Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.94
Liaison DeLayne Miller
Submission Date Dec. 15, 2022

STARS v2.2

Tennessee Technological University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

1st Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
Valley Sustainable Communities Program - partnered with the City of Cookeville

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?:
Sustainability-focused

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? :
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability:
TVA’s Valley Sustainable Communities (VSC) program works with cities, towns and counties throughout the region to help them commit to long-term economic development. Cookeville, TN is recognized as a Gold Community meaning it is one that has taken a leadership role in implementing sustainable practices and has made a commitment to sustainability efforts focused on economic development. Tennessee Tech, as a sizable part of Cookeville, TN, has partnered with the city in these endeavors by hosting awareness and outreach events, clean-ups, and supporting their initiatives as well.
Participating communities earn points in 15 categories by implementing specific policies and practices that contribute to overall sustainability, with an emphasis on those components that directly impact economic development efforts and/or the success of existing businesses in the community.

2nd Partnership

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Tennessee Renewable Energy and Economic Development Council (TREEDC)

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):
Sustainability-related

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (2nd partnership):
No

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Tennessee Renewable Energy & Economic Development Council (TREEDC) is a statewide network of 101 city and county mayors and businesses working together to create a path to fast-track renewables in Tennessee. It's missions is to promote and connect renewable energy with economic development and energy efficiency for all Tennessee communities. TN Tech is a Founding (Platinum) Member and hosts the annual meeting each year.
https://www.treedc.us/index.html

3rd Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
TN HEI CUPP

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? (3rd partnership):
Sustainability-focused

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (3rd partnership):
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
The purpose of the Tennessee Higher Education Institution College/Underserved Community Partnership Program (TN HEI CUPP) is to develop partnerships between underserved communities and Higher Education Institutions (TN HEIs) in Tennessee. Through these partnerships, TN HEIs can provide a variety of low to no-cost technical support and manpower to address environmental, economic, and health issues that impact the quality of life in nearby underserved communities. TNTech is a founding member.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution’s other community partnerships to advance sustainability:
Since 2019, the Office of Sustainability partnered with Healthier Tennessee to create a program called EagleFIT. EagleFIT is a student led program that brings awareness to students and staff about how they can live a healthier life. Living a healthier life and living a sustainable life go hand in hand. EagleFIT encourages those on campus to walk or ride bikes instead of driving, which serves as a sustainable effort to decrease carbon emissions. The program also encourages Tennessee Tech to eat locally, which is another way to be sustainable. EagleFIT works closely with the Putnam County Health Department, Healthier Cookeville, and Healthier Tennessee to host and plan events. One such event, was the Health Fair, where local businesses and healthy/sustainable campus groups came together to inform the community about living a healthier lifestyle. Students received information about all of the sustainable initiatives on campus through the presence of the Office of Sustainability.

https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/opsp-policy-and-sustainable-practices/state-government-and-institutions/tennessee-higher-education-initiative--tn-hei-/tn-college-underserved-community-partnership-program.html

Website URL where information about the institution’s community partnerships to advance sustainability is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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