Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 33.31
Liaison Katherine Straub
Submission Date Feb. 21, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Susquehanna University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Katherine Straub
Professor
Earth and Environmental Sciences
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

1st Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
Sowing Change Regional Gardening Network

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):
Not Sure

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 Sowing Change Regional Gardening Network is an ongoing (since 2016) partnership between Susquehanna University, Bucknell University, and several community gardens in the region (East Snyder in Selinsgrove, Red Shield in Williamsport, Hershey/Sunflower in Hershey). Financial support: Work on this project is included in the Susquehanna University Sustainability Coordinator's job description, and the SU and Bucknell civic engagement offices also provide time on the project. The project serves as a support/engagement network for campus and community gardens in the region, connecting individuals and programs on gardening techniques, volunteer management, social media and outreach, community food donations, and data tracking. A conference was held at Bucknell in February 2017 and a second convening was held in February 2018 at Susquehanna. On the advisory board for the network are representatives from Susquehanna, Bucknell, and several community gardens that represent vulnerable populations; however, at present no representatives of community food distribution agencies are on the advisory board.

2nd Partnership

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Food Security Group

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 supports at least one, but not all three, dimensions of sustainability

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):
The Food Security Group (FSG) was formed in 2016 by Susquehanna students, working in partnership with local organizations. These include the United Way and several food access groups. Student leaders have based the group’s mission and structure on feedback derived from community forums, which resulted in identification of needs. Currently, the group is focusing on solidifying a network that will connect local organizations that provide food to those in need. The FSG is also a chapter of a national program, the Food Recovery Network. The FSG’s website (which is still a work in progress) is https://foodsecuritygroupsusquehanna.org/home/. Staff support for this project is provided by the Assistant Director of the Johnson Center for Civic Engagement.

3rd Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
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Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
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Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
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Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (3rd partnership):
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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):
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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):
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Optional Fields 

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