Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 42.75
Liaison John Stolz
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Duquesne University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00
"---" 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:
Duquesne is the first university in western Pennsylvania and one of only a few in the state to conduct biennial Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories on the University's carbon footprint. The University has played a leading role in moving other schools in the region to undertake similar studies and to direct the region as a whole toward environmental stewardship. This survey is conducted by graduate students in the University's Center for Environmental Research and Education. The University’s carbon footprint, which is based upon all gases emitted, has been substantially the smallest of all Atlantic 10 Conference schools conducting similar studies. Additionally, Duquesne University has a live dashboard in academic building, Rockwell Hall, measuring and reporting CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and indoor air quality has part of efforts to use the building as a living laboratory.

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:
Students in the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices is working on increasing efficiency in Rockwell Hall via an 18-month project for kinetic tiles to generate building electricity, monitoring indoor air quality, and monitoring weather. Overall the students and faculty are slowly converting this academic building into a living laboratory.

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:
Duquesne University's Facility Department works with students and faculty to host free tours of the on-campus cogeneration plant. Additionally, students in the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices are working to increase energy efficiency in campus 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:
Duquesne University partners with students to host a quarterly Weigh the Waste Event to better identify how much waste is generated in the main campus dining hall.

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:
Duquesne University's Ecology Club managed an on-campus butterfly garden, planting and weeding a small section of garden specifically for pollinator species.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
No

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:
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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:
Students have, and continue to work with University leadership to create and demand more mass transit options to campus.

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:
Duquesne University collects organic waste from the campus dining hall as well as campus catering events to be composted by a local company (AgRecycle). Members of the student-run Evergreen Club, also hosts online tips for reducing one's waste footprint.

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:
Student-led initiative resulted in bottle refilling stations on campus. Additionally, faculty, staff, and students organize an Annual Water walk, educating the campus about the global water crisis.

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:
Duquesne University's Center for Community-Engaged Teaching and Research (CETR) is run by faculty, staff, and students and is is the administrative home of community-engaged teaching and research at Duquesne University.

Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
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 Diversity & Affordability:
14 student organizations work to further issues regarding to diversity and 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?:
No

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 Investment & Finance:
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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:
Every year, Duquesne University hosts Community Engagement Scholars, students who work with local non-profit organizations to further their missions as well as to aid student's academic growth.

Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
No

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:
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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)?:
No

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:
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Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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