| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.03 |
| Liaison | Kelly Wellman |
| Submission Date | Dec. 12, 2024 |
Texas A&M University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Kelly
Wellman Sustainability Director Office of Sustainability & Campus Enrichment |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
The Texas A&M University Superfund Research Center and Center for Environmental Health Research partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund, Darkhorse Analytics, and the Texas Transportation Institute to develop the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI).
Pulling in 184 sets of data to rank more than 70,000 U.S. Census tracts, the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index helps you see which communities face the greatest challenges from the impacts of a changing climate. This tool shows what is driving the challenges, so policymakers and communities themselves can take action to build climate resilience where it is needed most.
The U.S. CVI provides the means to understand and visualize how long-standing inequities disadvantage communities across the United States. This mapping tool combines collective environmental, social, economic, and infrastructure impacts that shape a community’s ability to respond and adapt to climate change. Better understanding of the intersection of vulnerability and climate change risks is key to effectively building resilience because it helps define where climate action and investments are needed most.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Air & Climate
Optional Fields
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Second Point of Distinction
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
The Texas A&M University Division of Student Affairs will receive $1.1 million annually for the next 10 years to help improve food insecurity on campus. The funds will support a multitude of organizations on campus such as The 12th Can, Residence Life and Student Assistance Services.
Of the total, $125,000 will be allocated to 12th Can every year for 10 years. The 12th Can pantry is completely student led and serves Texas A&M students, staff and faculty. The pantry first opened in November of 2013 and has served thousands of Aggies over the past decade. The pantry operates on a client choice model which replicates a shopping experience for clients. Prepackaged bags are also offered for walk-in clients. The funds will allow The 12th Can to purchase food to supplement donations, which will then allow the organization to expand its operating hours.
“The 12th Can is currently exploring ways to make our pantry more accessible to Aggies who may not be able to attend our current hours of operation,” Mazie Johnson, executive director of 12th Can said. “We plan to introduce a food locker system to provide prepackaged bags of food for clients who are unable to attend pantry openings. Additionally, our plan is to increase the number of clients in our pantry during operating hours. Through these changes, we aim to serve more Aggies.”
The Pocket Pantry program, operated by Student Assistance Services, aims to provide temporary relief to Texas A&M students experiencing food insecurity by offering immediate access to non-perishable food and toiletries. Currently, there are 29 Pocket Pantry locations around campus. A $50,000 annual allocation to this program will ensure the pantries remain stocked year-round.
Student Assistance Services, an office within the Department of Student Life, also distributes card swipes and meal plans to students in need. Card swipes help students who run out of swipes on their meal plan to get through the end of the semester. Student Life will receive $30,000 annually, which will provide 1,500 swipes each semester to students in need. Additionally, $75,000 annually will fund 40 meal plans for the fall and spring semesters for students with long-term needs.
Two newer programs will also benefit from the funds. Text Away Hunger, a new initiative, will text students who self-identify as high-risk for food insecurity when leftover food is available from on-campus events catered by Chartwells. The Department of Residence Life will receive an annual allocation of $660,000 to provide live-in resident advisors (RAs) with university meal plans.
“The RA meal plan option helps to address food insecurity through the reduction of financial barriers to attend Texas A&M University and live on campus. We have had staff in the past who needed to leave the RA position or get a second position to help cover the cost of attendance, and this benefit helps to reduce the financial strain on our staff,” Kyle McCracken, senior associate director of Residence Life said. The meal plan also allows a way for students to continue to interact with and engage residents on campus in our dining facilities without having to come out of pocket to build community in the dining spaces on campus.”
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Coordination & Planning
Wellbeing & Work
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Third Point of Distinction
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Texas A&M University began receiving up to 50MW offsite solar from the Samson Solar project. Samson is located in Franklin, Lamar, and Red River Counties in Northeast Texas and when complete will generate 1020 megawatts of sustainable energy. This long term PPA emphasizes the University's commitment to shift over 20% of the campus's electricity needs to a renewable source.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Energy
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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.