Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.11
Liaison Elizabeth Malcolm
Submission Date Jan. 19, 2023

STARS v2.2

Virginia Wesleyan University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete N/A Elizabeth Malcolm
Director of Sustainability
Earth and Environmental Sciences
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Batten Honors College

A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
The Batten Honors College of Virginia Wesleyan recruits high-achieving students and equips them to be problem solvers who are environmentally-conscious, strategic-thinking global citizens, ethically-bound to bettering their community and the world. The Batten Honors College curriculum delivers innovative content and an interdisciplinary approach using creative teaching strategies with substantial faculty/student interactions. Required courses include Contemporary Environmental Issues, Global Citizenship, and Seminar in Leadership. In the senior seminar, students execute and present a capstone project that addresses one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals. Students are also required to participate in a study away course, covered by their scholarship. Past study away courses have included Environmental and Cultural Sustainability in Alaska, Diversity and Sustainability in Ecuador and Places of Enchantment in Germany.

Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Curriculum
Campus Engagement

Optional Fields

Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
https://www.vwu.edu/academics/batten-honors-college/

STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
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A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
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Second Point of Distinction

Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
Virginia Wesleyan University Environmental Guiding Principles

A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Virginia Wesleyan University developed our Environmental Guiding Principles as a statement of our values and commitment to the environment and sustainability. The principles were approved by the university President and Board of Trustees and are posted on our webpage. The principles are used to inform decision making at all levels of the university, including the recent strategic plan.

Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Curriculum
Campus Engagement
Public Engagement
Air & Climate
Grounds
Coordination & Planning
Investment & Finance
Wellbeing & Work

Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
https://www.vwu.edu/about/sustainability/environmental-guiding-principles.php

STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
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A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
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Third Point of Distinction

Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
Endowment Investment

A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
In 2021, the Board of Trustees voted to approve a sustainable investment policy, making environmental sustainability as one of its core pillars. The policy aligns the investment portfolio with the mission of the university and supports the adoption of long-term investment strategies that create an equitable, low-carbon, and regenerative economy.

Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Coordination & Planning
Investment & Finance

Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
https://www.vwu.edu/about/news-and-events/features/story/state-of-the-university-clear-vision-of-the-future

STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
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A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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