Overall Rating Reporter
Overall Score
Liaison Tyler Kuss
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2024

STARS v2.2

Valparaiso University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

1st Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
Porter County Recycling and Waste District

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? :
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe?:
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership?:
Sustainability-focused

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? :
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability:
Porter County Recycling and Waste District and Valpariaso University Office of Sustainability have partner on the Plastic Waste Reduction Initiative or the PWRI is a partnership between Valparaiso University and Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction District. The program was implemented to help the community understand how much single-use plastic they are using on a day-to-day basis. This program is designed to help the community take accountability for the amount of plastic waste being generated in order to effectively reduce single-use and non-recyclable plastics, most of which occupy space in landfills. The Porter County Plastic Waste Reduction Initiative focuses on education, data, research, and behavior changes. Be a part of the solution, not the problem! Two student interns who work at Valparaiso University are working with community businesses, restaurants, and schools for waste audits and educational programs to reduce plastic.
https://www.valpo.edu/facilities-management/sustainability/get-involved/plastic-waste-reduction/
https://portercountyrecycling.org/porter-county-waste-reduction-initiative/

2nd Partnership

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Working Across Vocations Everywhere through Service WAVES

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (2nd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (2nd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (2nd partnership):
Sustainability-focused

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (2nd partnership):
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Through the student organization WAVES the institution works with NGOs in developing countries to install solar energy systems, develop water supplies, and boost educational resources. Recent projects have been completed in Guatemala, Haiti and Nicaragua.
WAVES advances sustainability in their projects by utilizing appropriate, community-sustainable technology and promotes the use of renewable energy sources. https://www.valpo.edu/waves/current-projects/waves/

3rd Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
Hilltop Pantry

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Sustainability-related

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (3rd partnership):
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
Created in 1996 by Valpo faculty and community leaders, Hilltop Neighborhood House empowers families to succeed through education, supportive services and referrals, and advocacy and collaboration. Each year, 25 or more federal work-study students work as child care assistants. Collection for food happens several times a year for the pantry. https://www.valpo.edu/life-at-valpo/service/

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution’s other community partnerships to advance sustainability:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s community partnerships to advance sustainability 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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