University of Mary Washington
EN-9: Inter-Campus Collaboration
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Brenda
Togo Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Services |
9.1 Inter-campus collaboration for sustainability
Description of the institution’s participation in sustainability-focused networks for educational institutions:
The University of Mary Washington (UMW) actively engages in sustainability-focused networks to enhance its environmental initiatives. UMW is a member of the Virginia Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (VASHE), a collaborative network that promotes sustainability practices among Virginia's higher education institutions. Through VASHE, UMW collaborates with peer institutions to share best practices, develop innovative sustainability programs, and advance environmental stewardship across campuses.
Additionally, UMW participates in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), a national organization dedicated to empowering higher education institutions to lead the sustainability transformation. Membership in AASHE provides UMW with access to resources, professional development opportunities, and a platform to benchmark its sustainability performance against other institutions.
Has the institution formally shared its sustainability experiences and lessons learned with other institutions during the previous three years?:
Narrative outlining how the institution formally shares its sustainability experiences and lessons learned with other institutions:
The University of Mary Washington (UMW) actively shares its sustainability experiences and lessons learned with other institutions through formal collaborations and partnerships. One key avenue for this exchange is UMW’s participation in the **Virginia Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (VASHE)**.
Through VASHE, UMW engages with peer institutions to discuss best practices, innovative strategies, and challenges related to sustainability in higher education. This involvement includes attending and presenting at conferences, participating in working groups, and contributing to regional sustainability initiatives.
By being an active member of VASHE, UMW not only gains valuable insights from other institutions but also shares its own successful programs, outreach campaigns, and operational sustainability improvements, fostering a collective effort toward advancing sustainability across the higher education sector.
Does the institution have a sustainability-focused articulation/transfer agreement that provides students who are studying sustainability at one institution with a formal pathway to another institution?:
Description of institution’s sustainability-focused articulation/transfer agreements:
The University of Mary Washington (UMW) maintains several articulation and transfer agreements with various institutions, primarily focusing on facilitating the transfer of students from community colleges into UMW's diverse academic programs. Notably, UMW has established Guaranteed Admissions Agreements with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Richard Bland College, ensuring a seamless transition for students who have successfully completed a transfer-oriented associate degree.
https://academics.umw.edu/registrar/transfer-information/resources-and-publications/babs-transfer-credit-guide/umw-transfer-agreements
The University of Mary Washington (UMW) has articulation and transfer agreements with institutions like the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), Richard Bland College, and Germanna Community College (GCC). While not exclusively focused on sustainability, these agreements provide pathways for students to pursue sustainability-related studies at UMW, particularly through programs like GCC’s Environmental Science degree.
Has at least one individual with formal sustainability responsibilities at the institution served as a mentor or been mentored by a colleague with sustainability responsibilities at another institution during the previous three years?:
Description of the institution’s sustainability mentoring activities:
Currently, the UMW Sustainability Coordinator is a mentee in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Mentoring Program. This program connects sustainability professionals from different institutions, providing opportunities to share experiences, develop leadership skills, and gain valuable insights into best practices in campus sustainability initiatives.
By participating in the AASHE Mentoring Program, the Sustainability Officer is enhancing their expertise, bringing back innovative strategies to the university, and strengthening UMW’s sustainability efforts through informed leadership and collaboration with peers in higher education.
Has at least one individual affiliated with the institution has served in a leadership role for an inter-campus sustainability network, conference, or community of practice during the previous three years?:
Description of the institution’s leadership roles in inter-campus collaboration:
n/a
Has at least one individual affiliated with the institution served as a peer reviewer for another institution’s sustainability report or data during the previous three years?:
Description of the institution’s peer review activities:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.