Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.50
Liaison Amy Kadrie
Submission Date Jan. 31, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Rochester
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Clayton Cox
Assistant Director for Federal Relations
Office of Government and Community Relations
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Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
The University participated in the City of Rochester's creation of a community-wide Climate Action Plan (CAP) as an active member of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee. http://www.cityofrochester.gov/climateactionplan/ The University is a proud partner with the City of Rochester, participating local lending institutions, and neighborhood partners on its Home Ownership Incentive Program, which offers up to $9,000 toward the purchase of a home to encourage home ownership in the historic neighborhoods nearest to the University. https://www.rochester.edu/working/hr/benefits/housing/ The University worked with the City of Rochester to facilitate a physically-separated bicycle-only Cycle-Track in the University of Rochester’s College Town district. The project included the reconstruction of sidewalks and curb ramps, traffic signal modifications, landscaping, lighting improvements, pavement markings, and bike racks. http://www.cityofrochester.gov/elmwoodcycletrack/ http://www.collegetownrochester.com/ The University is currently working with Rochester’s Regional Transit Service (RTS) to advocate for bus service to the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and the main River Campus to improve the community’s access to health care, education, and sustainable transportation options.

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
The University advocated for legislation included in New York State budget bill S.7507-C to provide schools access to student blood lead information contained in the statewide immunization information system (NYSIIS) in order to better identify the children in need of education interventions designed for children with elevated lead levels. The University of Rochester is a long-term leader in addressing and preventing lead poisoning, as home to the Finger Lakes Children’s Environmental Health Center, the Finger Lakes Occupational Health Services, and the Rochester Healthy Homes Partnership and has a number of faculty involved with the Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/children-s-environmental-health.aspx https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/finger-lakes-occupational-health.aspx https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/environmental-health-sciences/coec/projects-partnerships/healthy-homes/rochester-healthy-homes-partnership.aspx http://theleadcoalition.org/ The University is a participant in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) Campus Challenge to build a more resilient future in the face of climate change. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/REV-Campus-Challenge Through NextCorps, the University is a sponsor of Nexus-NY, a clean energy Proof-of-Concept Center (POCC) to accelerate start-up companies that are formed around high impact technologies emanating from NY research universities and the general community supported by NYSERDA and Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). NextCorps, an affiliate of the University of Rochester, is an incubator which serves as a catalyst for entrepreneurship in the Rochester area and Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. In addition, the University advocated for the relocation of NextCorps to downtown Rochester as a part of the redevelopment of the historic Sibley Square, and broader efforts for the revitalization of downtown Rochester. https://nextcorps.org/ https://nexus-ny.org/ https://www.sibleysquareroc.com/sibley-square-rochester-ny http://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/nextcorps-new-high-tech-hub-entrepreneurship-debuts-sibley-square-299512/  

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
The University is a participant in “Fusion Day” an annual lobbying day to promote fusion research and the development of fusion as a clean energy source for the future.

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
The University has signed the “We Are Still In” declaration in support of climate action to meet the Paris Agreement. https://www.wearestillin.com/signatories

Optional Fields 

A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
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None
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
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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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