| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 74.87 |
| Liaison | Daryl Pierson |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2020 |
Portland State University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Amanda
Wolf Program + Assessment Coordinator Campus Sustainability Office |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
PSU has furthered it's commitment to being a carbon-neutral university by participating in Portland General Electric's (PGE) latest renewable energy project. The Green Future Impact is a 162-megawatt solar generation facility in eastern Oregon. The facility is the largest in Oregon and is expected to begin operations in late 2021. PSU is one of several partners including local private organizations, other university/colleges, and local municipalities. Once in operation a quarter of PSU's electricity load will be from renewable energy.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Energy
Coordination & Planning
Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
The Sustainability Mentorship Program offers all PSU students an opportunity to connect with professionals in a variety of sustainability-related fields. There is one cohort a year, with applications opening during the Fall term, and the program running from Winter through the end of Spring term.
It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Sustainability Mentors have the opportunity to share their professional experiences with students, hone their leadership skills, gain new perspectives from their mentee’s interests and enthusiasm, learn about barriers facing entry-level professionals today, and support the up-and-coming wave of sustainability professionals.
This program has been supported through grant funding that will no longer be available at the end of this academic year. The students and mentors have found so much value in this experience and we are happy to announce that the Student Fee Committee has decided to institutionalize this program and provide student funding to ensure the program continues.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
From studying groundwater and slow-moving landslides to pharmaceutical and microplastic pollution in Oregon's waters, scientists from Portland State University (PSU) and the U.S. Geological Survey's Oregon Water Science Center (ORWSC) are teaming up to better understand Oregon's water resources. These joint research projects are just one part of the collaborative relationship between PSU and the ORWSC. The partnership began in 2007 when the ORWSC, which researches and monitors a variety of water issues in the Pacific Northwest, relocated to PSU's campus. Over time, both organizations recognized that they weren’t maximizing the potential value of their relationship, and invited PSU's Institute for Sustainable Solutions (ISS) to help revitalize this important partnership. Over the last year, ISS has helped the team refocus on its core values and activities: supporting research; facilitating the sharing of data, tools, facilities and resources; and creating training and workforce development opportunities for PSU students. One round of research funding has been awarded to joint PSU-ORWSC team, with more to come.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Public Engagement
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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.