penn State University: Clothes Are Not Trash: Clothing Recovery on a College Campus in the Nation’s Capital
2019 Research to Action: The Science of Drawdown at Penn State University. Powerful Thoughts: The Power of Universities as Thought Leaders in Scaling Renewable Energy
2020 National Council for Science and the Environment Annual Conference: Lifetime Achievement Award on Science, Service, and Leadership Armchair discussion led by Frank Sesno, Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs


Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to an external higher education sustainability resource center or awards program?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s):

GW collaborated with Environment America on a write-up and accompanying webinar on the case of the Capital Partners Solar Project, which provides GW and its partners (AU and the GW University Hospital) with 50% of its electricity through solar power. Environment America recognized GW's Capital Partners Solar Project as first in the country for offsite renewable electricity purchases in higher education.
Additionally, GW ontributed content based on the case of organizational structure at GW to and review of the Carbon Pricing Toolkit for the higher ed working group on the topic launched at the Global Climate Action Summit.


Has the institution had employees or students serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):

Director of Sustainability served on the planning committee for the Climate Leadership Summit in 2018. She also serves on the Erb Institute at the University of Michigan, the Board for Planet Forward and the directors committee for the DC College and University Sustainability Network. She, along with the Director of the Sustainability Minor and Academic Programs, serve on the Deans and Directors Committee of the National Council for Science and the Environment. Frank Sesno, Director of GW's School of Media and Public Affairs and the head of GW's Planet Forward serves on the Board of the National Council for Science and the Environment. Additionally, the Office of Sustainability director and staff are active members of the Listening Post/Ivy+ Sustainability Consortium’s Carbon Neutrality Working Group as well as Second Nature's Carbon Pricing in Higher Ed Working Group.


Does the institution have an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution through which it assists the institution with its sustainability reporting and/or the development of its sustainability program?:
Yes

A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:

As part of the Washington DC College and University Sustainability Network, GW has shared best practice on large scale renewable energy, stormwater management, measuring sustainability performance, among other things, with Howard University, Georgetown University, and Gallaudet University. In 2018 and 2019 GW received public grant funding to 1) design and host a peer institution learning session on developing climate adaptaion and resilience plans for the campus and community, as well as 2) study effective communication techniques for increasing awareness and action around textile and clothing reuse on campus and in the community.


Has the institution had employees or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
No

A brief description of the peer review activities:
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A brief description of other inter-campus collaborative efforts around sustainability during the previous year :

GW hosts the annual DC Climathon to foster innovation to address climate change in Washington, DC. GW includes members of the D.C. higher education community. Since 2017, students, staff, alumni, and faculty from Georgetown University, University of the District of Columbia, George Mason University, American University, and Gallaudet University have joined as as participants, mentors, and judges.
Additionally, the GW Planet Forward program brings together almost 20 universities from across the country to promote, teach, and reward storytelling to show young people how they can be effective in communication on sustainability. GW hosts and supports faculty and students to provide programming to their students.


Website URL where information about the institution’s inter-campus collaborations is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.