Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 46.40
Liaison Robert Sitler
Submission Date July 14, 2023

STARS v2.2

Stetson University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.00 / 2.00 Robert Sitler
Prof. of World Languages & Cultures
World Languages & Cultures
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:

The Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience frequently works with local governments, such as municipalities and counties, to address their stormwater management, resilience to flooding, and habitat connectivity. The findings and reports that are generated during these types of projects are then presented to the decision-makers in the city or county, such as commissioners or council members for consideration and adoption. Strategies for conservation or resilience are recommended for incorporation into official processes and public policy documents.


Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:

The Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience works closely with the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council and the Florida Sea Grant program on regional initiatives. It also works closely with the Audubon Society on many projects, including regional greenhouse gas inventories.


Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
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Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
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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):
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

There are numerous examples of IWER working with local governments in ways that have directly influenced public policy.

One of the most important includes assisting Monroe County, Florida, with the achievement of a rating of 3 on the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/691/Community-Rating-System-CRS. IWER produced the Watershed Master Plan for Monroe County (link is on the website) that was one of the prerequisites for Monroe County to achieve this rating of a 3.

Another big impact was that IWER conducted a vulnerability assessment that helped convince the City of Satellite Beach to move their Fire Station due to flooding concerns. Here's a link to a story about the fire department being moved: https://veronews.com/2017/11/09/satellite-beachs-new-firehouse-will-higher-drier/. The City Council voted to move the Fire Station at a meeting where I gave a presentation about it being at risk of flooding. Here's a link to the report that contains the fire department vulnerability assessment: https://www.stetson.edu/other/iwer/media/Sea-Level Rise Technical Planning Assessment.pdf.


There are numerous examples of IWER working with local governments in ways that have directly influenced public policy.

One of the most important includes assisting Monroe County, Florida, with the achievement of a rating of 3 on the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/691/Community-Rating-System-CRS. IWER produced the Watershed Master Plan for Monroe County (link is on the website) that was one of the prerequisites for Monroe County to achieve this rating of a 3.

Another big impact was that IWER conducted a vulnerability assessment that helped convince the City of Satellite Beach to move their Fire Station due to flooding concerns. Here's a link to a story about the fire department being moved: https://veronews.com/2017/11/09/satellite-beachs-new-firehouse-will-higher-drier/. The City Council voted to move the Fire Station at a meeting where I gave a presentation about it being at risk of flooding. Here's a link to the report that contains the fire department vulnerability assessment: https://www.stetson.edu/other/iwer/media/Sea-Level Rise Technical Planning Assessment.pdf.

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.