Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.98
Liaison Peter Barker
Submission Date March 14, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

St. John's University, New York
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Joanna Shields
STARS Research Analyst
Facilities
"---" 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 No
Buildings Yes
Dining Services/Food Yes
Energy Yes
Grounds Yes
Purchasing Yes
Transportation No
Waste Yes
Water Yes
Coordination, Planning & Governance Yes
Diversity & Affordability Yes
Health, Wellbeing & Work Yes
Investment Yes
Public Engagement Yes
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:
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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:

Sustainability Coordinators are present at on campus projects such as the recent initiative to switch lighting, due to a Con-Ed Green Team Grant, in some of the main campus buildings. While researching and implementing the new technology (Intellitube Lighting), the director of Sustainability reviewed the technology with the students, giving them practical experience in maintenance.


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:

All of St.John's Caferterias and Cafes work to support locally grown produce and foods by using them as the main ingredients in what is served on campus. Sustainable Coordinators get an inside look of such sustainable transactions and how this increases econimic sustainability and promotes the growth of small farms.


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:

St. John's University utilizes Dashboard, an interactive online tool, to monitor the amount of electricity utilized by buildings on campus. It allows the viewer to compare the elecricity consumption between each of the Residence Halls and helps St. John's monitor which buildings consume the most energy. Overall, the tool teaches participants to be conscious of energy consumption, putting a numberical value to their actions. This tool also assists in Campus Sustainability's plans to further reduce 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:

Grounds on the St. John's campus are integrated into mutilpe teaching opportunities. Such opportunities include G.I.S. data collection and mapping of campus trees, plant biodiversity and ecology taught through campus plantlife, and composting/organic gardening done on site. This on campus immersion teaches technical skills such as data collection and plant identification that can be later used in scientific fields. Organic gardening teaches an array of important lessons such as healthy eating, farming practices, and service to the poor through the donation of crops to a local soup kitchen.


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:

Recently, a Fair Trade Committee was formed on campus. This committee is made up of both faculty and students. Students on this committee are working with faculty to promote fair trade products on campus and campaign for their peers to make positive purchasing decisions.


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:
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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:

On campus Sustainability Coordinators collect food waste from all University cafeterias and cafes. This food waste is processed through a pulping machine to retain needed nutrients for further use in campus composting. This compost is then used in the organic garden on site.Coordinators try to increase the efficency of campus waste through composting and aim to produce no food waste on campus in their future plan for the University. Coordinators also observe waste management operations on the campus through inspections to monitor practices and detect patterns to understand proper facility planning.


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:

Under the guidance of their moderator, Sustainable Coordinators surveyed the campus last year to determine areas for water efficiency. Two completed projects include a reduction in water used within cafeteria kitchens through a push petal faucet system (no longer water left running) and new water/energy efficient washers in dorm laundry rooms.
In the next few months, the Sustainability Department and Sustainable Coordinators hope to start a "Water Awareness Campaign" to retrofit buildings with meters, collect data, and plan for future sustainable water initiatives.


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:

The University promotes use of the campus to all Student Organization clubs and events and encourages participation in Student Government. This allows students to not only engage as a community on campus, but learn the life skills of collaboration, coordination, and governance.


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:

Living in one of the most diverse cities in the country, St. John's University uses this diversity to teach the student community about culture, religion, and foreign relations. The campus celebrates culture through different events open to allstudents and the multi-national student population is often used in class research to enhance class work. Such an understanding is believed to educate a well rounded individual who can work with all peoples with mutual respect.


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:

St. John's Sustainable Coordinators wanted to show the link between heath, wellbeing, and work in the context of sustainable living. The team came up with the idea to install 27 water bottle stations within dorms and academic buildings to emphasize the importance of hydration and promote the use of re-usable water bottles to cut down on plastic bottles 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:

The St. John's University Sustainability Department,in conjunction with The Department of Academic Service Learning, is always working to promote education to local affiliated schools. In the past, the University has used the campus to engage and promote sustainability education to younger generations through in house experiences and scholarships to continue their education. Most recently, the University hosted a group from Bright Beginnings.


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:

Sustainability promoted public engagment through invitations to the local public to help work the organic garden on campus and informational videos to encourage sustainable practices.


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:
https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsustainability

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.