Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 60.64
Liaison Eva Rocke
Submission Date June 30, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of Montana
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 3.00 Madeleine Jones
ASUM Sustainability Coordinator
ASUM
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Is the institution currently a member of a national or international higher education sustainability network?:
Yes

The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):
1.) Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

Does the institution actively participate in a regional, state/provincial, or local higher education sustainability network?:
Yes

The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):
Sustainability Partnership of the Northern Rockies

Has the institution presented at a higher education sustainability conference during the previous year?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):
Maddy Jones, ASUM Sustainability Coordinator, presented at AASHE 2020 and hosted a networking session.
We’re Here and Queer! Queers in Sustainability Meetup: In the fight against climate change, those with marginalized identities will be most directly impacted and affected by injustices that follow. In pursuit of sustainability practices, it is imperative to include historically underrepresented voices and identities in the conversation. We cannot create a sustainable future without including and centering the ideas of queer folks, and even more specifically, those who hold multiple intersecting marginalized identities. With this in mind, it is very necessary to hold space in conferences, such as this one, so that queer folks can get together, organize, and share ideas about how to make sure we sustain our planet and our communities.
This meet-up is for those who identify as queer or under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. This is a chance to network with other queer folk in the realm of sustainability as well as engage in group discussions about how to support one another and integrate theories and practices of queer resilience. This is also a space for those who identify as allies to listen in and see how they can support their peers and colleagues. This is not a space to contest the existence of queer identities or challenge the necessity of collective queer resistance.

Queering Sustainability: What does that mean and why should we care? If we truly want to talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and “Mobilizing for a Just Transition,” we have to talk about the intersections of climate justice and queer liberation, and ensure that our work in higher ed sustainability center LGBTQ+ stories, experience, and knowledge. Marginalized communities are already facing the brunt of the impacts from climate change, and this is only exacerbated as the threat increases. Solutions must include historically marginalized and underrepresented communities, which includes the LGBTQ+ community. Combining theory, lived experience, and case studies, this session provides the groundwork to begin to queer sustainability at your institution. Addressing questions such as: How do you create inclusive spaces for students and educators? And, how do you continually work to center the voices of marginalized people? This session will help provide the groundwork and brainstorming for queering sustainability.

Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to an external higher education sustainability resource center or awards program?:
No

A list or brief description of the sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s):
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Has the institution had employees or students serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):
Eva Rocke, UM Sustainability Coordinator, has served as co-leader of the Sustainability Partnership of the Northern Rockies for the last 3 years.

Does the institution have an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution through which it assists the institution with its sustainability reporting and/or the development of its sustainability program?:
Yes

A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:
Over the last 3 years, students and faculty mentors at the University of Wyoming have reached out to UM's sustainability staff for advice and to brainstorm sustainability strategies. Since Montana and Wyoming have similar political landscapes and tend to attract students looking for similar academic experiences, it's a natural partnership. Over the course of 2019 and 2020, UM sustainability staff met 4 times with student leadership and faculty mentors to discuss the structure and origins of our student sustainability fee, conducting a GHG inventory, the time and resources (and lessons learned) required to submit a STARS report, and more.

Has the institution had employees or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
No

A brief description of the peer review activities:
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Optional Fields 

A brief description of other inter-campus collaborative efforts around sustainability during the previous year :
Throughout the year, UM actively participates in joint planning and collaboration with other member universities in the Sustainability Partnership of the Northern Rockies. Such efforts have taken many forms but include discussion of joint RECs or offset purchases, possible collaboration on a Power Purchase Agreement, sharing of ideas for student engagement, and more.

Website URL where information about the institution’s inter-campus collaborations is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.