University of South Carolina
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

A priority of the University’s sustainability plan, strategic plan and mission is community engagement and specifically in the form of service and outreach. This includes partnership with local and state non-profit organizations, local and state governments and industry. A partial list of community engagement efforts by the University includes: -Regional sustainability conference for colleges, state agencies and local school districts focusing on energy -Partnering with SC Conservation Voters for Annual Lobby Day for students -Partner with Sustainable Midlands to put on training events and local initiaitves -Member of Columbia Climate Protection Action Campaign -Hosting meetings and member of: SC Chapter US Green Building Council, Keep the Midlands Beautiful, Palmetto Pride, Trout Unlimited, Urban Land Institute, SC Chapter of Sierra Club, SC Solar Council and more -Developing and supporting the Rocky Branch Watershed Alliance and Gills Creek Watershed Alliance -Home of Infinite Habitat @ Innovista, a sustainability institute that partners with industry and non-profits to provide sustainable facility design and management -Providing an annual LEED charrette and training session to prepare students and local professionals for the LEED exam open to the public -Founding member of Engenuity SC promoting green jobs and the green economy -Host Southeastern Student Renewable Energy Network meetings -Founding member of Sustainable Universities Initiative to bring state colleges together to work on sustainability issues -Support and host Green Congregations and Public/Faith Community Eco Education program with the City of Columbia and Sustainable Midlands -Working with local school district to develop high school level sustainability curriculum -Partnered with Center for Teaching Excellence to train K-12 teachers on sustainability -Faculty and staff sit on numerous local and state climate/environmental committees and advisory boards -President integrates sustainability regularly into speeches and writings -Train students to conduct greenhouse gas inventories for the City and local businesses -Provide green gardening seminars and training to the campus and local community -Sustainability leadership training program in partnership with a technical college and another university -Hold innovation summits for major green building and net zero projects and invite local leaders and energy managers to sit in -Community classroom where USC faculty teach community members on sustainability, renewable energy and environmental issues -Dedicated student team under Sustainable Carolina on campus responsible for Community Engagement