Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.79
Liaison Leslie North
Submission Date March 5, 2020

STARS v2.2

Western Kentucky University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.33 / 2.00 Leslie North
Director of Sustainability
Geography and Geology
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Local advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
The Student Government Association was active in supporting the local Fairness Campaign, which would protect people from being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Student Government Association also played a large role in improving Renter's Rights through local policy. A resolution was passed to provide a recycling bag to students in a dorm room when they move in. The SGA President is a representative on the Board of Regents at WKU and represented such in the support of the resolution.

Regional advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
WKU is apart of the Coalition for a Smoke-free Tomorrow. The mission of the coalition is "to improve Kentucky's health by protecting Kentuckians from secondhand smoke and other tobacco emissions, and by reducing the high rate of smoking and tobacco use in the Commonwealth."

https://www.smokefreetomorrow.org/who

National advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
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International advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
The Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies is a cooperative between WKU, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center in Belize (who represent the 26 nation's of the Caribbean in climate policy decisions), and University of Akureyri, Iceland (who house two governing bodies who direct tourism and climate policy for Arctic regions). This cooperative was formed to advance collaborative climate change research among the partners, and uses this research to advocate policy and enhance outreach/education about these sustainability topics. The former President of WKU traveled to Belize and Iceland to sign these cooperative agreements. Also, a WKU CHNGES professor, Dr. Jason Polk, represented the United States Representative for Universities and Colleges at the 2015 Arctic Circle Roundtable Canada to U.S. transfer. Dr. Polk presented on "The Power of Partnerships in Science and Communication to Address the Global Climate Change Challenge: A U.S. University Perspective."

It is expected that an international research cooperative can and will contribute to body of knowledge influencing climate change related policy and practice at institutional, local, and international levels. Members of the Center may attend legislative and governing body meetings with partners to advocate for climate change policy and social equity concerns. Many such meetings have been attend by members of CHNGES on behalf of WKU.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
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None
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
http://www.wkuchnges.com/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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