| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 43.58 |
| Liaison | Christopher Homeister |
| Submission Date | Oct. 30, 2023 |
Salisbury University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.80 / 4.00 |
Christopher
Homeister Director of Campus Sustainability Campus Sustainability |
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
Campus sustainability tours are part of the ENVR 102-Introduction to Sustainability syllabus each semester. Tours include viewing the green roof, geothermal piping, solar water heater, solar canopy, recycling facility, stormwater management sites, and the Dining Hall's Orca digester. Students are tested on SU led sustainability initiatives and general sustainability initiatives in this course.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
SU offers sustainability tours to the public. Public groups to participate in tours include 1) the Youth Environmental Action Summit 4-12 grade students, 2) local garden clubs, and 3) various environmental organizations.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
During the Spring 2023 semester an undergraduate completed a waste audit project on all academic buildings on campus. The results of this project revealed that a large percentage of recyclable materials was entering SU's waste stream. This project has led SU to implement a deskside mini-trashcan initiative to increase our campus wide recycling rate. (Deskside trashcans will be replaced with a deskside recycle bin with an attached mini-trashcan. Ownership of emptying the deskside bins will be on the individual at each desk instead of janitorial staff. Large communal bins will be placed in common areas throughout each building).
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
A student led project in Spring 2023, tracked the energy use of SU's TV studio. The TV studio is equipped with incandescent light bulbs. A student led energy study revealed that a LED upgrade to the TV studio could save $5,000.00+ per year in energy costs. The student submitted a Green Fund proposal to upgrade the TV studio to all LED lights and the proposal was approved. SU has completed the upgrade.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
SU tracks food waste through the Campus Race to Zero Waste program. One Wednesday per month, student volunteers collect and weigh all food waste in the Dining Hall. Data is shared with the SU community in "real-time" with weight numbers written on whiteboards throughout lunch. Every 15 minutes the weight is updated.
Students also track "to-go" containers through 2020 in a response to COVID-19. To reduce waste, a student led project/initiative introduced reusable "to-go" containers into the Dining Hall. The containers are still used today.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
SU is a certified Arboretum. The Arboretum offers many educational opportunities as a living laboratory. The SU community uses the living laboratory in a variety of ways including the following:
1. COMM 344 students developed a full campaign to make campus community aware of the Arboretum and its many holistic benefits to include educational and employment opportunities. While doing this, they became more aware of the Arboretum and the “living laboratory”
2. COMM 249 Practicum Fall 2023 will provide a COMM major to actively work with the Arboretum to (a) research marketing strategies to make campus and surrounding community aware of resources the Arboretum, (b) social media posts, video clips of campus tours, and Arboretum highlights, (c) research grant opportunities, and (d) possible web page editing, photography, and submitting for webpage
3. Graphic Design Major helped design and create Arboretum brochure and interpretive signage for campus
4. Photography majors – plant/tree photography for plant records and SU publications
5. Salisbury University Phenology Project (SUPP) led by Dr. Kim Quillen, Biology. Establish a course based undergrad research experience (CURE) for intro BIO students, BIO 202: Intro to Biology: Evolution and Ecology. Students engage in measuring phenology (seasonal changes of plants and animals) through the 120
native SU trees registered in the National Phenology Network. The SUPP is incorporated into all 15 weeks of the BIO 202 lab curriculum. Students observe, collect, study, quantify, and analyze phenophase data
6. Biology Dept – various classes taking measurements, studying growth, identification. Arboretum/Horticulture provided employment and educational opportunity for BIO undergrad to measure, confirm ID, research nativity, cultivar nativity, plant family, genetics, etc.) Faculty have also used the trees to study, research, and publish papers and journals on topics like canopy cover and carbon sequestration.
7. Popup Poplar Gardens – National Science Foundation funded collaboration (VA Tech, Penn State, U of Vermont, U of MD, and 18 universities and arboreta nationwide). Research characterizes adaptive variation across replicated natural hybrid zones between Populus trichocarpa and Populus balsamifera to study the role
hybridization plays in adaptation to climate and helps predict adaptation to changing climate. SU Arboretum/Horticulture assists and has employed BIO student employment and educational opportunities in this research.
8. ENVR courses study identification using plants and trees on campus, tours for students & faculty
9. ENVR Consortium – SU environmental faculty and staff to network and discuss issues that impact SU departments and majors. Educational collaboration between Arboretum and ENVR, BIO, Outdoor Leadership, etc.
10. Geography/GIS Department – created and helps maintain extensive GIS tree map and geodatabase. Arboretum mapping projects have been shared and displayed at national GIS conferences
11. Campus and broader community use outdoor spaces and planted courtyards on campus as “living classrooms”. Interest for more educational outdoor spaces continues to be expressed.
12. Many use the tree tags and mobile app and web map for plant identification and to glean ideas for their own gardens/yard.
13. Parkside High School, CTE Horticulture Program uses Arboretum and app for identification to study for their Certified Professional Horticulturist exams
14. Local community, clubs, and learning center tours provide education on identification, conservation, sustainable landscape practices, as well as tailored education sessions (plant related art, books, walks, scavenger hunts, wildlife, etc.)
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
During the Spring 2023 semester an undergraduate completed a waste audit project on all academic buildings on campus. The results of this project revealed that a large percentage of recyclable materials was entering SU's waste stream. This project has led SU to implement a deskside mini-trashcan initiative to increase our campus wide recycling rate. (Deskside trashcans will be replaced with a deskside recycle bin with an attached mini-trashcan. Ownership of emptying the deskside bins will be on the individual at each desk instead of janitorial staff. Large communal bins will be placed in common areas throughout each building).
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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