| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.54 |
| Liaison | C Jane Hagen |
| Submission Date | Sept. 3, 2024 |
Virginia Commonwealth University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
C Jane
Hagen Sustainability Data Analyst Sustainability |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
VCU’s Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment is an interdisciplinary collaboration between VCU College of Engineering, VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, and VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.The ISEE was established to coordinate and facilitate collaboration across the varied disciplines who study the climate and energy crisis. It supports multidisciplinary collaborations across departments, schools and colleges at VCU, as well as national and international collaborations. The Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment (ISEE) provides a forum for VCU students and faculty to pursue innovative scientific, technological, policy and social justice solutions addressing this crisis.
In April 2023, the ISEE hosted its inaugural Symposium on Sustainable Energy and Environment. This annual symposium invited speakers from academia, government, industry, and the public sector with diverse expertise to outline the challenges and ways to mitigate the adverse effects caused by fossil fuels.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Air & Climate
Energy
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:
In the summer of 2023, VCU Sustainability’s office was moved to a new location that allowed for the Free Store and the Ram Pantry to be co-located in a more public facing space. The more centralized location of the new space has allowed for the Free Store to increase both the amount of regular donations able to be accepted and the number of students who regularly use the service. This Free Store expansion has also made the service more visible. VCU Sustainability has used this visibility to educate more students about waste reduction and the unique waste challenges of a college campus, especially during move in and move out periods. The new space also includes a space for flexible programming including education on the Free Store and Ram Pantry services.
By co-locating the services, we are also working to make sure that students experiencing food insecurity have easier access to the items available at the Free Store like appliances, dishes, and household goods.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Waste
Diversity & Affordability
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 VCU Sustainability Urban Gardens Program provides opportunities to learn about gardening, grow fresh produce and better understand issues of food access. Much of the program revolves around community gardening, consisting of a piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people utilizing either individual or shared plots. VCU's community garden is publicly functioning in terms of ownership, access and organization and provides the following benefits:
Helps alleviate food insecurity at VCU and in Richmond via regular produce donations to our community partners, including the VCU Ram Pantry.
Provides hands-on, educational opportunities related to gardening, food access and food systems.
Offers and cares for growing spaces for students, staff and faculty on campus, and creates universally-accessible green spaces that enrich the lives of those in our community.
The gardens program includes two gardens. The MCV Community Garden provides the VCU community with space to grow their own food and flowers. Garden members pay a modest fee to rent one of 35 raised bed plots and the fees are reinvested into upkeep and maintenance of the garden. The learning garden on the Monroe Park Campus works with the VCU and Richmond communities to increase access to healthy food as well as provide education around how healthy food can be grown and prepared.
The VCU Sustainability Community Forestry Program partners with local community organizations in and around Richmond, Virginia, to plan and implement tree planting projects, provide tree maintenance, and estimate tree benefits. Through this program, VCU engages with local communities to support and elevate urban forestry practices that provide a variety of benefits. Benefits include, but are not limited to, helping reduce or prevent the urban heat island effect, alleviating stormwater runoff, fostering a sense of community and building relationships, and highlighting the importance of sustainable practices.
During 2021-2023, the gardens and forestry internship programs through VCU Sustainability’s office were expanded to provide opportunities for more students to gain hands-on experience in urban food production and urban forestry maintenance.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Air & Climate
Grounds
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.