| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 81.82 |
| Liaison | Ryan Ihrke |
| Submission Date | Feb. 23, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Green Mountain College
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Ryan
Ihrke Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
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:
In November, 2016, Green Mountain College president Bob Allen released a public letter supporting the resettlement of Syrian Refugees in Rutland, VT, the commercial center of Rutland County where Green Mountain College is located. The letter, published through various media outlets, opened with the following statement, "On behalf of the students, faculty and staff of Green Mountain College, we wish to welcome you in advance of your arrival to our beautiful green mountain state. We look forward to the opportunity to greet you in Rutland and on our campus later this year. The college community stands ready to help you settle into your new life, healing the wounds of war and moving toward a future of hope and joy."
The Syrian refugee resettlement program was an important political issue for both the local region and part of a larger national dialogue. Community members formed pro-resettlement and anti-resettlement groups and the local political leaders also identified themselves as aligned or against the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the community. Ultimately, the resettlement program was limited due the back and forth in national policy regarding Syrian refugee resettlement.
The full letter issued by the president can be found here: http://www.greenmtn.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Syrian_Neighbors-1.pdf
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:
In February 2017, Green Mountain College officially Energy Independent Vermont's call for a carbon pollution tax in Vermont, becoming the first higher education institution to endorse the campaign. A press release with the endorsement can be found here: https://www.energyindependentvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Carbon-Pollution-Press-Release.pdf
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:
In the fall of 2015, Green Mountain College signed the American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge which states, “As institutions of higher education, we applaud the progress already made to promote clean energy and climate action as we seek a comprehensive, ambitious agreement at the upcoming United Nations Climate Negotiations in Paris. We recognize the urgent need to act now to avoid irreversible costs to our global community’s economic prosperity and public health and are optimistic that world leaders will reach an agreement to secure a transition to a low carbon future. Today our school pledges to accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy while enhancing sustainable and resilient practices across our campus.”
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:
In June, 2017, Green Mountain College signed the We Are Still In declaration asserting the following:
1. In the absence of Federal support, states, cities, colleges and universities and businesses will pursue ambitious climate goals, to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing emissions.
2. In the U.S., the actors that will provide the leadership necessary to meet our Paris commitment are found in city halls, state capitals, colleges and universities and businesses.
3. We will remain actively engaged with the international community as part of the global effort to hold warming to under 2°C and to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy that will benefit our security, prosperity, and health.
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):
Green Mountain College does not make political donations.
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:
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