Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 47.82
Liaison John Stolz
Submission Date March 4, 2022

STARS v2.2

Duquesne University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Mary Kate Ranii
Program Administrator
Center for Environmental Research & Education (CERE)
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Campus Engagement

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
1. TERRA Learning Community meets regularly with Facilities representatives regarding campus operation and sustainability. This team also conducts an annual sustainable campus scavenger hunt.
2. Students in the Biomedical Engineering program are collecting campus plastic waste to be remade into splints, braces, and other medical devices.

Public Engagement 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
1. 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 students' academic growth.
2. TERRA Learning Community meets regularly with Grounded Strategies regarding their public & community initiatives. TERRA Learning Community also partners with residents to reclaim abandoned lots.

Air & Climate 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
1. 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. This report is published on the University website for the campus and outside communities.
2. Additionally, Duquesne University has a live dashboard in the academic building, Rockwell Hall, measuring and reporting CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and indoor air quality as part of efforts to use the building as a living laboratory.

Buildings  

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
Students in the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices compete in a living lab/team competition. They track Rockwell Hall's building energy, water consumption, indoor air quality, management, and purchasing and work to find ways to make Rockwell more sustainable and efficient.

Energy 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
1. Students in the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices are working to increase energy efficiency in campus buildings.
2. Students in the Environmental Science undergraduate and Environmental Science and Management graduate and certificate programs conduct regular reports on proposed campus energy reduction projects.

Food & Dining 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
1. Duquesne University partners with current 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 infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
1. Duquesne University's Ecology Club managed an on-campus butterfly garden, planting and weeding a small section of garden specifically for pollinator species.
2. Students work with the Facilities Department and Center for Environmental Research to install and manage an on-campus produce garden to alleviate storm-water runoff, improve biodiversity, and combat food apartheid in a neighboring neighborhood.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
Students in the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices compete in a living lab/team competition. They track Rockwell Hall's building energy, water consumption, indoor air quality, management, and purchasing and work to find ways to make Rockwell more sustainable and efficient.

Transportation 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
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Waste 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
1. Members of the student-run Evergreen Club, also hosts online tips for reducing one's waste footprint. WASTE IS WHACK.
2. Members of the student-run Pure Thirst group partner with campus events to collect disposable cups to use for research in water filtration devices.
3. The Center for Environmental Research and Education educates students about compost opportunities on campus and collects materials to compost in their office suite from students, faculty, and staff.

Water 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
1. A student-led initiative resulted in bottle refilling stations on campus.
2. Faculty, staff, and students organize an Annual Water Walk, educating the campus about the global water crisis.
3. PureThirst student group works to educate the campus community about water availability and issues worldwide.
4. TERRA Learning Community - Regularly tours ALCOSAN wastewater treatment facility to learn more about water issues in Allegheny County.

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
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Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
1. 15 student organizations work to further issues regarding diversity and affordability.
Asian Student Association (ASA)
Black Student Union (BSU)
Caribbean Student Association (CSA)
Collegiate 100 (C100)
Duquesne South Asian Student Association (SASA)
Duquesne Student Chapter: NAACP
Ebony Women: Women for Social Change
Gender Sexuality Alliance (Lambda)
International Students Organization (ISO)
Jewish Student Organization
Latin American Student Association (LASA)
Multicultural STEM Group (MSG)
Muslim Student Association (MSA)
Saudi Student Organization
Union of African Students (UAS)

Investment & Finance 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
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Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
1. Duquesne University's Pharmacy students work to provide free health screenings, vaccinations, COVID tests and more to campus faculty and staff.
2. Health Center and students distribute free "wellness kits" to the campus community annually.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
https://www.duq.edu/news/featured-stories/zero-waste-recycling-solutions

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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