Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.64
Liaison Sean MacInnes
Submission Date Feb. 7, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of North Carolina, Greensboro
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Marianne LeGreco
Associate Professor
Communication Studies
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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:
The course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Every group is required to relate their project to climate change. In addition, multiple courses - in Biology and the School of Education, in particular - address the campus Wetlands Project.

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 course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Many semesters projects deal with building systems. The Department of Interior Architecture has developed an extensive repository of sustainable building materials that may be used in design projects. One Interior Architecture faculty member developed a course entitled ENV 350: Sustainability + Built Environment. 12 students completed the course, where they also had to register to complete the LEED Green Associate exam.

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:
The course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Many semesters projects deal with decreasing the amount of energy used on campus. ENV 350: Sustainable Campus Operations included an energy component.

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:
The course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Many semesters projects deal with improving the sustainability of dining services. CST 460: Food and Communication worked with Food & Dining Services to host a local foods pop-up dinner in Fall 2016. ENT 340: Social Entrepreneurship focused on community outreach with a local farmers market to promote entrepreneurial opportunities in low-income food deserts. ENV 350: Sustainable Campus Operations included a food and dining component.

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:
The course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Many semesters projects deal with ways the grounds crew can be more sustainable. In addition, several courses across Biology - including the Wetlands, Pollinator Gardens, and Prairie Restoration projects - use campus as a living laboratory in relation to the grounds at UNCG.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
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 Purchasing:
The course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Many semesters projects deal with ways the university can make purchases that pursue sustainability related goals.

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:
The course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Many semesters projects deal with ways campus transportation can become more sustainable. In addition, several courses in Geography use the campus as a living laboratory by focusing on sustainable transportation near campus. Students engage in research projects related to walking, biking, driving, and riding. ENV 350: Sustainable Campus Operations included an applied transportation project.

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:
The course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Many semesters projects deal with ways to improve recycling rates and decreasing waste production.

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:
The course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Many semesters projects deal with ways to diminish the amount of water used on campus. Several classes - particularly from Biology - focus on the UNCG Wetlands Project. In 2017-18 one course in Interior Architecture completed the EPA Campus RainWorks Challenge.

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:
Faculty, students, and community partners work together on a variety of projects, including urban gardens, a two-site wetlands project, rainwater cisterns, and others. These projects require coordination and planning of sites, labor, and outcomes. ENV 350: Sustainable Campus Operations addressed organizational processes in all applied projects.

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:
Several courses - including ENT 340: Social Entrepreneurship and CST 460: Food and Communication - focus on affordability and accessibility of food in low-income communities close to campus. The courses look at university-community partnerships to address food security concerns in the community and around the university. These courses address affordability of resources and diversity across communities.

Investment & Finance 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Investment & Finance?:
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 Investment & Finance:
In 2017-2018, campus hosted a 4-part series of discussions about sustainable investing on campus. Some events included experts from other campuses, from the UNC system, and from off-campus experts in finance and investments.

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:
The course "Introduction to Sustainability Studies" requires a group project, worth approximately one third of the course grade, that uses the campus as a living laboratory. Many semesters projects deal with ways to engage the campus community and the public via public art installations with environmental messaging. In addition, multiple courses in Biology, Geography, Communication Studies, Interior Architecture, Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism, and the School of Education incorporate service-learning around sustainability topics.

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)?:
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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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