| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.19 |
| Liaison | Veronica Johnson |
| Submission Date | May 28, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Southwestern University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Laura
Hobgood-Oster professor environmental studies |
"---"
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 | No |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | Yes |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | No |
| Investment | No |
| 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:
NA
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:
All new building and renovation projects must meet LEED standards, which was a result of Capstone work evaluating and researching the feasibility of Green Building approaches on campus. There also has been student initiatives to increase recycling, retrofitting of plumbing, and composting to student housing. Students have used Capstone research to highlight building initiatives and propose stronger goals including on campus faculty housing and smarter building energy uses. Students also have used independent studies to research conservation issues in building maintenance included in energy, water use, window films, bird sticker, and community conservation education.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
Multiple projects in classes in Environmental GIS, Capstone and Independent Studies focused on sourcing of food for the cafeteria and on campus restaurants. Environmental GIS project focused on surveying and mapping locations of food suppliers. Sampling resulted in a realistic view of the campus food sources and pushed for greater campus awareness of sustainable food options as well as food miles of the campus cafeteria. Report made policy suggestions for improved sustainability and was presented to campus and university administrators. Independent studies focused on the researching regulations for integrating on campus garden that would provide garden produce for the cafeteria. Opened the door for the creation of an on campus garden run and maintained by the cafeteria bringing in sustainably grown food to the cafeteria. Capstone included sustainable food initiatives in Campus Sustainability Master Plan. Additionally community garden on campus was integrated to multiple courses including Biodiversity, Sustainable Agriculture, and Religion and Sustainable Agriculture. The Brown symposium had a Food theme in 2012 which brought major speakers to campus to discuss Sustainable Food Studies. This event was integrated into many classroom lessons and projects.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
Multiple student research projects were conducted through coursework on energy modeling of Building Rooftops of Campus. The research involved using LiDAR and GIS to model rooftop potential of solar energy generation. These projects were presented at local and regional conferences advancing solar modeling techniques. Additionally independent studies research projects worked on the feasibility of creating a solar offset for the theatre. This resulted in a foundational study for grant applications to secure solar PV for the theatre. Capstone work also focused on offsetting the largest energy consumer on campus, the Greenhouse, with a solar PV array making a business proposal. First Year Seminar created and followed through with a plan to bring off the grid outdoor work space resulting in grant funded solar chairs.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
Student projects were used to design a low impact sustainable outdoor seating area which is created with mulch which protects campus trees during drought. Capstone class also researched the preservation of an historic tree on campus named the “Story Tree.” They worked with arborists to research best practices in preserving the tree and applied for grant funding to implement a plan in it’s preservation.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
Capstone work focused on integrating Green IT solutions into Sustainable Master Plan. This was followed up with IT staff creating a Green IT manual which is being considered by the Sustainability Committee. Independent Study projects also looked at various supplying issues like switch to 100% recycled paper and green cleaning supplies, both of which have been adopted.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
Multiple classes work on projects that would implement transportation solutions for the students. This included Independent Studies, First Year Seminars, and Capstone. Southwestern has a free bike share program that was pushed by student works. Research has been conduct into how to track these bikes to prevent loss through GPS tracking. Student also identified the need for public transportation to battle food deserts on campus, the result was a shuttle service that takes students to get groceries every week. Independent studies worked on proposing and securing funding for an electric car charging station. Independent studies also focused on the carbon footprint of Faculty and Staff commutes and mapped hotspots of Faculty and Staff residences to gain awareness of carpool options.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
All grounds waste is turned into mulch, campus-wide single stream recycling program, food waste from dining services is composted for the campus garden
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:
Students have utilized GIS and LiDAR to do small scale hydrology of the parts of campus creating catchments to trace water pollutants to local areas. They combined this with Water sampling of runoff water storage to trace chemical pollutants to non-point sources. Students in capstone also elevated water use on campus like water filtration systems, the banning of bottled water, and the retrofitting of plumbing, which has been utilized in the campus sustainable master plan.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
Students were involved in researching and proposing the formation of a Sustainability Committee. This was worked into the new campus governance structure as a major committee. Funding was secured through the research provided by capstone which proposed a green fee, which was proposed to student senate by capstone work.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
Through our cross listed courses with Race and Ethnicity Studies and Environmental Studies we offer courses that evaluate diversity and affordability issues on campus. These courses have brought guest speakers and research projects that work toward a more inclusive and affordable campus. These courses include Environmental GIS and Global Environmental Justice. Example of projects is studying the demographic makeup of the various neighborhoods student call home from and comparing it to overall statistics of the region.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
NA
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:
NA
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:
Capstone students hold an annual Campus Sustainability Presentation open to the public which it highlights the work that has been accomplished on campus and goals for future capstone work. Also through the Creative Work Symposium, Capstone and Environmental Studies Students engage the public with their research into campus initiatives, like solar energy modeling, solar chairs, and sustainable travel abroad research. Frequent speakers on campus who address sustainability and these are all open and free to the public (ex Carl Zimmer), these speakers speeches and integrated to coursework and serve as a foundation for a understanding for green initiatives on campus. Student’s engage with these works by incorporating their speeches into coursework.
Date Revised: Jan. 4, 2016
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:
NA
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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