| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.15 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Kentucky University
EN-10: Community Partnerships
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? :
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe?:
Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus?:
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (Yes, No, or Not Sure):
A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above:
WKU partners with the Community Farmers Market to support the local food system and to improve access and affordability for underserved populations. This partnership began in 2012 with a collaborative USDA grant, which was written in partnership between the two organizations. The grant provided funding for a local food directory, mini grants for farmer logo development, and a mobile market to bring fresh, local foods to underserved populations identifying through a student research project. The University has also given the market a space to operate, allowing for free year round operation. This support has resulted in greater sales for local farmers, allowing them to transition from part-time to full time farming. Additionally, local food sales to underserved populations have increased, as evidenced by SNAP and EBT sales. The Community Farmers Market also accepts "Big Red Dollars", student credit that can be used for food and other items around the community, encouraging students to purchase fresh, local food. Finally, the Community Farmers Market has begun to serve as a hub for distributing local food to institutional buyers, and particularly WKU. This partnership began several years ago but continues to grow and transform our campus and great community.
http://www.communityfarmersmarketbg.com/the-outreach.html
Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (2nd partnership):
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (2nd partnership):
Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (2nd partnership):
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (2nd partnership) (Yes, No, or Not Sure):
A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above (2nd partnership):
The WKU Student Government Association, WKU Resource Conservation, and WKU Information Technology have partnered to create the Earn-A-Computer Program, a new program designed to provide refurbished Mac computers to students who complete community service hours to a Bowling Green community area in need -- an area in the Bowling Green community that fits the student's passions.
http://www.wku.edu/sga/initiatives/earn_a_computer.php
Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (3rd partnership):
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (3rd partnership) (Yes, No, or Unknown):
A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above (3rd partnership):
Top Crops, located at the Western Kentucky University Farm, is a garden project offering training and continuing education opportunities for adults with special needs. Special needs adults will be trained to prepare the soil, plant seeds, tend plants, harvest the crop, sort, package, and sell these essential foods to the community while learning about these foods and their nutritional value by incorporating more of them into their own diet. Other educational opportunities would involve food preparation, fitness, bookkeeping, and other responsibilities associated with running a business. Additionally, it can offer research, teaching, and internship opportunities to students enrolled at WKU.
https://topcropsblog.wordpress.com/
A brief description of the institution’s other community partnerships to advance sustainability:
WKU's The $100 Solution™ utilizes the five principles of service learning -- Reciprocity, Partnership, Capacity Building, Sustainability, and Reflection -- to answer a central question: "with this $100 bill, what can I do to enhance your quality of life?" It teaches students to ask what they can do rather than just assuming, demonstrates that many social problems exist that can be solved with small amounts of money, and empowers them to make a difference in their community. The WKU $100 Solution™House enables students to partner with any area of the Bowling Green and international community that has an identified need.
https://www.wku.edu/aliveicsr/the100dollarsolution/index.php
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.