| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 58.23 |
| Liaison | Sarah Williams |
| Submission Date | July 24, 2023 |
Whitman College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Sarah
Williams Sustainability Manager Office of Sustainability, Facilities Services |
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:
The Sustainability Office is offering project-based internships for students to advance campus engagement for students, faculty, and staff. Interns are developing outreach events to educate and engage the student body, as well as orientation and messaging materials.
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:
The fellowship and internship programs offered by the Student Engagement Center connects students to non-profits and other local community organizations, where students do semester- and year-long projects based on the partners' needs.
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:
Students utilize campus utility records to maintain the campus greenhouse gas inventory and interactive dashboard. This was utilized by students from the Environmental Studies program to measure and better understand how to conduct a greenhouse gas inventory.
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:
Building operations data (including electricity, natural gas, and water consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions inventory) are used for in-class workshops, student internship projects, and research opportunities.
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:
We continue to install electricity sub-meters on our buildings as well as working through our LED retrofitting. This data, as well as data from our three solar projects on campus, are available for use in applied student learning through courses and internships via our dashboards.
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:
Bon Appetit's sustainability student workers help in maintaining relationships with local farms to collect our food scraps.
The Whitman Organic Garden, which is student led, works with Bon Appetit as a source of local food produced according to organic standards.
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:
Students have representation on the Trees and Landscape Advisory Committee. This allows them to have a voice in projects relating to grounds and learn from experts in the field. Additional study is being conducted related to campus carbon sequestration, native and non-native plant landscape analysis, and low water gardens.
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:
The College's Bike Share program student workers encourage the use of sustainable transportation across campus and across town. Students can rent bikes for free on a daily basis.
A group of Physics students begun converting a gasoline-fueled pickup truck into an electric vehicle that is intended to replace the truck used by the student employees who operate the recycling program. This truck will also occasionally be used by the Organic Garden.
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:
Students collaborated with a local partner to recycle glass bottles and use the crushed after product in various projects across campus.
Students conduct food waste audits in partnership with Bon Appetit that inform a student-led effort to encourage the construction of a composting facility.
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:
Students have successfully completed projects through our Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund to install low-flow water fixtures.
Students are actively pursuing the feasibility of low water gardens.
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:
The Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) Sustainability Committee participates in and leads coordination & planning efforts on behalf of students, learning how to effectively work within the structures of the institution on sustainability-related issues.
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:
The work of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion is trifurcated operationally and exercises horizontal influence across the institution. Our three operational areas include: Identity and Belonging, Equity and Compliance, and Inclusive Excellence.
We embrace perspectives from students, staff and faculty from all backgrounds. Our Intercultural Center offers academic and social support for all students. Dozens of affinity groups help you connect with others from shared backgrounds. And annual programs like Power & Privilege and Unity Week call on our entire community to have thoughtful dialogue around issues of difference.
Every year, the Associated Students of Whitman College create an environment that interrogates hard questions, relationships, and structures of power and privilege—through the Power & Privilege Symposium. It is designed to educate the community about the power structures prevailing around the world, questioning many of the paradigms that have socialized us. It is a house for resources—the beginning of questions and further investment in social justice.
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:
There is an active student divestment activism group that led the effort to divest the endowment from fossil fuels. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to remove investments from the top two hundred fossil fuel companies.
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:
Established in 2021, the Wellness House has four bedrooms and comfortably houses an average of five residents and one Resident Assistant. Residents of the Wellness House focus on the Eight Dimensions of Wellness, which include Emotional, Financial, Social, Spiritual, Occupational, Physical, Intellectual, and Environmental Wellness. The space is designed for sober living and those seeking recovery in a variety of forms. The Wellness House is the first student residence of its kind in Washington state, created through the initiative of Dr. Rae Chresfield (Associate Dean of Students: Health & Wellness/Counseling Center Director) and funded by grants from Washington State University and the State of Washington.
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.