| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.11 |
| Liaison | Elizabeth Malcolm |
| Submission Date | Jan. 19, 2023 |
Virginia Wesleyan University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.33 / 2.00 |
Elizabeth
Malcolm Director of Sustainability Earth and Environmental Sciences |
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
One way that we engage in public policy on the regional level is through our membership in the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance and our work with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. For example, as part of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance and our partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, VWU signed on to endorsement of state and regional legislation that affects or may affect the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Over the last year and a half, for example, we signed on to support 1) HB 189/SB 50 The "Right to Aquaculture" bill and 2) SB 629 which called for the extension of the Virginia patent tong oyster fisheries season.
We have also signed-on to letters to government officials including:
- A letter to twelve Governors in support of the Transportation and Climate Initiative, a "regional collaboration of 13 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia that seeks to improve transportation, develop the clean energy economy and reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector".
- A letter to the Virginia General Assembly in support of participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the Virginia Clean Economy Act, and other greenhouse gas mitigation policies. (https://www.ceres.org/news-center/press-releases/major-employers-and-energy-consumers-urge-legislators-maintain-virginias)
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
As part of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance and our partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, VWU signed on to endorsement of federal legislation that supports healthy watersheds. Over the last year and a half, for example, we signed on to support 1) federal funding for the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery program (Section 704(b)) and 2) a letter calling for NOAA to focus on implementation challenges that have been raised with regards to the CARES Act fisheries disaster.
Chesapeake Oyster Alliance: http://www.chesapeakeoysteralliance.org/
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Chesapeake Oyster Alliance information from Director of Wesleyan Engaged
Additional information from the VWU President Chief of Staff and emails sent from the President's Office to the campus community.
Chesapeake Oyster Alliance information from Director of Wesleyan Engaged
Additional information from the VWU President Chief of Staff and emails sent from the President's Office to the campus community.
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.