| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.93 |
| Liaison | Kevin Salfen |
| Submission Date | Oct. 21, 2024 |
University of the Incarnate Word
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Kevin
Salfen Co-Director, Office of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
The Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) is a volunteer group of students, staff, faculty, and administrators that initiaties and carries out many sustainability initiatives at the university. SAB coordinates with the organizers of the Laudato Si' Action Plan at UIW, with the Earth Month Committee, and with the university's student organiztion, Sustain, and works to integrate its activities with the University’s mission, which includes “care of the environment” and addressing the sociocultural, educational, economic, and ecological needs of others.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Coordination & Planning
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:
Partnering with the community has a long institutional history at the University of the Incarnate Word, in part because of the legacy of our founding order, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. For the purposes of this STARS report, UIW's partnerships with Catholic Charities of San Antonio, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and the Headwaters at the Incarnate Word have ben described, but many other partnerships that touch on aspects of sustainability could have been included.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Coordination & Planning
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:
The Community Garden was started in 2012 by UIW students in a vacant plot behind the Gorman Building, an initiative designed to educate the student body about environmental sustainability and wellness while offering a free source of fresh vegetables for the consumptions of students and faculty.
Since its inception, the UIW Community Gardens have integrated their initiatives with UIW curriculum to include class involvement in Dimensions of Wellness, Research in Water Quality, and Research in Soil Conservation. Students are able to gain hands-on experience in a variety of topics relating to the course content in their classes. All produce-yields gained from the gardens go to volunteers, UIW students, faculty, and local charities.
Recently, the Community Gardens have expanded to include a composting initiative through which vegetable cuttings from the cafeteria are composted through the bokashi process and then collected by a dedicated vendor.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Grounds
Waste
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.