| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.60 |
| Liaison | Dayna Cook |
| Submission Date | May 1, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Northern Arizona University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Rod
Parnell Faculty: Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability School of Earth Sciences and Environmental 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 | --- |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | Yes |
| Diversity & Affordability | --- |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | --- |
| Investment | --- |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | Yes |
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:
Student interns pursue C tracking and assessment projects as part of NAU's Green Energy Initiative (GNEI). These projects are used in assessing current projects and in reporting on C reductions and on planning future energy savings projects.
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:
Student interns and resident assistants work on behavioral change programs in academic buildings and in dorms to reduce energy and water usage. Behavioral change and change in energy usage is tracked before and after the educational program was provided.
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:
Student interns and employees worked with food services to compost pre-consumer and post consumer food waste and to work with community organizations to provide left over food to local food banks.
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:
Student interns and resident assistants work on behavioral change programs in academic buildings and in dorms to reduce energy and water usage. Behavioral change and change in energy usage is tracked before and after the educational program was provided.
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 interns worked with NAU staff to develop and test a sustainable landscaping program to eliminate pesticides and inorganic fertilzers from test plots. Results from these studies encourage operations managers to expand the scale of these test programs.
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:
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:
Transportation and bicycle improvement programs including bike lockers, bike rentals, bike repair stations and a new transportation plan for part of campus to make it more bike friendly came from student interns and volunteers on the campus Transportation Action Team.
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:
Student interns and employees worked with food services to compost pre-consumer and post consumer food waste, including establishment of a velocomposting program to provide a pick up service for compost using bicycles.
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:
Student resident assistants implemented a strive for five, shorter shower program.
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 organized and run a Green Fund to support student-oriented projects in campus sustainability.
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:
Action Research Teams associated with First Year seminars work off campus on weatherization and energy efficiency activities for low income housing.
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 partnership was formed between the Program in Community, Culture, and Environment’s Sustainable Environments and Engaged Democracy (SEED) Freshman Learning Community, the Master of Arts in Sustainable Communities (SUS), and the Northern Arizona Interfaith Council. Students on this team work with a dynamic and broad-based group to enhance understanding, respect, improved relationships, and collaborations that nurture a community of freedom, equality, and democratic community engagements between new immigrants and American citizens.
The primary objective of the Northern Arizona Interfaith Council (NAIC) is to build civic leadership by teaching people the skills and practices of public life and the tools for building power for change.
In Flagstaff, NAIC’s recent work has focused on:
integration of new immigrants and immigration policy reform
organizing parents and students for improvements at low income schools
developing a strong coalition to fight state budget cuts and advocate for tax reform
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:
In the Action Research Teams, graduate students collaborate with undergraduate students in their first year of college. The teams collaborate with community partners on and off campus and focus on a wide variety of public issues and community needs. These teams include:
Action Group for Water Advocacy (AGWA)
Immigration
Sustainable Living and Urban Gardening (SSLUG)
Flagstaff Foodlink: Community Gardens
Flagstaff Foodlink: School Gardens
Health Education About Lifestyles and Therapies Holístico (H.E.A.L.T.H.)
Art Through all Mediums (ATAM)
New Economy Northern Arizona (NENAU)
Students Nurturing Alternatives in Landscaping (SNAIL)
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:
additional website on ARTS: http://nau.edu/SBS/SUS/Program/Research-Teams/
additional website on ARTS: http://nau.edu/SBS/SUS/Program/Research-Teams/
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.