Overall Rating	Gold
Overall Score	69.61
Liaison	Tina Woolston
Submission Date	Nov. 2, 2022

STARS v2.2

Tufts University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	2.00 / 2.00	Rocco DiRico Director Community Relations

"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Local advocacy

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:

Tufts University works closely with municipal/local leaders. If there is legislation and/or ordinances that would impact our campus, we contact our local elected officials and/or attend meetings to weigh in on these issues. Tufts University and its students, faculty, and staff have advocated for a number of policies, programs, and projects that advance sustainability. For example, Tufts University was a leading proponent, advocate, and supporter for the MBTA’s Green Line Extension [subway]. When the state threatened to cancel the mass transit project, Tufts President Anthony Monaco along with our partners wrote letters of support. We also committed $2 million dollars to the Medford station to ensure that it would be completed. The Green Line Extension decision was reversed, the project was completed, and the project will open on Monday, 12/12/22!

Regional advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:

On the state level, Tufts University is a member of the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM). ELM advocates for public policy that secures the health and wellbeing of the environment for future generations. https://www.environmentalleague.org/elm-corporate-council/

Tufts University also partnered with the Sunrise Movement to host Senator Ed Markey (D – Massachusetts) on campus. Senator Markey is the author of the Green New Deal legislation. The university regularly hosts environmental advocates on campus through the Tisch Speaker Series and Hoch Cunningham Environmental Lectures. All of these events are free and open to the public.
Tufts University has long advocated for the expansion of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Green Line Extension (GLX) project. The GLX will extend the existing MBTA Green Line service to Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford. The project includes 6 new mass transit stations including one in the heart of Tufts University’s Medford/Somerville campus. The project is projected to increase ridership of more than 50,000 passengers per day, alleviate traffic congestion, and provide reliable public transit in historically underserved communities. Tufts advocated for this project at the local, state, and federal level. We have also worked closely with the City of Medford and the GLX to make this project a reality. The GLX is expected to begin service in 2022.

National advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:

Tufts has consistently advocated for our students, including joining an Amicus Brief in support of undocumented students in 2019:
https://now.tufts.edu/articles/tufts-joins-amicus-brief-support-daca-recipients
And one for affirmative action in 2022
https://president.tufts.edu/news/2022/10/31/statement-on-supreme-court-cases-regarding-college-admissions/

International advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:

The University sent a delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's 26th Conference of the Parties (COP 26) in December of 2021.

Optional Fields

A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):

In conjunction with the Fletcher School at Tufts University, Woodwell Climate Research Center will provide Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with a full flagship environmental impact report. https://www.woodwellclimate.org/risk-team-delivers-climate-risk-analyses-to-under-resourced-communities/

None

A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):

The University doesn’t give political donations. It is prohibited by federal law. http://legal.tufts.edu/

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:

http://legal.tufts.edu/

Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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