Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 59.69
Liaison Susan Dorward
Submission Date July 31, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Raritan Valley Community College
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Susan Dorward
Sustainability and Energy Coordinator
Facilities and Grounds
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
Somerset County Business Partnership (Sustainable Somerset Committee)

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? :
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe?:
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus?:
The partnership simultaneously supports social equity and wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (Yes, No, or Not Sure):
No

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above:

The College has a close relationship with the SCBP. Recwently our President served on the advisory committee that developed the "Somerset County: Embracing Diversity and Inclusion" report distribute county-wide. The SCBP Sustainable Somerset Committee partners with the RVCC Environmental Sustainability Committee as a cosponsor of Earth Week events. Sustainable Somerset members participated in a green jobs panel. We have partnered on an energy conference to be held this fall. For events at RVCC, we provide meeting space at no cost (material support).


Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Ridewise (Somerset County's Transportation Management Association)

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (2nd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (2nd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (2nd partnership):
The partnership simultaneously supports social equity and wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (2nd partnership) (Yes, No, or Not Sure):
No

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above (2nd partnership):

RVCC's Sustainability Coordinator has been a RideWise board member for 5 years. She has helped them develop their mission statement and strategy, select a brand marketing partner, and generally supports the organization. RVCC welcomes RideWise to campus multiple times per year to inform students and staff about transportation alternatives, participates in their carpool matching program, and their Smart Workplaces program. RideWise's mission is to provide affordable, environmentally-friendly and safe transportation options.


Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
Citizens Climate Lobby

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (3rd partnership):
The partnership simultaneously supports social equity and wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (3rd partnership) (Yes, No, or Unknown):
No

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above (3rd partnership):

RVCC has partnered with Citizens Climate Lobby for several years. They have shown films on campus to educate students, and they have an information table at all of our events that are related to climate change. They encourage our students and staff to sign a petition and reach out to their legislators in support of legislation to create a carbon fee-and-dividend program. The fee would have environmental benefits while the dividend would be relatively more beneficial to the poor.


A brief description of the institution’s other community partnerships to advance sustainability:

RVCC also partners with Somerset County Energy Council. RVCC's Sustainability & Energy Coordinator is a council member, leads their Renewable Energy & Technology committee, and is a member of their Education & Outreach committee. RVCC and the Energy Council are co-sponsoring an energy conference that they are planning for the coming year.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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