| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.25 |
| Liaison | Laura Bain |
| Submission Date | Jan. 26, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Furman University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Is the institution utilizing the campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in the following areas?:
| Yes or No | |
| Air & Climate | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | No |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | --- |
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Air & Climate and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Through the Shi Center Student Fellows program a student collects data for the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and later presents the information at Furman Engaged, an event to present student research. Highlights from the inventory are also shared in classes and guest lecturers.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Buildings and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Through the Shi Center Fellows program a student worked with the University Energy Manager to develop user surveys for LEED lighting improvements in classrooms. The student presents the findings at Furman Engaged. Additonally, The Shi Center regularly hosts energy systems fellows that work with Jimmy Looper, the BAS Technician, on the energy dashboard.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Dining Services/Food and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Classes often visit the Furman farm to learn, work, and engage with the farm.
Through the Shi Center Fellows program a Farm Fellow and Compost Fellow regularly research and apply best practices in those areas of sustainable food at Furman. They share their work and findings at Furman Engaged.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Energy and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student conducted her senior thesis exploring the energy and financial impact of the geothermal heating and cooling system units located outside the North Village student apartments.
Multiple students through class projects, Shi Center Fellows, Sustainability Science Major research) investigate the state's energy policy around renewable energy and how that translates into opportunities for projects at Furman.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Grounds and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Through the Shi Center Fellow Program a Landscape Fellow learns about, makes recommendations, and outreaches regarding campus trees and landscaping. The fellow presents his or her findings at Furman Engaged.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Purchasing and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student conducted a sustainability science senior thesis assessed student paper consumption and included recommendations for changes to computer lab printing policies.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Transportation and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A First Year Writing Seminar Course included a project for a sustainability focused public service announcement. One announcement utilized the electric charging station to promote the use of electric vehicles on campus.
Students are also conducting current reaserach on the trail usage of the Swamp Rabbit trail that runs through Furman's campus.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Waste and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student conducted a senior thesis on waste management, making recommendations for a waste management plan for the university.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Water and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student developed a senior project analysis on the nutrient reduction impacts of campus rain gardens, and presented the findings.
Students also reseach the impacts of various natural treatment methods utilizing the Furman living machine, the tidal wetland ecological waste water treatment system.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Coordination, Planning & Governance and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
-
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Diversity & Affordability and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student conducted a project that used admissions travel data to conduct a GIS analysis and made recommendations on how the univeristy currently uses its resources and how it can improve to best recruit target populations around Furman's diversity goals.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Health, Wellbeing & Work and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
An engaged learning opportunity FIT Rx in which junior and senior health sciences (HSC) majors work with approximately 35 faculty, staff, and spouses, to create their own individualized exercise training programs. Eleven students are participating in the internship in At its core, engaged learning encourages students to develop creative ways to put classroom theory into practice. FIT Rx fits that definition to a tee. Eleven students are participating in the internship in individualized exercise prescription (HSC 503/505), and each will complete 120 hours of field work, attend a weekly internship class, and study a textbook and research articles as part of the course.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Investment and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Through the Shi Center Fellows Prgram, a Full Cost Analysis Fellow reviewed the return on investment for university projects, and later presented the finding at Furman Engaged.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Public Engagement and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Through the Shi Center Fellows Program a fellow created a Sustainability Walking Tour. The tour focuses on campus sustainability features most appealing to campus visitors, and functions as a companion to the admissions campus map.
Through the Shi Center Fellows Program, Fellows have utilized the Place of Peace Buddhist Temple, to learn about and interpret to the community the features of an original budhist temple and the connection to the natural world and human wellbeing. Completed findings were presented at Furman Engaged.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory in Other areas and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Multiple classes require projects or assignments that engage students in an overview of campus sustainability or exploration of a specific campus sustainability topic. Examples include sustainability scavenger hunts, guest lectures, walking tours, and video/film/presentation projects.
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
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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.