Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.75
Liaison Dan DeZarn
Submission Date March 31, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

State University of New York at Geneseo
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Dan Dezarn
Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" 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 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:

1. Office of Sustainability interns and research assistants
2. Student research and field trips in Geology
3. Student work and research in the eGarden
4. Student work and research in the Arboretum addressing ecosystem processes


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:

1. Students are involved with designing and building green research facility in the eGarden
2. Students are involved with designing and building Thoreau cabin


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:

1. Classes on cooking and nutrition provided by Dining Service (www.geneseo.edu/cas/healthycookingclass, www.geneseo.edu/cas/nutrition-info )
2. Geneseo Food project (https://www.geneseo.edu/food_project )
3. School of Business internships
4. Human ecology course (Welker) trains students on their individual mRDA’s and sources
5. A student awarded a Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS) Ambassadorship for Entrepreneurship is investigating the potential to incorporate more local fruits and vegetables into the diets of of the student body, in part through partnership with local CSAs. (dining services/food)


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:

1. We have an eGarden and many students are/have been involved in research, design, operation…: wind turbine, green golf cart, solar panels (https://www.geneseo.edu/image/suny-geneseo-egarden )
2. Student interns in the Office of Sustainability working on a variety of projects
3. Resident Assistants taking INTD 240 (Student Development) must develop projects to meet learning outcomes “Understand social and civic responsibility” and “Develop behaviors consistent with a healthy lifestyle” which often include programs in energy conservation (electricity usage contests) and recycling


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:

1. Students are involved in mapping of plants for sustainability projects and interpretive plans
2. Students are mapping and measuring trees on campus and developing guidelines for their care and future plantings in an effort to become a designated Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation.
3. Students are involved in research and maintenance of the Roemer Arboretum
a. Several students are engaged in directed studies involving the impacts of invasive shrubs in the campus’ Spencer J. Roemer Arboretum.
b. Students have participated in planting native shrubs and wildflowers in the Spencer J. Roemer Arboretum and removing invasive species.
4. A student project involved mapping the slope landscape of campus which provided recommendations for reducing energy costs involved in mowing steep slopes


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:

1. The Office of Sustainability works with student groups/clubs on sustainable purchasing


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:

1. Students built a green mobile
2. Student project used GIS to identify easiest bike routes on campus and presented poster at GREAT Day


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:

1. Composting project: Cooperation project with interns, students, Office of Sustainability, facilities, and faculty sponsors: insect larvae and heat are being used (https://www.geneseo.edu/image/suny-geneseo-egarden )
2. Students that work in the dining services also get training in composting
3. Students received an undergraduate research grant to examine the potential to expand recycling options through the Residence Life program.
4. CAS Ambassadorship in Entrepreneurship awarded for student project on Plastofuel, a student-startup involving the conversion of non-recyclable plastic waste into an alternative energy source


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:

1. A biology professor (Bosch) conducts research with students in nearby Conesus Lake, as well as coral bleaching in the Bahamas? Students did research presentations at GREAT Day from Bahamas projects and projects on local lakes
2. Geology professor has incorporated a service learning component in her Groundwater Hydrology course to detect presence of microbeads in local streams (just started this year?)


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:

1. Students may hold positions in the student associations and thus are involved in the College Senate
2. JADE program offers workshops in “Building and Sustaining Organizations,” “Community Resource Mapping”


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:

None avaialble


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 Health, Wellbeing & Work and the positive outcomes associated with the work
1. Dining Services nutrition classes
2. Health training at Lauderdale?
3. Fitness programs at gym?
4. EcoHouse – residential living group which brings together students with common interests in the environment, sustainability, and social justice and sponsors activities related to these topics
5. Jade program offers workshops including “Your Happiness and the Environment”, “Developing a Personal Sustainability Plan,” “Happiness, Materialism and Intentional Living”


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:

1. School of Business program in investment – students buy and sell stocks


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:

1. Jade program offers workshops including “Building and Sustaining Organizations,” “Rights and Responsibilities of Volunteers,” “Social Change Model of Leadership”
2. Community Advocates Ambassadorship in Community Engagement awarded for project “Creating Common Ground: Cooperative Living of Geneseo”
3. Psychology class project addresses motivations for environmentally friendly behaviors and effectiveness of environmental messaging; presented as posters at GREAT Day


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:

1. School of business students as interns in College Advancement and Career Development


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:

Jennifer Apple


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.