Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.41
Liaison Jeremy King
Submission Date March 23, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Denison University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Jeremy King
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Office of the President
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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 Yes
Health, Wellbeing & Work Yes
Investment Yes
Public Engagement Yes
Other ---

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:

Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to air quality and climate change. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on climate related issues on campus.

In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.


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:

Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to buildings and efficiency. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on building related issues on campus.

Denison also has the Denison Homestead which is a living-learning laboratory for students that utilizes a number of sustainable building techniques.

In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.


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:

Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to dining services and sustainable foods. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on food related issues on campus.

In addition, the Office of Sustainability and our dining provider, Bon Appetit often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.


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:

Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to energy and energy efficiency. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on energy related issues on campus.

In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.


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:

Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to air quality and climate change. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on climate related issues on campus. In addition, many of our Geosciences and Biology students conduct research in our 350-acre biological reserve.

Denison has both an on campus arboretum and multiple "no-mow" or "grow" zones on campus that are also used by students and faculty alike for educational purposes.

The Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.


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:

Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to purchasing. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on purchasing related issues on campus.


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:

Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to transportation. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on transportation related issues on campus including bike shares, car shares, and public transportation

In addition, the Office of Sustainability, Administrative Services and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.


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:

Many in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to waste and recycling. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on waste and recycling related issues on campus.

In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.


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 in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to water and water quality. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on water related issues on campus.

In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on 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:

Denison has a system of shared governance. Our student government is one such example of this.

In addition students serve on nearly all campus governance committees including the Campus Sustainability Committee. This committee is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating the campus sustainability plan.


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:

Denison has gone through great effort over the last 20 years to increase diversity on campus both among its students and its faculty. Diversity is at the core of who we are as a community and many of our courses and associated research opportunities encourage students to explore issues of diversity and affordability on campus and beyond.

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs provides opportunities for many of our students to work on and study issues of diversity and affordability as well.


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:

Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to air quality and climate change. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on climate related issues on campus.

In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.


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:

Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to air quality and climate change. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on investment related issues on campus. In addition, many students in our Economics Department choose to study sustainable investment and the college's investment strategy.


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:

Denison's mission is to inspire and educate our students to become autonomous thinkers, discerning moral agents and active citizens of a democratic society. Through an emphasis on active learning, we engage students in the liberal arts, which fosters self-determination and demonstrates the transformative power of education. We envision our students' lives as based upon rational choice, a firm belief in human dignity and compassion unlimited by cultural, racial, sexual, religious or economic barriers, and directed toward an engagement with the central issues of our time.

To this end, many of our courses and associated research opportunities encourage students to explore issues of public engagement on our campus and beyond.


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:
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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:

Denison maintains an internal password protected website where most of this information resides. Public access web pages have limited information on this topic.


Denison maintains an internal password protected website where most of this information resides. Public access web pages have limited information on this topic.

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