| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.79 |
| Liaison | Mary Whitney |
| Submission Date | Sept. 22, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Chatham University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Mary
Whitney University Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
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 | Yes |
| Diversity & Affordability | No |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | No |
| Investment | No |
| Public Engagement | No |
| Other | No |
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:
One example is our greenhouse gas audit, in which Chatham students conducted the 2013 (most recent) greenhouse gas audit for the university, as well as conducted particulate matter data collection. These activities were done as an entire class (audit), or as a lab in a class (particulates). Students gained skills related to sustainability work, as well as gained a clearer understanding of the university's climate action goals and challenges in reaching them.
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:
One example is that Chatham's greenhouse solar heating system on our Shadyside campus is designed to be controlled and experimented with by students. Students develop expertise on the system, which is the same as the larger systems on the residence halls.
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:
Our Food Studies program regularly works with Parkhurst, our dining services vendor, to develop menus, products, and programming. This is a deep and extensive partnership, which includes learning knife skills in the kitchen with professional chefs, developing, preparing, and marketing a coffee blend for use in the campus coffee shops, and growing food to sell to Parkhurst for Anderson Dining Hall. Our students can also intern with Parkhurst Dining Services.
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:
One of Chatham's graduate marketing classes developed a complete energy awareness and education program for the university's sustainability office that teaches students how to monitor their own electricity use. This project gave students new tools for driving awareness and behavior change for energy consumption.
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:
One of the students from the Master's of Sustainability (MSUS) program developed and implemented an Integrated Pest Management program for our greenhouse and fields at Eden Hall as part of his graduate thesis project. This capstone project created the standard operating procedures for the Eden Hall greenhouses, and he also developed a written guide for IPM specifically for the crops grown there.
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:
The MBA database class developed a green products recommendation database that works with our preferred vendor's ordering systems to make greener purchase recommendations. All campus office purchases flow through this vendor, and the system will now make automatic upgrades to green products.
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:
As an independent study, one of our Master's students analyzed our shuttle data and developed a plan to decrease fuel use through better harmonization of the timepoints and stops with course schedules. This resulted in our ability to divert an entire shuttle to a new route, saving us the purchase of an additional vehicle.
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:
Master's of Sustainability capstone students developed a waste reduction program to promote the reuse of products, clothing, and other personal items through a residence-hall-based give-and-take system. Reuse boxes in all of the residential halls affords students the option to reuse, repurpose, or reduce waste before purchasing new items.
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 Master's of Sustainability (MSUS) capstone project resulted in the design and installation of a rainwater harvesting system for irrigation at the Eden Hall campus.
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:
A special course on gamification worked with the Chatham governance team to develop a program to increase both awareness of and investment in the Student Green Fund. This fund is jointly-managed by the Student Government and the Climate Committee. At the end of the first semester of the program, donations to the fund increased almost 800%, and they continue to show improved results each semester.
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 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:
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:
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:
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:
The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.