| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.01 |
| Liaison | Paul Mathisen |
| Submission Date | May 23, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
John
Orr Professor Liberal Arts & Computer Engineering |
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, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
WPI supports actions by the city of Worcester to enhance its own sustainability profile, such as by energy efficiency upgrades of its facilities. It also advocates for quality of life enhancements for the urban environment, such as improvements in public parks, development of bike lanes and signage, and improvement of walking paths and traffic calming measures.
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, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
While not through a formal lobbying effort, the university supports student project teams working in the State House or for local municipalities. Students provide legislators or town officials with data and recommendations on such issues as electronic waste recycling (statewide), micro-wind turbine feasibility, and developing recommendations for a Comprehensive Massachusetts Underground Gasoline Storage Tank Cleanup Policy.
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, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
While working at the WPI Washington DC Project Center, the university’s oldest off-campus center, which has been in operation for more than 40 years, WPI students are involved in the inner workings of government and contribute to national action in the areas of the environment, science education, urban issues, and consumer protection. Many projects have been completed with agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the National Science Foundation, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A good many of those projects have a sustainability focus.
At the Bar Harbor, Maine project center, students undertake projects that are typically focused on preservation, improvement, appreciation, and sustainability of the natural environment, working closely with local organizations.
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, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
WPI has been sending students abroad to work in faculty guided projects for more than 30 years. Each location has a unique set of projects, many of which address sustainability issues. A few examples: The center in Wellington, New Zealand, where locally sponsored project topics include conservation and wildlife, impacts of earthquakes and climate change, Maori culture and development, healthcare and more. Students at the Copenhagen, Denmark center have addressed many sustainability issues such as recycling of building materials, developing an enhanced household recycling program and maximizing efficiency and environmental protection in car-share fleets. These are just a few examples of the dozens of sustainability projects completed each year at WPI project centers in more than 25 countries.
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):
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.