Overall Rating	Silver - expired
Overall Score	61.82
Liaison	Pamela Mischen
Submission Date	Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter	Download

STARS v2.1

Binghamton University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	4.00 / 4.00	Pam Mischen Pres Office Pres Office

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

Air & Climate

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Air & Climate?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Air & Climate:

ENVI 413: Environmental Impact Statements. Students assess the impact of on-campus projects on air quality. This course is offered every semester. ANTH 415: Environmental Planning: Students work with local groups across the campus to plan and implement a project that facilities changes leading to sustainability practices. This course is offered every semester.

Buildings

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Buildings?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Buildings:

The university is currently designing a Living Building (to ultimately be certified by the International Living Futures Institute (ILFI). We have involved students in two ways on this project. First, we involved an undergraduate course (WTSN 306) for engineering and environmental studies students in the initial stages of materials vetting for the project. ILFI requires that buildings be free of any materials included on a "red list". Second, students from the course and others continued on the project as paid workers with a faculty supervisor.

Energy

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Energy?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Energy:

A student in EECE 598 (MS project, spring 2017) estimated the electric load of the living building. He also estimated the sizes of PV and storage systems, to ensure the 105% net-positive living building requirement. EECE 512x Distributed Energy Integration and Microgrids (offered every fall). The final project is having student teams design a renewable energy system (PV or wind) which can support 50% of the power of 4 BU buildings.

Food & Dining

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Food & Dining?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Food & Dining:

ENVI 250 Farm-to-Table is offered each fall, and was offered for the first time in fall of 2017. This course engages students directly in small-scale sustainable food production using the campus farm as a classroom, and introduces students the the concepts of agrarianism, farm-to-table and sustainable agriculture. Also, ENVI 495 is the general course number for internships in Environmental Studies. The Summer Internship in Sustainable Agriculture takes place at Acres each summer season. The Internship gives students an intensive introduction to the practices of small-scale sustainable agriculture. Internship activities include the management and expansion of the campus farm which includes both annual and perennial food production, as well as field trips to regional farms and the planning and management of educational experiences for local community groups.

Grounds

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Grounds?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Grounds:

ENVI 415: Environmental Planning utilizes the nature preserve to make recommendations regarding management and land use. This course is offered every semester.

Purchasing

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Purchasing:

---

Transportation

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Transportation?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Transportation:

Currently, a professor is using the University bus system to analyze driver behavior. PAFF 510 or SUST 520 Research Design and Methods, Graduate Level Courses performs survey and research analysis on campus transportation.

Waste

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Waste?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Waste:

ENVI 415: Environmental Planning. Students work with the University Resource Management Coordinator to engineer better practices for recycling and composting. This course is offered every semester. Students also work with the campus recycling manager as interns to develop and implement improved practices related to food scraps and waste recycling. This takes place every semester.

Water

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Water?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Water:

GEOL 465: Environmental Measurements uses the campus as a living laboratory by measuring water quality in relationship to changing land uses in order to provide strategies for mitigation.

Coordination & Planning

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Coordination & Planning?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Coordination & Planning:

Students in the PAFF 516 Performance Management class (spring 2017) worked with the President's office to draft a sustainability plan that was then adopted by the administration in Fall 2017.

Diversity & Affordability

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:

---

Investment & Finance

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Investment & Finance?:

---

Public Engagement

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Public Engagement?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Public Engagement:

A faculty member in Public Administration has an ongoing service learning project in the North of Main neighborhood of Binghamton. Students have worked with the community to enhance engagement in planning for that neighborhood. See: https://sustainableneighborhood.org/initiatives/neighborhood-inventory/

Wellbeing & Work

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Wellbeing & Work:

Binghamton University students use the campus as a living laboratory for understanding the ecology and epidemiology of Lyme disease transmission and spread in both field and laboratory settings. They also are involved in understanding and subsequently developing Public Health mitigation and prevention measures and present their research findings at local, regional, and national scientific conferences.

Other Impact Areas

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to other areas (e.g. arts & culture or technology)?:

Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to other areas:

A senior environmental studies and graphic design student, working with a biology professor, created a children's book based on Nuthatch Hollow (part of our Nature Preserve) as a part of a grant funded by the Robert F. Schumann Foundation. The book will be used in joint programming between the University, the Roberson Museum and Science Center, and local schools.

Optional Fields

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.