| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 59.76 |
| Liaison | Lindsey MacDonald |
| Submission Date | June 6, 2023 |
Western Washington University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.33 / 2.00 |
Lindsey
MacDonald Associate Director Sustainability Engagement Institute |
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:
WWU advocates at the state level for legislation and budget priorities that advance sustainability and provide leadership for other state agencies. Recently, WWU worked to get funding for a feasibility study to understand how to decarbonize the campus heating system. The completion of that study was the impetus for legislation this year, HB 1390, which WWU supported throughout the legislative process, that would direct other state agencies and institutions of higher education to undertake the same work that WWU did in the feasibility study. WWU was awarded $10 million in the 2023-25 biennium for phase 1 of the heating conversion project that resulted from the feasibility study. WWU has also advocated for legislation, HB 1777, that allows state agencies to use performance-based contracting for energy services and equipment.
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:
WWU also advocate for priorities that advance sustainability at the national level and partners with federal elected officials from Washington State when applicable for sustainability purposes. For example, over each of the past two years, WWU has included sustainability and energy efficiency as a policy priority in its federal legislative advocacy booklet. The request advocates for expanding federal efforts to support higher education institutions in improving operations and transportation efficiency and calls for grant funding from federal agencies to support university research in sustainability, renewable energy and green technology.
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:
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.