| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.22 |
| Liaison | Rebecca Walker |
| Submission Date | June 30, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Southern Oregon University
EN-10: Community Partnerships
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 3.00 |
Roxane
Beigel-Coryell Sustainability & Recycling Coordinator Facilities Management & Planning |
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1st Partnership
Rogue Valley Farm to School (RVF2S) in collaboration with the Farm at SOU
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? :
Yes
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe?:
Multi-year or ongoing
Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus?:
The partnership simultaneously supports social equity and wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (Yes, No, or Not Sure):
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:
Rogue Valley Farm to School, http://www.rvfarm2school.org, is a vital member of the Rogue Valley community. Their mission: Farm to school programs link local farmers with schools. They have expertise in hands-on programming that teaches public school students about healthy, sustainable food choices. The Farm at SOU is pleased to support these programs and provide a local, working farm to host their educational efforts. The program focuses on sustainable life choices; ecological farming practices and ways to support those with food insecurity. Students from the visiting schools are, on average, 45% food insecure.
Rogue Valley Farm to School (RVF2S) has arrangements with five local farms that serve as educational farm sites, including the Farm at SOU. Each site is a working farm that opens its gates for local students to experience hands-on farm education. Farm sites are located throughout the Rogue Valley to allow easy access for the school districts in each region. Each farm site has outdoor kitchen facilities for harvest meals.
RVF2S and SOU have a Facilities Use Agreement that establishes the terms and conditions of their partnership. As part of this partnership, SOU provides RVF2S with use of the Farm at SOU for teaching space and vegetable produce for their programs. The university also provides a teaching staff person for each program - about 20 classes per season. The current agreement is for one year, with the option to renew the agreement thereafter by mutual written agreement of both parties for three additional one-year terms.
2nd Partnership
City of Ashland Conservation Commission
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (2nd partnership):
Yes
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (2nd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing
Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (2nd partnership):
The partnership supports at least one, but not all three, dimensions of sustainability
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):
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):
Southern Oregon University has partnered with the City of Ashland to have a standing member on the City's Conservation Commission. The mission of Ashland’s Conservation Commission is to educate and advocate for the wise use of resources by the city government and the people of Ashland.
The powers, duties and responsibilities of the Commission are to educate and advocate for the wise and efficient use of resources by the City of Ashland and Ashland citizens.
The Commission recommends to the City Council the adoption of policies, implementation strategies and funding related to:
Recycling, source reduction and solid waste/landfill issues;
Electric conservation issues;
Water conservation issues;
Resource conservation issues;
New power resource decisions, but not decisions involving wholesale power contracts;
Renewable Resource decisions;
Education of citizens about resource efficiency issues
Southern Oregon University appoints a staff member to serve on the Commission. The Commission meets for two hours every month, with subcommittees on current projects that meet more frequently. The university provides staff time and expertise on the Commission. The university's seat on the Commission is on-going, as codified by city ordinance (see attached).
3rd Partnership
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Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
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Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
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Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (3rd partnership):
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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):
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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):
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Optional Fields
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.