| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.15 |
| Liaison | Lori Collins-Hall |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Sterling College (VT)
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 3.00 |
Julian
Sharp Directory of Community Outreach Advancement |
Is the institution an active member of a national or international sustainability network?:
The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):
Sterling is a member of AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. In addition to AASHE, the College is a member of 1% for the Planet, the Association for Experiential Education who has as one of their key values the conservation of the natural world, the Post-Landfill Action Network.
Is the institution an active member of a regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network?:
The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):
Sterling is a member of the Vermont Higher Education Food Systems Consortium and the Vermont Business for Social Responsibility, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, and a Vermont gleaning network coordinated by Salvation Farms.
Has the institution presented at a sustainability conference during the previous year? :
A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):
The Ingredients of Informed Environmental Stewardship: Communities around the world have connected science, policy, community action, and the arts to work toward a pesticide-free future. Sterling College shares inspiring stories from these communities and highlights ways to preserve critical ecological and social resources.
New England Campus Farmer Summit: This biennial conference convenes farm managers, students, food service industry professionals, activists, and educators to explore the role of college and university farms on campus, within their communities, and in building a better food system. Sterling faculty spoke about how campus farms and growing spaces serve at the intersection of food justice, environmental sustainability, food access, and wellness.
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) Annual Winter Conference: In this workshop, participants will explore traditional techniques and knowledge for the fermentation and nutritional enhancement of foods. Presenters will cover how cultures have harnessed beneficial bacteria and chemical processes to alter, enhance, and preserve food throughout time and space. The presentation will be accompanied by demonstrations and tastings. We will examine both fermentation and nixtamalization.
Farm-Based Education in Every City and Town presented by the UVM Extension: Connecting with land through agriculture can be educational, joyful, healing, and empowering. Discover how learning with and about farming catalyzes opportunities for business development, community building, and the creation of thriving local food systems.
Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to a sustainability awards program that is inclusive of multiple campuses? :
A list or brief description of the awards program(s) and submission(s):
Has the institution had staff, students or faculty serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years? :
A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):
Board of Directors, Green Mountain Farm to School
Board of Directors, Center for an Agricultural Economy
Board of Directors, Green Mountain Club
Board of Directors, Salvation Farms
Member, Next Generation Advisory Council of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Member, Craftsbury Conservation Commission
Member, Craftsbury Prudential Water Board
Board of Directors, Vermont Folklife Center
Member, Vermont Sheep and Goat Association
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?:
A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:
Has the institution had staff, faculty, or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data (e.g. GHG emissions or course inventory) and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the peer review activities:
Has the institution participated in other collaborative efforts around sustainability during the previous year, e.g. joint planning or resource sharing with other institutions? :
A brief description of other collaborative efforts around sustainability during the previous year:
Farm to Fork was an effort spearheaded by Sterling College and with College of the Atlantic, Unity College, and Green Mountain College to address food waste and nutrient cycling through the lens of composting on their campuses and as an alternative to the Real Food Challenge. In the Real Food Challenge, Sterling College was already a large innovator in dining, getting the number one score for the third year in a row in 2017; Sterling was curious if it could take a different approach and create more opportunities to innovate.
Since then, College of the Atlantic (COA) and Sterling College have further collaborated since both campuses are small and community oriented with 334 and 124 full time students respectively. With similar campus makeups and general goals, COA and Sterling created a joint letter to The Endeavor Foundation to get funding when COVID-19 began heavily impacting schools.
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:
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.