Oregon State University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

As a research intensive institution, and with strengths in forestry, agriculture, natural resources and engineering, OSU faculty and staff serve as experts in their fields and are frequently called upon by elected officials to provide guidance during policy discussions. Recently, OSU faculty have served on the City of Corvallis Climate Action Task Force to create a climate action plan for the community. This significant effort syncs up with OSU's carbon planning efforts and will also involve planning and action at the county government level. Numerous OSU faculty, staff and students serve on other city and county committees, commissions and task forces. OSU is an integral part of the Corvallis community and is one of the largest driving forces for sustainability locally. OSU is the largest partner in the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, an organization that advocates for a more sustainable community. Amongst the work of the Coalition is a Community Sustainability Action Plan that was submitted to and approved by the Corvallis City Council. OSU students in the past few years have also advocated for a Styrofoam ban and plastic bag ban within the city and improved funding of city transit for all of Corvallis.

As a research intensive institution, and with strengths in forestry, agriculture, natural resources and engineering, OSU faculty and staff serve as experts in their fields and are frequently called upon by elected officials to provide guidance during policy discussions. Because of its role as a land grant university, OSU advocates for policies that improve the lives of the people of Oregon. Publicly funded programs advocated for include OSU Extension, Forest Research Laboratories, Agricultural Experiment Stations, Master Recyclers, Master Gardner, Climate Masters, 4H programs, and others. These programs have elements that focus on sustainability throughout the state. Most significant with respect to OSU's land grant designation is the policy advice provided through OSU Extension, Sea Grant Extension and other outreach and engagement units. Local decision making bodies like watershed councils, city councils, county commissions and numerous other entities receive frequent policy advice and direction from Extension and its affiliates. This type of activity occurs across Oregon and beyond. OSU guides its participation in policy issues with one full time professional faculty member dedicated to state policy issues.

As a research intensive institution, and with strengths in forestry, agriculture, natural resources and engineering, OSU faculty and staff serve as experts in their fields and are frequently called upon by elected officials to provide guidance during policy discussions. OSU is a signatory of the We Are Still In campaign and remains committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of the national political landscape. For a more complete listing of individuals involved with national sustainability policy issues, please check this link: http://humanitarian.engineering.oregonstate.edu/faculty-0 OSU participates in policy issues with one full time professional faculty member dedicated to federal policy issues.

As a research intensive institution, and with strengths in forestry, agriculture, natural resources and engineering, OSU faculty and staff serve as experts in their fields and are frequently called upon by elected officials to provide guidance during policy discussions. OSU faculty have several times served on international bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. On a nearly continual basis, OSU researchers are engaged in making policy recommendations on global issues. Two OSU faculty are also members of the International Comparative Rural Policy Studies (ICRPS) program, which brings together an international, multi disciplinary group of faculty, students and professionals to study together the many facets of rural policy, from policy formulation to policy impacts. More information is at http://icrps.org/. OSU is a signatory of the We Are Still In campaign and remains committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of the national political landscape.