Valparaiso University
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
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Reporter |
Is the institution currently a member of a national or international higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, AASHE
Associations of Physical Plant Administrations, APPA
Tree Campus Higher Education
Does the institution actively participate in a regional, state/provincial, or local higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):
Has the institution presented at a higher education sustainability conference during the previous year?:
A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):
There has been an Environmental Conference on campus for the last several years hosted by a student-run organization, Earthtones. The conference invites speakers from the area to talk about their sustainable projects. There were a number of students and faculty from Valparaiso University who spoke and presented at the conference, as well as local community organizations. Topics have included solar initiatives with the private sector, plastic reduction and recycling awareness.
VU's sustainability conference is held each April on campus and typically involves internal faculty and student presentations and posters as well as presentations given by regional representatives of sustainable industries.
Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to an external higher education sustainability resource center or awards program?:
A list or brief description of the sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s):
Valparaiso University Office of Sustainability submitted our Waste Audit case study to AASHE.
Has the institution had employees or students serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years?:
A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):
Dr. Julie Peller serves on Hoosier Environmental Council as the Vice President and on the advisory committee for the Porter County Waste Recycling District
Bharath Ganesh Babu- Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences (IASS), Board Member
Indiana Geographic Information Council (IGIC), Board Member
College of Business MBA professor and MBA grad have - and are presently - serving on the Energy Board of Neighbors' Educational Opportunities (NEO) in Portage, Indiana
Does the institution have an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution through which it assists the institution with its sustainability reporting and/or the development of its sustainability program?:
A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:
While NEO (EN-11.J) is an alternate adult learning center, resources and presentations are routinely given there to assist with the center's sustainability efforts: past article = https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-portage-sun-project-st-1106-20201105-utuowzaknjaxfokzbtjv6m6cda-story.html; VU also has an ongoing relationship with a regional NFP, Project Neighbors, and has several faculty members on its board and regularly uses student volunteers to equip its residential structures and treatment facilities. This relationship has resulted in that NFP to adopt solar as a mandatory component of all new construction: https://projectneighbors.org/blog/page/2/; Lastly, under the tutelage of a VU MBA grad - now city mayor - the City of Valparaiso has now adopted solar for the majority of its municipal buildings: https://www.lakeshorepublicradio.org/2022-07-11/valparaiso-approves-contract-to-install-solar-panels-on-city-buildings .This relationship was reported by Lakeshore Media (NPR) upon whose board two VU representatives sit.
Has the institution had employees or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the peer review activities:
A brief description of other inter-campus collaborative efforts around sustainability during the previous year :
Website URL where information about the institution’s inter-campus collaborations 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.