Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 77.43
Liaison Daimon Eklund
Submission Date Oct. 14, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Washington, Seattle
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Claudia Frere-Anderson
Director
UW 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 ---
Grounds Yes
Purchasing Yes
Transportation Yes
Waste Yes
Water Yes
Coordination, Planning & Governance ---
Diversity & Affordability Yes
Health, Wellbeing & Work Yes
Investment ---
Public Engagement Yes
Other ---

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:

As part of our ongoing Climate Action Plan, students are engaged as part of capstone projects in researching program options for offsetting university related travel for faculty, staff, and students.


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:

Students in the College of Built Environments are actively engaged in multiple green building and urban planning projects on campus and throughout the community.


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:

Our College of the Environment and UW Housing & Food Services created a unique partnership in which they work with students to grow produce on campus (including the UW Farm) and then use and/or sell the produce in campus operations. More info here: http://food.washington.edu/


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:

UW Solar is an interdisciplinary group of students, faculty, and staff that lead ongoing research and operation efforts to expand solar and other renewable energy on the UW campus. Many research projects, capstones, etc. result from this dynamic collaboration. More here: https://uwsolar.wordpress.com


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:

Students, faculty, and staff worked collaboratively to create a Campus Landscape Framework for the UW Seattle campus. The framework provides guidance on ensuring UW is a leader in campus landscaping and through the involvement of students in research, the project was able to integrate a true 'sense of place' within the framework.


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:

UW Purchasing has a strong and active Corporate Social Responsibility program ranging from fair labor issues to green purchasing to an innovative business diversity program. Students have been engaged in a variety of projects including investigating one of UW's vendors business practices to helping research and grow the business diversity program.


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:

There is a long tradition of students, faculty, and staff working together to create and implement innovative transportation planning and programs at UW. A recent example was a course in which student teams researched and formally proposed new programs to UW Transportation that UW could adopt to facilitate campus-wide alternative transportation participation from walk/commute groups and car-sharing to innovative bicycle programs and regional level initiatives.


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:

Students are highly involved with our ever-expanding waste reduction efforts. From leading the charge to establish styrofoam recycling in labs to establishing an aluminum foil recycling program to students and athletes promoting efforts to improve waste reduction during major athletics events, students are a very active force in our waste reduction efforts.


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:

There are many water quality living laboratory efforts underway at UW. One of the most unique is UW students and faculty working with tribes during the annual Tribal Journey that takes place in the Puget Sound to measure and track water quality and other environmental health metrics during the Journey.


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:
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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:

The UW Office of Minority & Diversity Affairs maintains a robust list of active living laboratory projects. A few standout efforts that actively engage students include: the Diversity Research Institute that focuses on generating new, interdisciplinary knowledge about diversity, social justice, and institutional transformation and the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute that supports the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples to achieve full and complete health and wellness by collaborating in decolonizing research and knowledge building and sharing. Another example of a student-organized effort is the Student Environmental Health Association in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences in our School of Public Health that includes an academic and research focus on environmental justice issues in the region.


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:

The UW has a very successful Wellness program for students, faculty, and staff called Whole U. An example of student involvement in research in this area comes from our Health Sciences program in which students and faculty are looking at outcomes of company and organization programs and how these programs could be more effective.


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:
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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:

Through our Evans School of Public Affairs, many undergraduate and graduate students work through capstone and other projects to serve regional nonprofits and agencies.


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:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.