| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 32.08 |
| Liaison | Theresa Ladrigan-Whelpley |
| Submission Date | June 29, 2023 |
Salve Regina University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Craig
Condella Professor Philosophy |
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:
80 acre campus is a Level II Arboretum. 20 trees have been identified as Sentinel Trees which are observed across semesters by students in BIO 140 Lab. https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio140_arboretum/
Arboretum is also used in courses such as BIO 310 Ecology, BIO 255 Conservation Biology, RTS 332 Christianity, Ethics and the Environment.
https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio255_arboretum/
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:
Public walks and talks are given in the campus arboretum on each year. Watershed best practices are demonstrated in areas such as the porous pavement parking lot at the Young Building.
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:
BIO 140 course in 2021 analyzed the campus engagement with the RI Act on Climate Law (to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050) https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio_proj/
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:
Green Building design is a topic in some courses such as BIO 140 (in 2009 the course explored the library building, for example:
https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio_proj/)
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:
The BIO 140 and BIO 140 Lab courses regularly analyze energy use data from campus electricity bills and heating bills.
https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio_proj/
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:
The BIO 140 courses regularly analyze sustainability related to food choices and dining services
For example: https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=bio_proj
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:
Green practices are regularly explored in BIO 140
https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio_proj/
In particular the 2022 course quantified carbon sequestration by campus lawns and students attempted to increase sequestration rates by sowing 60 lbs of clover: https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=bio_proj
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:
Students in BIO 140 regularly explore sustainable transportation options.
For example: https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio_proj/
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:
BIO 140 and 140 Lab regularly explore trash generation and recycling practices on campus, including quantification during dumpster dives.
https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio_proj/
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:
The BIO 140 and BIO 140 Lab courses regularly analyze water use data from campus water bills. The campus is an active participant in the Almy Pond Protector Group which includes best lawn care practices in the watershed and using science labs and students for water quality data collection and analysis.
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:
Human Resource encourages well being through steps and walking competitions that utilize the campus arboretum and adjacent cliff walk.
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:
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.